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Should atheists be on religious board?
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HUMANISTS have been turned down for a second time, after asking to join a group that helps to shape religious education in schools across Bedford Borough.
The group Bedfordshire Humanists has attempted to join the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) twice in the last 18 months. SACRE advises Bedford Borough Council on its policies on religious education and collective worship.
But the second bid has been refused after SACRE members voted 3-1 against.
Charles Baily, chairman of Beds Humanists, said: “We knew we had the support of the Mayor of Bedford, the deputy mayor, who is also an Anglican vicar, and the portfolio holder for education.
“Yet the Church of England representatives on SACRE seem to have voted against us, in spite of the fact that half the local authorities in the country have a humanist on their SACRE.
“Naturally we are disappointed, but we haven’t given up.
“We believe that the parents who do not see themselves as religious have a right for their views to be taken seriously and given due weight in the delivery of what is, still, just about the only truly compulsory element in the school curriculum, and we will not turn our back on them.”
Mr Baily added: “Humanism is much more than just atheism.
“We recognise that, in the end, people can’t choose what to believe – things are either believable or they’re not – and the Humanist project is to explore how humanity can find a new meaning and structure in life from within its own resources, once the supernatural is excluded – to help our species come of age, if you like.
“We will be writing to the headteachers of upper and middle schools in the borough to draw their attention to the introduction of Humanism in the new RE syllabus, and to offer our support.”
However a spokesman for SACRE said it would “make no sense whatsoever” for the Humanists to join the organisation.
They said: “We listened to the case made by the Humanist representatives and discussed their reasons for inclusion on SACRE before reaching our decision. We are not excluding humanists from involvement with SACRE but agreed the most appropriate role is as an observer to the committee’s work rather than a full member.”
They added: “SACRE promotes the understanding, tolerance, and respect for all religious faiths and beliefs through an effective religious education curriculum in our schools.
“In an increasingly diverse and multi-faith society we believe it is vital our children receive that education. The stated aim of the British Humanist Association is to remove all religion from our classrooms. This makes their position completely at odds with what SACRE is, and has a duty to provide.”
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Thursday 23 February 2012
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Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
David Brittain
Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 04:42 PMJohn Dale is spot on here. I actually attended both SACRE meetings Charles Baily referred to, and on the 2nd occasion one of the panel actually trotted out the same rubbish that the British Humanist Association wants to stop all religious education in schools. Google the BHA Website and follow the "Education Policy" line if anyone want's to find the truth! As John says, it is just a lie, and one has to wonder about what Christian moral values are being displayed here by those who feel qualified to influence the way moral values are taught to our children. We desparately need Humanist values at least given some expression here, otherwise, Bedford District SACRE will be just another self-interested and cosy quango!
Reggie
Friday, December 2, 2011 at 02:26 PMDavid Tiffany, I'm not clear what point you are making. On the basis of draeing a distinction between "believers" and "unbelievers", presumably there should be no SACRE at all, if one religion considers adherents of any other faith to be "unbelievers". The alternative is that SACRE's members are open to other people's views and perspectives - in which case, surtely the humanists should be on board!
DavidTiffany
Friday, December 2, 2011 at 12:38 PMAtheists should not be on religious board. "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers (with false teachers). For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What do believers have in common with unbelievers?" http:atheistlegitimacy.blogspot.com
Charles Baily
Friday, December 2, 2011 at 11:00 AMThe BHA acknowledges that for many people religion is a key element in their lives. It has no wish to take this away, and regards it as important that understanding other people's belief systems should be an essential element in the school curriculum. Equally, it important to realise that non-religious philosophies play the same role in other people's lives, and one of the things our presentation to SACRE stressed was the importance of parity of esteem between religious and non-religious stances. If humanism were so evil, what is it doing in the Agreed Syllabus at all? Even if the spokesman's assertion were true, rather than a cherry-picked quote taken completely out of context, does it matter? Millions of people in our region voted for UKIP MEPs, even though their 'stated aim' (and this is true) is to remove the UK from the EU.
John Dale
Friday, December 2, 2011 at 10:39 AM"...a spokesman for SACRE said....The stated aim of the British Humanist Association is to remove all religion from our classrooms" That is completely untrue, and a perfect example of why SACRE needs a humanist representative - to stop those with a vested religious interest from lying.
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