Religiously-Inspired Terrorism a Threat to Canada? Secret Government Report

The debate in Montreal about whether a controversial Imam should be allowed to build an Islamic community centre, and ongoing questions about whether Muslims can be trusted (a 2012 poll found that 52% of Canadians don't trust Muslims) reminded me of a column I wrote in 2001 about the danger religion can pose to political authorities in Canada—or not.

Recently, I came into possession of a secret report prepared for the Canadian government in the wake of growing concerns about terrorism.

The report, which was sent to me anonymously, is about a potentially disloyal group of Canadians.

According to the writers of the report,, the allegiance to Canada of members of this group is highly suspect.

Instead, they subscribe to a belief system that transcends national boundaries, meeting regularly to affirm their membership in this transnational global community.

At their meetings, they speak about serving another leader, someone who doesn't reside in Canada. 

Their holy book tells them that if they are forced to choose between the law of the land and their conscience, they should choose their conscience—even if it means death.

In fact, they don’t seem to fear death at all. They seem to welcome persecution, speaking positively about it in their meetings.

They also speak joyously about receiving an eternal reward in the afterlife, if they should be killed for their faith.

In fact, when they gather they sometimes recall the stories of those who were killed for their beliefs—people they call martyrs.

They speak approvingly of these martyrs, and sometimes sing songs that celebrate them. They even have special days to remember them.

Despite all this, the report suggests there is nothing to fear from this group. The threat they pose is very minor. Almost non-existent, in fact.

The authors note that even though they talk about serving another leader, being separate from the rest of society, and putting conscience before the laws of the land, they rarely put them into practice.

It almost never affects the way they vote, or causes them to protest government policies. 

It’s almost as if they don’t believe those words in their holy scriptures actually apply to contemporary life or politics.

They are thoroughly acculturated and no risk to the accepted social and political order—no danger to Canada at all. 

Who are these people? 

No, not Muslims.

I’m talking about Christians.