""denial of access to information about faith is not, by default, secular 'proselytizing' ? :)" ... Posted by ALGOREisRICH, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 6:15:35 AM

Where is there denial of access?
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""there is good cause for traditional "Christians" of a nominal nature to be concerened about the erosion and attacks on their cultural well being..."

Rubbish. It is more a perception, especially a discomfort about not being able to proselytise without constaint.

Issues should be discussed on their merit, and not referenced to parables or fable stories
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""SECULAR TEACHER in ETHICS CLASS "Now Children.. we must respect others rights to study in peace"
"STUDENT "why?"
"SECULAR TEACHER "Errr... ummmm.. errr *because*" ""

Absured sneering - unnecessary and childish

Posters should know that the policy in NSW that does not allow anyting to be taught during the SRE classes is just that, policy.

It is not legislated, it is not in the NSW Ed Act.

Like prayers in Parliaments, the policy can be changed tomorrow with no resort to 'legislation' required.

As for 'ethics' as an alternative being so hotly debated... one has only to see the dirge put out by the Christian groups that support SRE to see they need it to recruit for their declining pew numbers, and that is its sole purpose.

It has no soul purpose at all, being a market driven mechanism to snare bums-on-seats, and more, tax free monies from the ATO, along with unwarranted status within our uncritical communities.

It is unfortunate that Simon Longstaff has embarked upon a mere stopgap mission, and refuses to go the whole way with demands for an end to SRE.

The GRE element, while also 'rather silly' as I think Pericles points out somewhere, being a range of arguments about fairy tales,would be harder to banish from schools, and maybe we shouldn't do that?

Maybe, with the full range of myths, fibs, confabulations and 'metaphors' on sale together, the market will determine which one is the best bet?

Are posters aware that at least some schools in NSW have students singing the praises of God on their assembly?

Particularly so in Central NSW, so it seems.

Is this part of the NSW deal for 'secular' education, or just a bunch of fundie principals who have imposed their personal faith views onto all students in their charge?

Wow Richie has it bad doesnt he.

Gotta love the total lack of reasoning from all the godbotherers here. Its all just repeat the same dogma and presume people will see it just like they do. Dont they realise no amount of scriptures and platitudes will convince us. We have heard it all before and it didnt change our minds the first hundred times. You'd think they might try a new tack occasionally.

You godbotherers are scared to death because you know kids will flock to ethics classes and enjoy every minute of it. Unlike the scared, bullied little kids whos parents force them into scripture classes. You are scared that if kids learn to think for themselves they might not listen to your priests and might ask questions that you godbotherers have no answers to. LONG LIVE ETHICS CLASSES.

Obedience that is based on fear of punishment, this-worldly or otherworldly, is not really goodness, it is merely cowardice.

Runner
Still waiting for your answer: why is what people do in private that hurts nobody your business? I'm not saying that it isn't your business — just curious about why you think that it is.

If you have to worry about all the things that people do in private that hurt nobody, most of which you'll never know about, you must live under the most appalling and oppressive weight. How do you manage to get on with your other responsibilities: like working out for yourself the fairest way to behave in difficult situations not covered in detail by the ten commandments?

Being a lousy typist, I find it smart to draft my comments in Word or similar and give them a spelling/grammar check before pasting the cleaned up version into a post. It doesn't take long and it often saves me from looking even dumber than I am. I recommend it.

@ The Blue Cross (Wed 16 June 10:24:24 AM)

GRE seems to be a good balance presentation (in Yr 3) of all the major belief systems, including visits to churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples.

Simon Wagstaff was just seeking to provide some uniform structured teaching for kids who opted out od SRE or are opted out by their parents. Interestingly, he admits he is a Christian himself (ABC National Sydney 702, this morning).