6th April, 2010
JIM WALLACE

Richard Dawkins recently scoffed “that the idea that God, the all powerful creator of the universe couldn't think of a better way to forgive humanity's sins than to have himself put on earth, tortured and executed in atonement for the sins of humanity” was “a horrible, depraved notion.” 

And yet the strength of belief, and more importantly hope, in the death and resurrection of Christ has seen multitudes of Australians attend church over the Easter weekend.

More importantly, this counter intuitive story, a narrative that places self-sacrifice and weakness above strength and status, is one that has preserved compassion and justice in Western societies otherwise seemingly intent on personal gratification and wealth at all costs.

For all the problems of the Christian church, things that inevitably beset any organisation run by people, its motivation derived from this sacrificial act of Christ on the cross still sees it working to help the world’s disadvantaged with more effect and investment than any other single organisation or group.  At the same time Christian youth don’t figure highly in brawls with police on Saturday nights or in suicide bombings. It’s all because of the strength of example in this “depraved notion” as Dawkins calls it. 

The truth is that it is a powerful narrative, but one that is increasingly under attack from those like Dawkins, who prefer unbelief. 

For those attending NSW schools, the recent Easter celebration marked the end of the first term and the beginning of the autumn school holidays. There’ll be two weeks away from school and then in Term 2 they’ll return to class - where it will be business as usual.

However this year is different.

For primary school students in a small number of government schools across the state, there will be one hour a week of school unlike any before.

In November last year, the beleaguered NSW Premier at the time, Nathan Rees, announced a trial of ethics classes in government schools - the plan being to roll them out state wide in 2011. At the time it was reported as part of an attempt on the Premier’s part to clean up the Government’s image.

And it sounds harmless enough. Who in their right minds would be opposed to primary students being taught about ethics?

The fact is that this move has been opposed for a significant period of time by nearly every major faith and denomination in NSW. And with good reason.

Starting next term, these ethics classes are being rolled out in 10 primary schools during the time allocated for special religious education - or what is commonly known as Scripture.

For more than a hundred years NSW has had a proud tradition of recognising the important contribution religious education makes to society. The rule has always been that for that one hour a week, Scripture classes can be held in schools and no other educational programs can be run at the same time – in other words the many students attending aren’t forced to sacrifice other educational opportunities to do so.

However, from next term parents and students at 10 primary schools will be forced to choose between ethics classes and Scripture classes – as will be the case for all NSW primary schools next year.

And despite the Government’s assurances last November that the ethics classes would not diminish the importance of religious education, we now find that these classes are being advertised to students who are currently enrolled in Scripture classes – in other words they are clearly competing with Scripture classes.

In a recent letter to parents at one of the trial schools, the St James Ethics Centre – which has prepared the syllabus for the ethics classes - invited, “participation from Years 5 and 6 students, regardless of whether they currently ‘opt out’ of Scripture/SRE or not.”

Richard Dawkins would be proud of the secular agenda at work. Push religion out of schools altogether by offering attractive new ethics classes that students can’t afford to miss.

It is a choice that offers a false dichotomy – that somehow faith and ethics are alternatives.

Ethics are of course important, and their teaching in school can only be applauded, but they must be set in some worldview.  The opportunity that Scripture teaching gives all religions to offer that worldview is foundational to its teaching and mustn’t be sacrificed.

If the NSW Government truly believes in the importance of ethics education it should be offering it to all students as part of the school curriculum.

Yes ethics are important, but so too is the Christian narrative and particularly the Easter story for a country so strongly founded in the Judeo-Christian heritage.

The Easter message is not about Easter eggs, bunnies or lazy weekends. It’s a message of love and hope that transcends everyday life and says that God did not stop Himself from making the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.

And in that supreme act of love there are lessons for us all, even if Richard Dawkins thinks it a depraved notion.

Jim Wallace is the managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby.

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