The Education Secretary, Mr Kenneth Clarke, has insisted, in a letter circulated to education authorities, that schools should devote more attention to Christianity in religious education. The letter warns that a syllabus must devote a “reasonable amount of attention to teaching based on Christian traditions,” according to a Press report. It rules out the
kind of syllabus which does not mention God, the Bible or Jesus Christ. So far, so good, but we fear that the kind of Christianity taught will be of a very watered down kind. The low state of religion in the land is one cause of the lamentable situation regarding the teaching of Christianity in schools. The other cause is the influx of people into the land and into our schools from other countries whose religion is opposed to Christianity, such as Muslims, Hindus etc. The Government is being pressed to concede state funding for Islamic schools. What trouble a backsliding land has brought upon itself!