In 2015 the NSW taxpayer forked over $300,000 for a report into Scripture and Ethics. Over a year later and the report by ARTD Consultants remains unreleased.
The taxpayer might legitimately ask why. And why, on 15 January 2017, did the NSW education department reject a FIRIS (Fairness for Religion in Schools) freedom of information request for the report?
According to the NSW education department, releasing it would have “a negative impact on the department’s functions”.
But how, exactly?
Calling on new Education Minister Rob Stokes to immediately suspend scripture in schools, Greens Justice MP David Shoebridge wants a debate on whether Scripture legislation reflects current community views about education.
Of particular concern to Mr Shoebridge
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These involved the dissection of dead animals, the idea that blindness is the result of sin, and a lesson about the death of Daniel where children were disturbingly asked to list ways to “get rid” of a person.
Furthermore, moderate Christians may be troubled by the fundamentalist version of Christianity promoted by Connect’s materials – teaching that the Bible is a “factual, historical document”, and imploring faith-based instructors to “emphasise that these events are historical and true”.
But it’s when the mainstream clergy voice their concerns, that parents should really sit up and take note. Describing the Connect material “of great concern to many mainstream Christians”, Anglican Father Rod Bower said Scripture in schools is an “echo from a bygone era and now needs to be reconsidered”. Anglican Bishop Peter Stuart specifically disputes the fundamentalist approach of Connect, asserting that the Bible is “not a history text or science book”.
Amplifying such concerns, parent advocacy group FIRIS recently launched a leaflet campaign at NSW schools suggesting that religion should be taught by teachers, and that churches “do not belong in public schools”. FIRIS spokesman Darrin Morgan
Religion is a confusing and controversial subject that many people struggle with, much like John Wheelwright. A Prayer for Owen Meany expresses an honest political view of America and their military actions while telling a story of a child becoming a Christian. A little boy full of doubts about his faith meets a miracle of a child named Owen Meany and makes him his best friend. It's not his small size or high-pitched voice that makes Owen unique; it’s his fate. Through the eyes of a man named John Wheelwright we witness the events that change a skeptical little boy to a faithful Christian.
Both Sarah Kembel Knight’s and John Woolman’s journal entries are soaked in asserting their devotion to the bible and leading their lives in accordance to the Good Book to please God, more so in the case of John Woolman. Since I was raised in the Catholic faith I knew exactly what he was experiencing growing up, the challenges he faced to be a devout follower of God and fit in with his fellow students in school. He writes in his journal that many times the other kids used foul language which was repulsive to him and he knew that was wrong. One of his childhood encounters was quite off putting to me, sine he describes killing a robin then bequeathing the same faith on to its chicks. His deed was wrong, but with help from the bible he interpreted his actions as merciful.
