Kirk preaching too much socialist dogma

The fact that she is a Scottish Conservative leadership candidate, and that Ewan Aitken is primarily a left-wing socialist, says it all.

Will he now whole-heartedly condemn Roman Catholic state schools? I think not. There would be no political capital to be gained from that. Had a Scottish Labour politician suggested Kirk schools, would he have opposed? Again, I think not.

The Church of Scotland has lost almost half its membership over the past half century. Perhaps this is because far too many of its clergy, especially those in positions of influence, are no longer Christian, but are merely spokespersons for socialist dogma. Too many of the Kirk’s official pronouncements are of a one-sided party-political nature.

Thus, for example, the first Gulf War, legally sanctioned by the UN to liberate a country from a foreign invasion, was condemned by the Church of Scotland; the second Gulf War, which was not sanctioned by the UN, and which was illegal, was not condemned by the Kirk. Why was this?

The first Gulf War was undertaken by a Conservative government, the second (illegal) one by a Labour government. If party politics have become the basis of all the Kirk’s pronouncements, then, sadly, the Kirk can no longer call itself a Christian organisation, and its decline is deserved.

Douglas Hamilton

Lamlash

Isle of Arran

Ewan Aitken does not speak for the Church of Scotland. The purpose of post-Reformation schools was to make children into Christians and to educate them in human knowledge.

In today’s Scottish state schools, the latter purpose continues but the former has been abandoned, largely due to the Church of Scotland’s adoption of the Educational Institute of Scotland’s left-leaning policies over decades.

This has caused the de-Christianising of state schools. Roman Catholic schools in contrast maintain the two ideals of Christian nurture and education.

Christian faith schools would be oversubscribed by parents seeking investment of Christian spiritual and moral values in their children. Are there enough Christian teachers to make them work?

Have no fear. Educational collectivism in Scotland will not allow faith schools to happen. Neither is there sufficient faith, vision or commitment in the Church of Scotland to make them happen.

Diversity in our schools is much needed but not only in the area of Christian faith. Vocational certificated courses are required for non-academic pupils from secondary year one. Schools specialising in various skills, aptitudes and talents would also be welcome if the political totalitarianism of Scottish education could be broken up.

(Rev Dr) Robert Anderson

Blackburn & Seafield Church

MacDonald Gardens

Blackburn

The term “faith school” suggests that education is not given top priority. Moreover, it perpetuates the false idea that religion is a valid element in a public school system.

Religion is at heart a matter of individual choice and if local authorities had genuine responsibility for promoting it they would surely build churches as well as schools.

On the other hand, churches wishing their own schools should also finance these. So-called Roman Catholic schools are not faith schools, being open to all; indeed some may have a minority of Catholic pupils.

Nevertheless, at a time of increasing action against sectarianism in public, we encourage it in our school system. Episcopalian schools represent a sect, not a religion.

A truly faith-based establishment would accept only pupils and staff from the religion involved, thereby reducing its scope for attainment and intensifying divisiveness in society from the earliest stage. Would anyone support separating other public services for specific religions: hospitals, leisure facilities, waste collection?

People’s lives are affected infinitely more by politics than by religion, so why not have political schools? After all, scriptural accounts of the lifestyle of the apostles describe purest communism.

Robert Dow

Ormiston Road

Tranent

The Kirk’s stated opposition to faith schools is unsurprising.

A religious group incapable of articulating a clear system of ethics and doctrine will hardly seek opportunities to propagate its confusion.

The wider debate about faith schools often betrays the incorrect assumption that secular education is neutral. No education is value-free: in many areas, a lack of moral teaching tacitly implies that moral considerations are not important.

Richard Lucas

Broomyknowe

Edinburgh