"Bible in schools outdated"

MEDIA RELEASE

"Bible in schools outdated"
- New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists

Rationalists and Humanists welcome proposals from the Interfaith forum for the teaching of comparative religion in schools, but also want non-religious world views to be taught.

Elizabeth McKenzie, President of the NZARH said today: "We would fully support any move that promotes tolerance and understanding of different belief systems."

"However, we recommend that any curriculum that was introduced should reflect the true nature of religious belief in New Zealand. Over 1.3 million New Zealanders are non-religious, and they are increasing at a rate if more than 50,000 each year, with the fastest growth occurring in the younger age groups. Therefore we would expect any proposed curriculum to include both religious and non-religious philosophy."

"Furthermore, this may be an excellent opportunity to address the matter of religious instruction in our state primary schools. Because of an antiquated loophole in Sections 78 and 79 of the Education Act 1964, our children are currently being instructed in a very narrow interpretation of Christianity in our state primary schools."

"Over the years, our organisation has received many complaints from frustrated parents that their children have been coerced into Christian proselytizing sessions at their local state primary school without their parents knowledge."

"We believe it would now be appropriate to revise the Education Act by repealing the sections which allow religious instruction in public schools and replacing it with a curriculum that teaches about the diversity of beliefs."

The New Zealand Diversity Discussion Forum on Religion and Schools is on Monday 27 August from 2pm-5.30pm at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell, Auckland.

ENDS

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