He uses rhetorical questions that provoke the audience to come to a conclusion that is supported by Carroll’s ideas. In asking “Now who can contribute so much to lighten this burden, which weighs so heavy on the shoulders of the pastors of souls and who can have so great an interest and special duty in forming youthful minds to habits of virtue and religion, as their parents themselves?” (par. 3), Bishop John Carroll addresses parents directly, emphasizing the importance of their role in bringing up their children in the “discipline and correction of the Lord.” (par. 3)
In these cases, issues the church does not recognize on religious and cultural grounds are still problems for youth. Should we accept that the church is unable to address these issues, or do we push the church to take a step back from their religious or cultural base to address the
The Poisonwood Bible , despite mainly being centered in Africa, has broad and deep messages that still apply to today's modern world. This global perspective encompasses the cultural arrogance of the West, as evidenced by the interference of colonial powers in the internal workings of a nation neither cared about nor understood by the same Western powers, the backwards, negative effect that sexism and a one-sided, limited, patriarchal view has on a society, and the backwards, negative effect that sexism and a one sided, limited patriarchal view has on a society, and the harm that can be caused by enforcing a gross misinterpretation of a religion on society. All of these themes are shown through the journey of on Christian, American family who
We must be committed to holding on to nothing but the truth. We must decide that if the truth inside us can burn a belief, a family structure, a business, a religion, an industry - it should have become ashes yesterday.” the belief that if something could destroy a relationship as monumental as faith or family than it should have already been left behind is not one that can be related to by the majority of readers. This belief could be related to by many readers if they separate their goals from the accomplishments of Glennon Doyle, and if they keep in mind the consequences of the risks associated with “burning the old.” All over the world people are forced into relationships, religions, or industries that may not have
The narrative rhetoric of Anna Doyle “Robert C. Rowland” (32). Tells a story through a written testimony to emphasize that freedom of religion in the public-school systems is not being treated fairly, as she believes that schools discriminate against Christians. Doyle’s main plot is centers around the experience that she had along with her children when they transferred to a public school as they felt they were not being treated with respect because of practicing their religious traditions at that school. The story took a place in a suburban community when Anna and her husband decided to send their kids to public school as they felt they ought to do that because they pay so much in property taxes. In this testimony, we have Anna Doyle as the mother of Rebecca, Kathryn, Joshua and Matthew whom are mentioned throughout the testimony.
However, recent research has indicated that contemporary social changes have caused the connection between higher education and a lack of faith to break down with the irreligious not being substantially more educated than the religious (James Lewis, 2015). With the link being broken, the irreligious are normalised reinforcing the multicultural nature of Australian culture. The christian church is heavily affected by the increase of atheism and non christian religions. ‘The Age’ magazine interviewed Daniel about his opinion on society in relation to church adherent.
Another reason why this book should not have been challenged is freedom
Report On Religious Literacy In the book Religious Literacy, Stephen Prothero’s main argument is that religious literacy is very important and it is important for youth to be religiously knowledgeable. Prothero starts off his book by talking about how “Americans are both deeply religious and profoundly ignorant about religion” (1). Prothero says this because Americans go to church like and are religious yet know nothing about the basics of a religion. Then Prothero goes on to show some examples in which people being religiously knowledgeable would have helped a situation.
Vanhoozer, Kevin, Charles Ansderson, Michael Sleasman, eds. Ordinary Theology: How to Perused Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends. Terrific Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2007. Ordinary Theology offers the conversation starter, "How would we decipher society?" Seminary understudies and ministers work to see how to peruse Biblical writings.
A large number of Americans, particularly Southern citizens, adopted a fundamentalist, literalist approach to the Bible and to religion. These people wanted a return to the fundamentals of Christian faith, including, but not limited to, a literal interpretation of the Bible, and virgin birth. In other words, they wanted to return to the ‘old’ ways of teaching. It was only during the 1920s when Protestants started referring to themselves as ‘Fundamentalists’, which could have been influenced by the publication of The Fundamentals: A Testimony to the Truth over a span of 5 years between 1910 and 1915, which was a series of essays supporting orthodox Protestant beliefs. Fundamentalists rejected the teachings of modern science, particularly Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, as they believed it was inconsistent with the Word of God, rejected the Social Gospel, and was voicing a “slur at the Bible” (Document C).
The author argues that our Christian worldview should always be open for revision as we encounter new people, ideas, and experiences. We should learn to use a pencil more often than a pen when deciding what we believe. As an example, the author compared our worldview to that of a crossword puzzle. The argument was that each answer only fits if it works with the surrounding answers. One word might fit, but will not support the answer connected to it.
She wishes to withhold this information from students merely to protect the painful feelings evoked from reading such disputed topics. Censorship is an incredibly
He sees the innocence and strong sense of morality in this young boy. “If he is not the word of God, God never spoke” (McCarthy 5).When they were hiking, the boy and father met this older man named Ely. The boy pleaded to his dad to let him feed him and even gave him a spoon. “You should thank him you know. I wouldn’t have given you anything” (McCarthy 173).