Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2016

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STUDYING RELIGION IN A SECULAR SCHOOL

‘IT IS THE MARK OF AN EDUCATED MIND TO BE ABLE TO ENTERTAIN A THOUGHT WITHOUT ACCEPTING IT’ (ARISTOTLE).

AUTHOR Mrs Narelle Waverley-Smith Head of Study of Religion

The Guardian recently reported the case of a man in Britain who was marched off a plane, minutes before take-off, by armed officers who suspected him of being an Islamist extremist (Siddique, 2016). At first glance this story appeared to be yet another example of the heightened need, in an increasingly unstable world, to be alert in the face of the global threat of terrorism. But this story had a twist. The man in question was in fact a Christian who was observed by the passenger seated near him, to be texting a prayer before take-off. The details of this case have obviously raised many questions for public discussion. Has all religious belief become justifiably suspect? Can a person no longer perform a religious act, like praying, without being seen as a threat to the wider public? One commentator asked, ‘Who has triumphed if Muslims and Christians and atheists and Hindus all live in perpetual fear and distrust of one another?’(Onuzo, 2016). This is certainly an issue about the hypervigilance resulting from the horrors of terrorist acts in recent times but it also shines a light on the increasing problem of ignorance surrounding religious beliefs and practice. Understanding and appreciating the integral role that religion plays in the lives of many people is essential in our ever increasing multicultural societies.

Year 12 Study of Religion students on an excursion to the Chung Tian Buddhist Temple.

As a senior board subject, Study of Religion does not promote any particular viewpoint or religious tradition. Because Girls Grammar is a secular, pluralist institution with no common religious base, many students enter the Study of Religion course with little or no religious knowledge or experience. Thus our curriculum is constructed around the notion of students starting where they are both in terms of personal interest, and culturally and geographically in terms of the Australian environment, systematically building a broader and deeper experience and knowledge base. Topics that are investigated include the role of ritual, the relationship between religion and politics, and the debate between creationists and evolutionists. Our Study of Religion students learn through the inquiry method, a process that contributes to their ability to formulate ideas, make judgments and reach conclusions. The course ‘encourages students to move beyond acquisition of facts to the development of ideas and concepts’(Queensland Studies Authority, 2008). The development of such skills will clearly serve our students well, both now and into the future. We are regularly told by parents how topics covered in class have led to engaging discussions at the dinner table and many have expressed their desire to study this subject themselves.

H ow can we prepare our students for a world where they will both encounter, and need to engage with, world views that are not their own? Knowledge is obviously the key.

Religion is intricately woven throughout the human story and continues to be dynamic in its various forms and functions. We are reminded on a daily basis through the global news feed, in stories like that of our suspected terrorist, of the profound role that beliefs, attitudes and values play in the way we see ourselves and others. As a modern pluralist society and indeed in a progressive school such as ours, it can seem surprising that archaic beliefs of the kind espoused by extremists continue to have a profound effect on us all, religious and non-religious alike. Studying religion allows us to develop our understanding of this complex phenomenon. The academic subject, Study of Religion, employs perspectives of various schools of thought, including sociology, anthropology and psychology, in investigating religious traditions and ways in which they shape the worldviews of individuals, cultures and the wider society. Study of Religion is not religious instruction.

REFERENCES

Onuzo, C. (2016, March 5). My friend was texting prayers. If this is suspicious, the terrorists have won [Text message]. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/04/terrorists- distrust-together-easyjet-flight-text

Queensland Studies Authority. (2008). Study of Religion Syllabus .

Siddique, H. (2016, March 4). Man removed from UK flight over ‘prayer’ message on phone. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/uk- news/2016/mar/03/man-removed-easyjet-flight-luton-prayer-message- phone

AUTUMN ISSUE / 2016