Skip to main content.
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
A Random Image


Related

More news articles & news archive on Offbeat News


Translate



Advertisements *

What is a cult: Cult Definition
Simple steps to financial health and a good credit score


Elsewhere

'You cannot trust the Gospels. They are unreliable.'


Offbeat News:

‘Holy Ghost’ faces classroom ban

BBC, UK
Apr. 11, 2005
news.bbc.co.uk

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 10896 • Posted: Tuesday April 12, 2005  

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark
Click here... More articles on this topic: Offbeat News

New guidelines for religious education in Norfolk suggest expressions such as the Holy Ghost be banned from lessons because they could confuse pupils.

The Norfolk Agreed Syllabus for religious education recommends that teachers use the term Holy Spirit, to avoid comparisons with ghost stories.

Marian Agombar, who compiled the list, said the document provided advice to teachers, but it was not statutory.

The draft rules will be considered by Norfolk County Council this week.

The guidelines also suggest teachers avoid terms such as the “body of Christ” and the “blood of Jesus” because Christians are not actually eating flesh and blood.

In addition, when lecturing on Judaism, teachers are advised not to refer to the first 39 books of the bible as the Old Testament because it suggests the books are out-of-date.

Ms Agombar, said: “We’ve heard stories of children taking these stories home and becoming confused, particularly the little ones.”

The document was a very small part of a large document which provided advice to teachers in the classroom, she added.

‘Demystify life?’

“It’s basically a list of dos and don’ts for teachers which we have borrowed from someone else and which have already been used to train teachers.”

Head of Notre Dame Roman Catholic School in Norfolk, John Pinnington, said: “Updating language generally is good and if it’s done with caution and respect it could be a good thing.

“But I’m just concerned about its motives, and if they are to demystify life?

“Life has its mysteries and all religions are part of a mystery based on God. It would be ashame to demystify everything.

“But it all depends on the general context of the document.”

‘Over-the-top’

Norfolk secretary for the National Union of Teachers, Tony Mulgrew, said: “I’m sure there’s a lot of good ideas in this document, but it does all sound a bit silly.

“I’ve heard that they plan to change the name of the Old Testament because it makes it sound old.

“Will they change the New Testament too, because that’s not new is it?

“We probably need to look at the whole document, but it does sound over-the-top.”

  • Google Bookmarks
  • Google Reader
  • Gmail
  • Yahoo Mail
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Digg
  • Delicious
  • Blogger Post
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Share/Bookmark


What You Can Do From Here

Read More Articles On These Topics
more cult news articlemore religion news Categories: Offbeat News
more religion news aboutmore Religion News Blog articles about
Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Follow Religion News Blog on Twitter


Read Another Article
Find Related Information
cult research search enginecountercult information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults
Find Related Books


Most Popular Today


Share This Article

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:





Counter Cult Search

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.


Apologetics Search

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.

Home
Latest Headlines
RSS news feed [?]
Headlines by Email
News Trackers
Free content for your site
About RNB
Privacy Policy
Contact RNB
Link to RNB
Advertise on RNB
Apologetics Index
Cult FAQ
Apologetics Search Engine
CounterCult Search Engine