A church versus state issue !

An inquiry is under way in the New South Wales parliament as a result of Christian Democrat Reverend Fred Nile's private members bill to abolish ethics classes in this states primary schools.   Back in 2010 the then Labor government allowed ethics classes as an alternative to what was formerly known as " scripture ".

The constitution requires separation of state and religion and this seems to be a continuation of the classical tussle to keep the balance in religions favour.

Parents have the right to decide whether their children should get religious instruction in government schools, and in the past those who declined  were simply sent to the library for the forty-five minute weekly religious session, where they read books, played games or got an early start on their homework.

Ethics classes were seen as a logical alternative. They presented an opportunity to discuss with students the mutual obligations we have to live peacefully in the community and the many ways that an understanding of right and wrong can have a bearing on our relationship with others.

Some religious leaders leaders see ethics classes as a threat that will cause a drop in numbers  taking religious instruction.   They fear that peer pressure will result in  children bringing pressure to drop religion in favour of this new and exciting form of " entertainment ".     What they really want is anything that competes with religion to be banned.

In many ways, religious instruction in todays society is an impossible enigma to conduct in a mixed school environment.  Our state schools contain a mix of Christianity and just about every other form of religion on the planet because of years of multiculturalism.     Just about every school will not only have a mix of the myriad branches of the Christian faith, but those who follow Islam, Shinto, Buddhism, - and all the multiple sects into which each of these is divided.

At least ethics classes teach a code of conduct which finds common ground within this religious mix.

It would be a sad day if this innovative approach was laid to rest by virtue of what is little more than religious bigotry - and we return to the days when those who opt out of religious training waste a forty-five minute period weekly, sitting doing nothing in the school library.

Hopefully, our politicians have more sense than to let that happen !