Dominionism in the Miss Toronto Tourism Pageant
Yeah, you'd think that if you live in Toronto, and you're a Dominionist, you'd learn to keep your religious beliefs to yourself. If you simply could not do that, then maybe the line of work for you is not to be the director of a beauty pageant designed to promote tourism to Toronto. It's just a really bad idea, like being a racist promoter of tourism to Florida, a homophobic promoter of tourism to San Francisco, or an antisemitic promoter of tourism to New York City. Not that it's a good idea in the first place to be Dominionist, racist, homophobic or antisemitic, of course...

But as you can see by the above link, nobody told that to Karen Murray. To read her rants, it's as though Murray has never even seen Yonge Street, even though presumably her job is, in part, to promote it. You see, Murray didn't like the idea of having a judge at the pageant be... well, different.

In Murray's world, everyone submits to her god, and so long as one does not take money from the government one is entitled to be as prejudiced as one wants. Thus in her world she should be excused from retracting her invitation to Stephanie Conover because Murray didn't realize that Conover is a "witch".* In Murray's world, indeed, she should not only be excused this faux pas, but rewarded for thumping Conover over the head with the "Word of God". To the Miss Canada Plus Pageant, who had crowned Conover with the title just last year**, Murray wrote (in part):

"We need a judge who has an upright reputation and we would be proud to introduce to the audience. Our board of directors has eliminated her as a judge as tarot card reading and reiki are the occult and is not acceptable by God, Jews, Muslims or Christians. Tarot card reading is witchcraft and is used by witches, spiritists and mediums to consult the dark world. Do not turn to mediums or seek out spirits for you will be defiled by them. We hope that Stephanie Conover will turn from these belief systems and will repent from her practice of them."

"We just got her bio a week ago and we don't agree with it," Murray told the Toronto Star, which Murray also apparently failed to notice is not exactly the Christian Broadcasting Network. It's not known if Murray was using the royal "we", was speaking on behalf of her god, or-- most frighteningly of all-- was expressing the explicit beliefs of others in her acquaintance. (The Toronto Star suggests the latter, but I'm not as quick to remove this benefit of doubt from the citizens of Toronto.) Murray appeared shocked that anyone would protest this equitable denial, accusing Conover of "stirring up trouble". "[Conover] is obviously a very vindictive person," Murray said. To the suggestion by the Toronto Star that the Pageant was religious in nature, Murray responded, "We adhere to God's principles. We're God-fearing. I wouldn't say we're religious."

Neither would I, Ms. Murray. I'd say you're Dominionist.

---

*- By the way, it should be noted that the label "witch" is one that Murray applied, not an appellation Conover chose for herself. Conover accepts the label as roughly accurate, saying, "Some would call me a witch, yes."

**- To a rational person, this might have been a sign that the Miss Canada Plus Pageant does not share in the view that Conover is a poor representative to "Jews, Muslims, and Christians," who of course still constitute the majority of Canada's population. But then, rarely has a Dominionist been accused of reason.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention, We have withdrawn from the
pageant.

Miss Toronto Tourism promotes Charities, Events, Tourism and Multiculturalism in the City of Toronto.