To “have an opinion”:

“The role of the public school is to be non-political and non-religious”?

Really. Oh so that’s why The Age is attacking the teaching of Islam and Gaia worship in schools. Oh – sorry, it isn’t. Christians are being singled out and targeted, for some mysterious reason.

“ Parents have the choice to send their child to a religious school, I assume by the meer presence of catholic, christian, islamic school their is religious instruction, and in a public school there definately should not be.”

But not everyone can afford a religious education. Why can’t religion be taught with the option of opting out if the parents hate Jesus with a hot, hot, hate? You’re just singling out Christians. This sounds like bigotry.

PS> Christians also pay taxes, so I don’t buy your tax argument either.

BPT, unlike you I don't set myself up as an expert on all matters nor do I subscribe to conspiracy theories as you seem to do. So people concerned about global warming are also embracing Islam? Interesting. And your expertise on climate science is? You've been listening to too many school chaplains.

You seem to be unaware of the fact that Islamic fundamentalists, just like Christian fundamentalists, oppose the science supporting concerns about anthropogenic climate change, they support creationism over evolution and anything else that is remotely antiscience.

Your attitude isn't surprising really given your preference for magical thinking. But it always does make me wonder why Christians who believe God created everything seems so happy to trash his creation, namely the Earth?

Unlike you I believe very little, I'm swayed by the best arguments that are supported by evidence at the time, my mind isn't welded shut to new ideas as yours is. To date, you have provided neither argument nor evidence, just the usual fundamentalist close mindedness I've come to expect from caring Christians. I can tell you been taking Steve Fielding far too seriously.

Nicholas Tuohy, your defense of proselytising gives the game away. NSCP guidelines forbid proselytising but at least you're honest about it. Evangelising ought to be forbidden too, because it also has little to do with education and everything to do with suggestion and influence.

You might consider the view of your more enlightened Baptist colleague in Melbourne, Reverend Nathan Nettleton, who wisely told a Senate committee on 9 November 2009 that "The state should not privilege the convictions of any particular religious tradition, even a majority tradition, over the convictions of those who dissent from it".

Contrary to what religious supremacists and apologists may claim, Nettleton's philosophy is the true nature of secularism, which is clearly being trampled by the missionary zeal of proponents for the National School Chaplaincy Program and opt-out Special Religious Education in public schools, even as those proponents seek to deceive the public that their activities are purely non-denominational and that they are not grooming school children towards their particular religious beliefs.

It is time for a few reality checks and a proper consideration of what makes good public policy in balance of everyone's common interests. There is nothing that an unqualified chaplain can do that a trained youth worker or counsellor could not do equally well if not better, minus the sectarian baggage and inherent discrimination incurred by the government requiring religion as a qualification for employment. When it comes to religious education, even Christians such as Professor Gary Bouma single out the ACCESS Ministries SRE/CRE curriculum for criticism ("crap"). If RE cannot be broad and academically credible, then it has no rightful place in school time on school grounds at the expense of Aussie taxpayers or our shared secular values. It certainly should not result in kids going home to tell their parents, relatives or friends about going to hell for theirs sins, as has been reported.

"Really. Oh so that’s why The Age is attacking the teaching of Islam and Gaia worship in schools."

Islam and Gaia do not supply 97% of SRI to Victorian schools, nor do they accept million of dollars annualy from federal and state governments to supply representative to public schools. Just like you, I would be fighting against them if they did.

"But not everyone can afford a religious education."

Everyone can afford to go to church. Last time I check many were free, although some ask for 10% of your gross income.

"Why can’t religion be taught with the option of opting out if the parents hate Jesus with a hot, hot, hate?"

Why don't the religious groups offer their views and parents can opt their children in?

"You’re just singling out Christians. This sounds like bigotry."

Oh, you poor, poor Christians with your measly 97% of SRI classes.

"PS> Christians also pay taxes, so I don’t buy your tax argument either."

We are not talking about individuals. The ATO grants tax exemptions to organisations which make supernatural claims.

Raptor says

“Nicholas, You are exactly the type we are trying to protect our children from.”

This highlights the irrational fear Aussies have of faith. I would have thought we would be trying to first protect children from paedophiles, sexualisation in the media, bullying and violence, and obesity. This rhetoric of demonising people of faith is common in these forums and from those who oppose Chaplancy/CRE. The ad hominem attacks are not helpful in the debate.

“What they object to is the mechanism that makes it close to compulsory”

I too would object to compulsory RE classes. Fortunately under the government legislation what we have are voluntary ones.

Chaplaincy advocates deliberately misrepresent the issue for their own advantage, which is one reason why I am suspicious of them.
The “phobia” of people of faith again. Perhaps we need a new term: “Fidephobia”- ‘The irrational and unfounded fear of people of faith’.

“The chaplain likes to bring 'child development experts…they turn out to be nothing more than church leaders or someone that has a show on the Christian radio station.”
Do church leaders and Christians have absolutely nothing to offer society? Should we round them up and imprison them, perhaps? Imagine replacing your phrase to read like this: “they turn out to be nothing more than [women, indigenous people, Russians] or someone that has a show on the [women’s, indigenous, Russian] radio station” Do you see how bigoted, intolerant, and small-minded your comment is?

"The chaplain also runs bible classes and the like at lunch time and invites students along”

Are they forced to come? Or do we think our students are so mindless, and the education system so bankrupt that they would be unable to make informed choices for themselves? I think our education system equips students to be robust and intelligent enough to decide on what events they will or will not attend. By the way, is it a crime under the law to invite people to read and discuss a book?

Now Nicholas.

Picking on The Age appears to be yet another apologetic diversion.

I see little point in singling them out when the Victorian Education Union voted last Friday 13th (unlucky for some) to align with Fairness In Religion In Schools (FIRIS) and remove the monopoly of Christianity. Then there's the ABC, The Punch, independent writers, religious writers, ABC religion and ethics, etc... And parents, lawyers, supporters. Read the readers comments and do a quick tally.

It's not about "nasty Christians". Far from it. Eye of the beholder might be at play my friend, as The Age is simply the messenger here. It is, and always has been, about the children of Victoria. In a multi-faith community with a plethora of cultures, 96% coverage is of significant concern.

Yes, Evonne has been caught out. The entire transcript is here;

http://www.scribd.com/doc/55338278/ACCESS-Ministry-s-head-Evonne-Paddison-s-speech-to-Anglican-Evangelical-Fellowship

And facts have a way of speaking for themselves. For any interested in a fair education for their children may I point readers to this YouTube channel to keep up with developments, access more material/web sites and review recent events;

http://www.youtube.com/user/religionsinschool