Education report debunks secular neutrality myth
Secularism isn’t a neutral force in education and it attempts to exclude faith from the classroom risk of anti-religious indoctrination, according to a new report by a professor of education. Prof Trevor Cooling’s report, entitled Doing God in Education, also criticised opponents who claim that faith schools shouldn’t be able to consider religious criteria when selecting pupils. The report, published by the theology think-tank Theos, argues that all education is value driven and shaped by school leaders. It cautions: ‘The objection to so-called neutral approaches, then, is that they privilege secular worldviews and are in danger of implicit anti-religious indoctrination. ‘They are not, in other words, neutral.’ Commenting on the report Paul Woolley, the think-tank’s director, said: ‘The idea that education is religiously neutral or objective is indefensible. ‘Teaching is shaped by our understanding of which virtues we should practise, what qualities we should value, ultimately of what kind of people we should be.’
Pray: for the value of good religious education to be recognised and its place in the school curriculum to be ensured. (Ti.1:13)
More: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/education-report-debunks-secular-neutrality-myth/
Only half of Britons say UK is Christian
Only half of British adults are confident that Britain can now be described as ‘a Christian country’, according to research. The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, has written to David Cameron urging him to review laws that have seen Christians forced to abandon their faith in public. He warned that reforms introduced under Labour promoted ‘tolerance, equality and fairness’ at a cost of eroding Christianity as the foundation of British culture and society. The warnings follow a series of court cases in which the beliefs of Christians have come into conflict with the state authorities. In the letter to the Prime Minister, Lord Carey said Christians were too often ‘ridiculed’ and dismissed as relics of ‘a bygone age’. ‘Notwithstanding its vast and varied contribution to our society, there appears to be a suspicion about the validity and value of the role that the Christian faith plays in our national life,’ he said.
Pray: for the Church to take up the challenge to be the light in the darkness. (1Th.5:5)
More: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2010/12/27/only-half-of-britons-say-uk-is-a-christian-country/
Joseph as ideal male role model
Jesus and Mary are usually the centre of attention at the school Nativity play, but Iain Duncan Smith says society – and the church – would do well to pay more attention to Joseph. Writing in the Daily Mail last week, the Tory MP said Joseph was the ‘forgotten hero’ of the story of Christ’s birth. The example set by Joseph in standing by Mary and Jesus offered, he said, a ‘very clear message for our own time’ in which generations of young people are growing up without fathers. Mr Duncan Smith said society seemed to have forgotten the important role played by fathers, from providing shelter and placing food on the table, to nurturing and supporting their children. ‘It’s about providing the best male role model that a man can have,’ he said. Mr Duncan Smith pointed to the link between fatherlessness and family breakdown, high levels of truancy, anti-social behaviour, youth crime, street gangs and teenage pregnancy.
Pray: for all fathers to recognise their responsibility to be a good role model for their sons. (Pr.1:8)
Anti-Semitism on rise at British universities
Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks, has charged several of the UK’s most prestigious universities of ‘turning a blind eye and a deaf ear’ to the increasing number of speeches defaming and delegitimizing Israel being made on campuses all over Britain. He contrasted the conduct of universities with government officials of all political parties who take ‘an unequivocal and a firm stand against anti-Semitism.’ ‘Let me be blunt,’ Sacks said. ‘I believe that the inflammatory public speeches being allowed to take place on university campuses would, in any other context and directed against any other group, be prosecuted under the law forbidding incitement to racial and possibly religious hatred.’
Pray: against this trend in our education establishments by those whose values are distorted. (Pr.16:13)
More: http://www.icej.org/article/anti_semitism_on_rise_at_british_universities
Rome: Pope denounces attacks in Nigeria, Philippines
Pope Benedict XVI deplored on Sunday the ‘absurd violence’ against Christians after attacks on churches in Nigeria and the Philippines over the Christmas holiday. ‘It was with great sadness that I learnt about the attack on a Catholic Church in the Philippines during the celebrations for Christmas and also against Christian churches in Nigeria,’ the Pope said. ‘The earth is once again stained with blood as we have seen in other parts of the world,’ Benedict added in his Angelus address at The Vatican, as he offered his condolences to the victims of the ‘absurd violence’.
