With any talk of
religious freedom, sexuality and racial discrimination, the tensions can run
high. Can a religious school uphold a particular value system that may be at
odds with someone else’s view? And to what extent? When do the school’s freedom
to express their long-held beliefs impinge on the freedom that one has to be
express their own sexuality or agnostic values or atheistic views? When has a
Christian school overstepped the line?
The conversation hit the
airwaves when the Principal of Citipointe Christian College in
Queensland, had amended their school contract asking students to formally
reject homosexuality and transgenderism. As the ABC report says, “Brisbane's Citipointe Christian College withdraws sexuality
contract after backlash”. The Principal has since stepped aside
amid an onslaught of angry and deeply disappointed teachers and parents.
This is the extreme case
of a contentious and divisive discussion. The Christian schools I know of are
welcoming of all people, irrespective of their gender, their sexuality, their
race and religion. All are welcome. And all are welcome to be curious learners,
to be stretched in their education, to develop their learning toolkit that
would prepare them for the life they have ahead of them.
Though, at some point, there will
always be a clash of cultures and beliefs; there’s no getting around that. Some
believe the earth was formed in 6 large periods of time. Some believe it was
six literal days. Some believe in theistic evolution, others remain agnostic
and hold to the view that it’s impossible to know whether a deity was actually
involved. Some are supporters of the big bang, without a deity in the picture.
You get the point. There are numerous viewpoints and this is just one issue:
creation.
A myriad of views
There are a number of viewpoints on any
such topic as human sexuality, race relations, the political direction of the
country, refugees and global migration and even whether you should drink Pepsi
or Coke (or stay away from sugary drinks!).
I believe we all should have freedom to
believe what we want. Though even that has limits. If you believe in the right
to not be vaccinated, does that mean you can still galivant the countryside
during a pandemic without any consequences?
While I believe in the freedom to believe
what you want, there is still boundaries around that freedom. When your value
system impinges on the safety and security of another person, then one has the
right to question that belief system.
In a 21st century, pluralist
society, you and I walk around the earth with differing views on many issues. Though
I hope that when I wander around, the inherent thrust of what I believe might
rub off on another person. I make a difference in the world through my presence
in this world. I don’t therefore have to impose my beliefs on another person.
I can tell you what I believe if you want to hear. I believe all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God. I believe Jesus died for our sins and those
who believe in him will receive forgiveness of sins. I believe that too much
alcohol ruins your brain cells. I believe that too much social media isn’t good
for your mental health. I believe the church has had a complex history of
loving people some days and then excommunicating people on other days.
You and I need to learn to live in
peace with one another (see Romans chapter 12, verse 18). Let your light
shine in such a way that, instead of imposing your values on another, people
inherently want to live the way you do because of who you are and how you behave.
That’s the crux for Christian schools. They
should be watering holes of grace and peace, that seek to raise up resilient,
intelligent and active students that want to bring restoration to the world we
live in. When we abuse the religious freedom we have by dictating what someone
must believe, we look outdated to the world around us, we hurt people and we put
barriers up to the very Christ that we seek to emulate.
* First published here: https://christiantoday.com.au/news/religious-freedom-in-australian-schools.html
