Facts
- The law in England and Wales requires that the main content of religious education in non-denominational schools must be devoted to the study of Christianity.
- The content of religious education is determined at the level of the local education authority. The law requires that syllabuses “shall reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian whilst taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain.”1
- There must also be a daily act of collective worship in schools (this usually takes place as an assembly) and it must be “wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character.”2
- Worship is deemed to be of a broadly Christian character “if it reflects the broad traditions of Christian belief without being distinctive of any particular Christian denomination”.3 State schools can positively promote Christianity although they cannot promote any one Christian denomination.
- There are provisions for pupils from non-Christian faiths to have collective worship and RE according to their own faith.4
- The law has always provided for a parental right of withdrawal from both worship and RE.5 Teachers also have a right of withdrawal.6
- The 1988 reforms followed concerns that worship was becoming a secular ceremony in too many schools and that RE had become a confusing multi-faith amalgam.
- In Scotland there are parallel arrangements, which rely on traditional practice. Although there is no daily collective worship required by legislation, schools often appoint chaplains from the Church of Scotland and other denominations, and it is not at all uncommon for a school to hold termly services in the local Parish Church.
Biblical arguments
According to the Bible, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). True education must start with an acknowledgement of the one true God. This applies across the curriculum, not just in RE.
Jesus Christ commanded Christians to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15). In the past Christians have seen education as part of fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission.
Secularism is not neutral. It is hostile to Christian belief and cannot provide a neutral basis for education. In 1944 when the Education Act was passed County schools were assumed to be non-denominational but Christian. This assumption was widely accepted until the late 1970s.
The Bible provides God-given moral absolutes for personal and social conduct. All children should be given the opportunity to examine the teaching of the Bible.
Theological pluralism
Teaching approaches in religious education are very important. Teaching which denies the exclusive truth claims of Christ, and the other faiths is of particular concern. Poor RE teaching can deny the integrity of all faiths. To teach that all religions are the same is a faith position which must be vigorously challenged.
This position is sometimes called theological pluralism. John Hick, one of its leading advocates, argues that all religions are cultural expressions of the same reality.7
Jesus made exclusive claims: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me”.8
The other faiths also make exclusive claims. Christians must fight against theological pluralism, which denies the mutually exclusive truth claims of Christianity and the non-Christian faiths.
Practical involvement
Many schools invite local churches to help them fulfil their RE and collective worship obligations. Christian teachers can also play a full role. Given the decline in church attendance amongst the young, an RE lesson or school assembly might be the only opportunity a young person will ever get to hear the gospel.
Key Points
- The legal requirements for RE and collective worship in state schools are quite modest: they provide the opportunity for young people to examine the truth claims of the Christian faith. Given our Christian heritage and the fact that Christianity is a major world religion, it makes sound educational sense for young people to study Christianity. (See Christian Freedoms and Heritage.)
- Because of poor or inadequate religious education there is much ignorance amongst young people on the basic facts of the Christian faith. A survey in 2000 found that only 38% of 18-34 year olds could say what happened on Good Friday and only 45% knew what happened on Easter Day.9
- Christianity is the major world religion which transcends all barriers of culture and race. It has a major role to play in the elimination of racism and cultural intolerance.
- 1This is now section 375(3) of the Education Act 1996
- 2Section 386(2), Education Act 1996
- 3Section 386(3), Education Act 1996
- 4Section 387, Education Act 1996
- 5Section 389, Education Act 1996
- 6Section 30, Education Act 1944
- 7Hick J H Jesus and the World Religions in Hick J H (Ed.) The Myth of God Incarnate, SCM Press Ltd, 1977.
- 8John 14:6
- 9Easter Poll Research Study Conducted for the Mail on Sunday, MORI, 14 April 2000. Research based on a representative sample of 503 adults aged 18 and over. Interviews carried out by telephone throughout Great Britain on 14 April 2000.
