The Christian Left: From the Past toward a Possible Future

Abstract

A sociohistorical and theological retracing of some of the most important moments and aspects of the Christian left in Canada, recounting some of its major contributions and actors, and exploring some of the challenges this movement will face in the future. Adopting a decolonial approach, this article is divided into two sections. The first section examines some of the issues related to social reform that have characterized the Christian left, with particular attention to some of its key actors, socio-ethical and theological justice themes, and shifts over time. The second section pays closer attention to some of the social and theological challenges this diverse movement confronts as it attempts to account for Canada’s history of colonization and Christianity’s complicity with the colonial project. This article invites Christian leftists to engage in a process of social and theological decolonization where racialized and minoritized peoples are not seen as objects of good will, but as protagonists in the struggle for social justice and decolonization.