Prayer Books
‘JUST like God, Tony Blair moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.
| ”And on the seventh day, the Lord did do his prep” |
Whether its invading Iraq, wearing a suit with naked women on the cuffs or buying flats in Bristol, Tonys movements are unpredictable, unfathomable and in some quarters viewed as illegal, but believers know they are part of some big plan.
But, as far as we know, Blairism is not yet a bona fide religion – its just a belief system. And, as such, the word according to Tony will not be among the many doctrines taught at schools.
And do not doubt that many will be taught, as Charles Clarke, the Education Secretary, tells the Independent that minority faiths will be taught alongside Christianity in schools.
These smaller philosophies outside the so-called big five of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism include Bahai, Zoroastrianism, humanism and, we suppose, Satanism.
Everybody needs that as part and parcel of their formation, says Clarke in the Times. To the extent they do not, we leave ourselves vulnerable to those who seek to foment hatred.
Unless, of course, the students get a taste for things and go on to study religion at some fundamentalist level.
But while some Christians whine about the watering down of the national faith by incoming religions, many agree that, so long as instruction does not become indoctrination, broadening the RE curriculum is a good thing.
And the pupils at schools seem to agree, with the Times saying how GCSE in RE is the most popular short course in the country and that at post-16 level RE (its compulsory up to this age), is the fastest growing subject at A-level.
As Clarke says: Religious education can transform pupils assessment of themselves and others, and their understanding of the wider world.
And give them another A-grade at exam time for simply saying what they believe in…’
Posted: 29th, October 2004 | In: Uncategorized Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
