UK Students Lack Knowledge of Christianity?

ICC Note

A new report indicates that even though Christians are the majority in UK , the education system has not paid enough attention to Christianity compared with other religions.

By Peter Wooding

07/01/2010 UK (CBN News)-Schools in England have taught core values of the Christian faith for years.

Yet, a new report reveals students in the United Kingdom are confused and even ignorant about their Christian heritage.

The Transforming Religious Education report found that greater attention was being paid to the religious experiences of children of other faiths besides Christianity.

“It is evident that there is uncertainty among many teachers of religious education about what they are trying to achieve in the subject, including how to approach teaching on Christianity,” researchers said in their findings.

Rev. Jan Ainsworth, the Church of England’s chief education officer, said she is concerned by the results. She feels teaching children the core elements of Christianity is vital.

Former Bishop of Rochester Rev. Michael Nasir-Ali said he believes England is in danger of losing it’s Christian heritage if schools don’t provide the right frame work for beliefs.

“The values that arise will also arise from the Christian faith. That has happened in the past,” he explained. “We are living now on past capital. Very much on those values. But if the faith is no longer there, the values also will be challenged and disappear.”

“It says that whilst the spiritual experience of some pupils is valued, that of Christian pupils is generally not valued and sometimes not even heard,” Nasir-Ali said. “This is a matter of great concern in a country where 72 percent of the population describes itself as Christian.”