Recently in youth Category

Tony Collins' story in a recent edition of the Birmingham Mail about the importance of youngsters' spiritual development made very interesting reading. So why is religious education treated like a hot potato in some schools?

Pamela Taylor, the principal of Birmingham's Newman University College, said: "the spiritual and emotional development of young people has never been more important." She goes on to say: "encouraging dialogue and understanding between different groups ... has never been so vital."

As a Christian myself, I am not surprised at her comments - I believe that all of us have a God-shaped void in our lives that only He can fill. My faith teaches me that God is interested in every area of our lives and wants to build relationships with us. So, as education is important to us, it is to God too. That's why I'm working with Christian Media Services, bringing stories of the tangible benefits of Christian faith to the world.

That said, why is Religious Education not been given full expression in schools and why is Christianity, in particular, marginalized in certain areas?

Recognition and respect should be given to all faiths in all schools, regardless of the religious make-up of that school. So what if the school is, for example, majority Hindu? That does not mean you only teach Hinduism there. Are these Hindu kids not going to encounter anyone of any other faith for the rest of their lives? And what about the non-Hindu kids in that school?

Education authorities need not be frightened of our religious differences, and more importantly, they shouldn't allow our children to be.

The society I grew up in was multi-cultural too and there was a better understanding of cultural /religious diversity because each faith was taught and discussed freely in school.

Kids are growing up now without any real understanding of other faiths, aside from that gained from lurid headlines and extremist views.

The lack of education into these issues at an early age is only storing up the potential for misunderstanding, fear and hatred when these youngsters grow up.

Am I going too far?

Do you think the lack of religious teaching in schools contribute to fear and disharmony? Did you do RE in school? Did it help or hinder your relations with people of different cultures/ faiths?

God Bless ... and I mean that whatever you call Him,

Veron
www.GMAgency.co.uk

I don't know about you, but each news bulletin lately seems to include at least one report that makes me wonder what the world is coming too.

As I prepared to write this blog, news came through of the case of Paulo Jorge Nogueira da Silva, the lorry driver who ploughed and killed a family of six with his 40-ton truck last year, only to be given a three year sentence.

What?

That discussion is for another day, but what about another incredible story, that of Alfie Patten, the thirteen year old boy who last week was named the father of a baby born to his fifteen year old girlfriend.

Are we hearing correctly? To make matters worse, other young boys have come forward saying that they, not Alfie, may be the fathers of baby Maisie. With all the talk of DNA testing to prove who the real father is and the appointing of Max Clifford as media adviser to Alfie (why?), one question remains unanswered: where are these teenage parents' own families?

As I was growing up I used to long for the 'freedom' many of my friends were given. They always seemed able to stay out later and longer, go wherever and do whatever they wanted to. They never, as I did, had to account for where they were going, who they would be with and when they were getting back.

All I can say now is, thank God for strict parenting and a supportive family network. I was raised with a generous slice of good, 'yard-style' training fresh from Jamaica. As much as I wanted to mess about as a kid, there were few opportunities to get away with anything and there were serious consequences if I got caught. What boundaries have these poor little rebels been given?

Time for the parents to be called to question and punished. Do you agree?