In 1967, John Howard Pew and Alberta Premier Ernest Manning inaugurated a bitumen upgrading plant, viewing the oil sands as a divine blessing tied to their evangelical beliefs. Pew, an influential figure in Christianity Today, believed in a symbiosis between faith and oil, asserting that true freedom is rooted in Christian values. Manning echoed similar sentiments, presenting the oil sands as a means of spiritual illumination, linking economic progress to religious redemption. The onset of the 1973 oil crisis further transformed Calgary's socio-political landscape amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
John Howard Pew conflated faith and oil with freedom, stating, 'Without Christian freedom, no freedom is possible.' He viewed oil sands as a divine gift.
Premier Ernest Manning saw both spiritual progress and redemption in Albertaâs oil sands, emphasizing that oil generates a light through Godâs Word to lead people to Jesus.
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