And that Philo is why we need untrained or under trained religious zealots out of our schools.

Our children do not need well meaning well intentioned but unskilled people having close contact with them when they are at their most vulnerable .

When our daughter died my wife was told by a chaplain "Your daughter died because you did not pray enough or believe in Jesus"

On several occasions I have heard well meaning Christians say to young children "God needed your parent in heaven" This is just an example of the well meaning but cruel heartless and ignorant stuff that is spread by religions when people need help the most.

Get religions out of our state schools and stop needing to say sorry for what they do.

Thanks, Tim, for a well balanced and instructive piece. Though succinct, it is thorough enough to outshine the whining and moaning heard from the atheists here.

Just think how much whinging we’ll hear if they happen to lose this one in the High Court.

Dan S de Merengue:"Just think how much whinging we’ll hear if they happen to lose this one in the High Court."

I'm sure there would be "expedientially" more from the proselytes if they were to happen to fail to make their case.

It might even increase "expodentially"...

Yes, Antiseptic,
I find it greatly expedient that this case has been expedited before us. I love a good courtroom drama.

There would be as much moaning and whining from the pro-proselytisers should Atheist Chaplains be allowed into schools and given carte blanche to preach an agenda.

What is the difference for goodness sake? Some reason and ratinality has to apply at some time in this debate.

Who has the right to push a self-interested agenda onto children no matter how good intentioned they think they are.

That is the bottom line. It is not about anti-religion as some of those with strong agendas continue to whip up this anti-secular hysteria.

It is not unreasonable to keep religion separate from the State, indeed it was a religious movement that pushed those freedoms. The interests of Christians or any other religious group are best served by their church and executive councils. There are all manner of Bible classes, chaplaincy and counselling services available via the relevant Church body.

Dear Pelican

OLO is becoming increasingly fraught for those of a progressive nature, with the predominance of neo-conservative articles pimping for religion, laissez-faire capitalism and complete abrogation of responsibility for one's behaviour in composing contributions - unless you bat for the 'wrong' team of course.

Where is Susan Prior?

Just wanted to point out that Atheist Chaplains - oxymoron, much. Like atheism being a religion. Oh, don't get me started...

Time to take a look at what Christians (and its only Christians) want to indoctrinate to the kiddies.

http://www.youtube.com/user/NonStampCollector#p/u/4/zOfjkl-3SNE

If it makes no sense, eliminates an inquiring mind, has different rules for some being more 'equal' than others, chances are it is either religion or some form of totalitarianism be it fascist, communist or capitalist.