@David Palmer. "The fact is that prior to the 1870's many schools were started and owned by the churches, like the one next door to the Presbyterian Church I attend. The churches (RC's excepted) handed over their Schools to the State and in return provision was made for religious education."

Great, so no SRI for my daughter's primary school then - it was purchased as vacant land by the education department around 1910. We don't live under some tyranny of the past. I don't see how the above is a valid argument. There was no undertaking that Christianity would be included as part of the state curriculum in perpetuity and the churches understood that state education would be secular. Society progresses and evolves.

As for teaching the role of Christianity in Australian society, SRI doesn't do that in its current form. Students can do 12 years of SRI as a buddhist or muslim and not learn the first thing about Christianity in Australia. The fury and bullying from ACA and friends is nonsensical.

I agree with Tim for calling out the ACA for their lack of reasoning, bullying, posturing and re-writing of history. In the absence of a reasonable argument, I can only assume they don't have one.

So...if it shakes your hand in peace.......tell it to shove it up there arse:) Your beautiful free woman's.....will love you for it.

Religion! What a waste of human time.

LEA

I had not previously heard of Special Religious Instruction. Is it something peculiar to state schools in Victoria? How did it arise and how prevalent is it? I agree with the comments of Rhys Jones on the need to preserve a secular public education. Children can be taught to understand the part religion has played in our history and culture without exposing them to doctrinaire beliefs.

I also totally agree with the author. Rob Ward makes the statement that “It is a simple fact that culture derives from who or what a society values most.” However, another simple fact is that religion has not been a significant part of the culture of a considerable majority of Australians for many decades. In reality, most Australians don’t give a toss about religion. Figures show that at least 9 out of 10 Australians never go to church except to attend weddings and funerals. Progressively over the last century or so Australians have voted with their feet and walked away from the church. What groups like the ACL, ACCESS Ministries, Scripture Union and all the other godbotherers seem unable to accept is that most people no longer ground their moral beliefs in the teachings of the church. The funny thing is that, contrary to the expectations of many Christians, the sky has not fallen in. People have come to realize that, in the modern world, most of moral teachings of the Bible are irrelevant, silly or just plain wrong

On the matter of religion in schools, the various groups that provide chaplains and RI teachers attempt to hide their real agenda. Spokespersons for these groups make soothing statements for public consumption but what they really believe is something quite different. For example, Evonne Paddison, CEO of ACCESS Ministries, in an opinion piece on the ABC’s Religion and Ethics webpage, made the statement that “SRI is not about ‘making converts,’ but about education.” Contrast that with this direct quote from a Testimonial to Paddison on the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne website: “God has opened this door which we may not always have,“ Evonne explains. “State school chaplaincy is often cutting edge, and I am delighted more people are expressing interest in a calling to chaplaincy. It’ a great way of serving God, serving his people and making new people for him”. I think it is safe to assume that when she used the words “making new people for him” she was not talking about having babies. The Testimonial also states that “Evonne sees this access into state schools as a hugely significant ministry, offering an extraordinary gospel opportunity to reach young people”.

Is that clear enough for everyone?