| From our Senior Minister |
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Dear Family and Friends, Are you aware of the present danger to Scripture in Schools? In November last year, then Premier Nathan Rees intervened to waive regulations and give year 5 & 6 students in some schools a choice between SRE (Special Religious Education) and the trial of Ethics-based classes. What is the problem? Well there are several. Firstly, the so called ‘Ethics' proposal is not ‘belief - neutral'. It claims to be simply practical thinking and decision making. However, in reality it is based on a secular humanism which teaches faith in humanity and removes spiritual foundations. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that students will ‘unwittingly encounter the higher thoughts of philosophers such as John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant'. In the end it can teach a way of thinking about ethics but it is not able to teach what we would call ‘ethical' or ‘moral' behavior because without a belief in God, it has no grounds on which to base it. Secondly, it is not difficult to discern a deeper agenda which has not been stated up front by those who proposed the trial. The ethics classes are, for some people, a vehicle for the removal of SRE or ‘Scripture' as it is often called from our public schools. Christian SRE attendance has dropped by as much as 60% in some schools where the trial has been conducted. In the past, many people have been keen for their children to attend SRE because they were confident that their children will learn about what is moral and good. If they now send their children to the ‘Ethics Classes' the children will not receive the same principles. The numbers in SRE may well be significantly reduced and the classes marginalized with the lower numbers. We have SRE teachers in a number of schools around Parramatta. It is a great opportunity which is at risk. Please pray for God to overrule in his sovereign grace for the people of our state, that their children would hear the good news of salvation. Give your statement of support by logging on to this website: SREonTRIAL.com.au
Bruce Morrison |