Pray:for the protection of believers across the world as they face violence and attacks on their faith. (2Tim.4:18)
Rome: Pope denounces attacks in Nigeria, Philippines
Pope Benedict XVI deplored on Sunday the ‘absurd violence’ against Christians after attacks on churches in Nigeria and the Philippines over the Christmas holiday. ‘It was with great sadness that I learnt about the attack on a Catholic Church in the Philippines during the celebrations for Christmas and also against Christian churches in Nigeria,’ the Pope said. ‘The earth is once again stained with blood as we have seen in other parts of the world,’ Benedict added in his Angelus address at The Vatican, as he offered his condolences to the victims of the ‘absurd violence’.
Pray:for the protection of believers across the world as they face violence and attacks on their faith. (2Tim.4:18)
Denmark: 'Muhammad cartoon plotters' held
Five men have been arrested in Denmark and Sweden for planning to attack a newspaper that published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, police say. Security officials said four suspects - including three Swedish residents - were held in Denmark, and another was detained in Sweden. Danish media reported that a pistol fitted with a silencer was found on the group held in Denmark. Publication of the Muhammad cartoons in 2005 outraged Muslims worldwide. Security officials said the four men held in Denmark had been planning to enter the building housing the Jyllands-Posten - the newspaper that originally published the cartoons. They had wanted ‘to kill as many of the people present as possible’, according to Jakob Scharf, the head of Denmark's intelligence and security agency, Pet. He said an ‘imminent Mumbai-type terror attack’ had been foiled and described some of the suspects as ‘militant Islamists’.
Pray: against militant activists everywhere that continue to promote their evil ideas at every opportunity. (Ps.36:3-4)
Denmark: 'Muhammad cartoon plotters' held
Five men have been arrested in Denmark and Sweden for planning to attack a newspaper that published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, police say. Security officials said four suspects - including three Swedish residents - were held in Denmark, and another was detained in Sweden. Danish media reported that a pistol fitted with a silencer was found on the group held in Denmark. Publication of the Muhammad cartoons in 2005 outraged Muslims worldwide. Security officials said the four men held in Denmark had been planning to enter the building housing the Jyllands-Posten - the newspaper that originally published the cartoons. They had wanted ‘to kill as many of the people present as possible’, according to Jakob Scharf, the head of Denmark's intelligence and security agency, Pet. He said an ‘imminent Mumbai-type terror attack’ had been foiled and described some of the suspects as ‘militant Islamists’.
Pray: against militant activists everywhere that continue to promote their evil ideas at every opportunity. (Ps.36:3-4)
Christian health worker faces sack
In a new case of shocking intolerance a Christian mental health worker has been effectively suspended by her employers because she expressed her opinion in a private conversation with colleagues and showed them a booklet containing stories of women and the devastating impact of abortion on their lives. Margaret Forrester has worked for Central North West London Mental Health Trust for over two years and the NHS for over 7 years. Earlier in November she was on a temporary secondment and sat next to two health workers whose job is to advise women on abortions. She felt that women seeking abortions were not given all of the alternatives available to help them make an informed decision, so she gave a small booklet to her co-workers which documents the testimonies of women who have been impacted by abortion. She faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday for ‘distributing materials some people may find offensive’ and may well be sacked.
Pray: for all Christians in the workplace as they face challenges over their faith that God will guide them. (Ps.20:6)
Religious Christmas cards disappear from shops
Nativity scenes or references to the Bible story feature on fewer than one in 25 cards, according to a survey by The Sunday Telegraph. Christian groups said the findings were ‘disappointing’ and blamed the situation on 'political correctness'. The survey of more than 2,100 card designs in four stores – WHSmith, Marks & Spencer, Clinton Cards and Paperchase – found only 82 featured any religious reference. Most instead depicted Christmas trees, Father Christmas or non-religious messages such as 'Season's Greetings'. The baby Jesus was shown on only 13 cards – less than one per cent of the total. Other cards reflected changes in modern family relationships. One said: ‘For a special son and partner sending you love and happy wishes at Christmas time.’ Stephen Green, national director of the evangelical organisation Christian Voice, said: ‘This is another sign of the impact of political correctness and how Christ is being split from Christmas’.
Pray: that God would use His people to speak up for our faith in the marketplace. (2Cor.1:21-22)