Dialogue - part 1 Flashcards
(16 cards)
How is Christianity embedded in British life now?
- School terms are arranged around the Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter
- The Christian calendar includes other British traditions, such as Valentine’s Day (a Saint’s day), Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) and Halloween (the day before All Saints’ Day)
- The week has 7 days, reflecting the biblical story of the creation of the universe
What is the role of the monarch?
- To approve the appointment of senior clerics (archbishops, bishops and deans of cathedrals)
- To open new sessions of the General Synod (the Church’s governing body), since 1919, the Synod has had the power to propose laws on any matter concerning the C of E
- To keep the coronation vow to maintain the Church
What is the role of bishops in the House of Lords?
- Role of the House of Lords includes holding the gov accountable for its actions and its spending, and making laws. New laws must be approved by both House of Commons + Lords
- None of the Lords are elected
- Includes 26 Lords Spiritual who are all C of E bishops, meaning that bishops can play a significant role in the gov
Christian services to mark key events (rite of passages)
- Baptism
- Marriage
- Funeral
- Christian services also mark key events in British public life. For example, the National Service of Remembrance is held in London to remember the contributions of service personnel in both world wars
What are the 4 public holidays based on Christian celebrations?
- Good Friday, remembers death of Jesus
- Easter Monday, 2nd day of Easter, celebrates Jesus’ resurrection by allowing workers an extra day off
- Christmas, celebrates birth of Jesus
- Boxing Day, marks the day on which workers were traditionally given a Christmas box by the people they served. Also the Feast of St Stephen
What are church schools?
The first schools in England were founded by the Church and attached to cathedrals and monasteries. Today about one third of state-funded schools in England and Wales are faith schools. This means that although their income is from public funds, these schools have a ‘religious character’.
What are the laws regarding religious education in school?
- All pupils must be taught religious education
- All schools should provide a daily act of worship
- Religious education should reflect the fact that the traditions of England are mainly Christian
- For state schools without a religious charter, more than half of the acts of worship should be Christian
What are the arguments against church schools?
- Some people and organisations are against the principle that religious groups should be able to use public money to fund schools
- These organisations include the National Secular Society and the British Humanist Association, who say that if the churches want faith schools, they should fund themselves
- They believe that faith schools select pupils from the wealthiest families and so do not represent their local communities
How do religious groups argue for church schools?
- Since they contribute 10% of the costs of some faith schools, they are actually paying for public education
- If some religious families are wealthy, then they pay higher taxes and so contribute more than most people to state education, including non-faith schools
- The curriculum that faith schools follow, is the same as that for all state schools
- Parents should be able to choose schools for their children that share their values
What is secularisation?
The idea that religious beliefs, practices and organisations are becoming less important in society.
What is the observable evidence of secularism?
- Religious teachings and organisations are no longer respected
- We can rely on material comforts for our happiness and so have less need to believe in supernatural ideas
- Religion has become a private matter and has less influence in public life
- People are increasingly less committed to religious values and practices such as prayer and worship
- Religion has become a ‘leisure pursuit’ rather than a deep commitment
What are the causes and effects of secularisation?
Causes:
- Rationalisation: society becomes committed to following practical and provable principles
- Differentiation between the Church and state as new institutions (law, education, health) are no longer directly relevant to religion
- Decline of community
Effects:
- Fewer people get married now
- Fewer people are baptised into C of E, and even fewer are confirmed
- Christian festivals like Christmas and Easter have lost their Christian significance in British society
What are the arguments against secularisation occurring?
- Even though traditional religious beliefs and organisations have lost their appeal, most people still hold religious beliefs
- Religion is very important in many social groups, particularly minority ethnic groups (Muslims)
- Some new religious movements and eastern religions have experienced considerable popularity
What is humanism and what 3 principles do humanists share?
Humanism is a way of seeing and reacting to the world using science, logic and reason and rejecting religious beliefs and ideas.
Principles:
- A scientific view of the universe that rejects supernatural beliefs
- A concern for the welfare of other human beings and animals based on reason, not divine authority
- The need for each person to create meanimg in their own life without a belief in life after death
What does the British Humanist Assocation campaign to do?
- Disestablish the C of E
- Remove the right of Anglican bishops to sit in the House of Lords
- Abolish faith schools
What are the potential clashes between religious and secular values in education?
- The National Secular Society isn’t against religion or teaching about the religious represented in Britain however it is against the idea of the state promoting religion and the confessional teaching of Christianity in Christian schools
- Also believes that non-religious and humanist world views should also be taught
- The British Humanist Association opposes religious worship in state schools, saying that religious worship ignores the right of children to freedom of belief and conscience
