Change of position on religion in schools guidelines

Brief article in the Herald today noting that the Ministry of Education has decided not to continue with its proposed guidelines relating to religion in the state schools. It’s been interesting listening to people talk on this, both from secular and religious perspectives, particularly over the perceived difference between religion and spirituality. The latter, spirituality, is seen as an essential part of children’s development (and society’s). This begs the question of whether the institutional religions actually understand what’s being talked about and whether they can articulate a spirituality for these times in a way that can resource the spiritual dimension within state education.

See Government backs down on prayer rules - 04 Sep 2006 - Religion and beliefs

Paul also has some recent comments on spirituality here:

Prodigal Kiwi(s) Blog: A Reflection on the Spirituality of David Bosch
Prodigal Kiwi(s) Blog: Thinking About Spiritual Formation

For some other links relating to religion in schools in NZ see:

• Feature: With God on their side by Sally Blundell | New Zealand Listener (July 31-August 6 2004 Vol 194 No 3351) on religious schools in NZ.
• Feature: A spiritual bypass by David Young | New Zealand Listener (May 8-14 2004 Vol 193 No 3339) on the need for a Pakeha spirituality of the land.
• Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand : sPanz : Christian values draw parents (Sept. 2006) on the benefits of church schools. (Not entirely convinced having been through one myself - but I do know and like hymns sung loudly as a result)
• NZ Religious History is the online version of Peter Lineham and Alan Davidson’s book “Transplanted Christianity”. Chapters 2 & 4 are relevant for discussions of education - including some of the history about why religious education was excluded from NZ state schools.