GOSPEL STORY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 82, 4 October 1944, Page 7

GOSPEL STORY

"MAN AND HIS WORLD"

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE

Mainwaring's book, "Man and . His World,", was mentioned in the House of yester- , day, ..when the. Estimates of the Education Department, W.ere under consideration., The"-subject-, was introduced by Mr.: P.' W." Doidge (National, Tauranga), who said he sincerely hoped the book would not be introduced into the schools. The idea had gone forth that it . was to be recommended. He . thought many people wouid agree ' with the views of Bishop Liston that -the book should be regarded as anti-Christian. The Minister of. Education (Mi. Mason) reminded members that New Zealand's system ol education was secular. Those who did not believe in the secular system would readily apply to thea book, "Man and His World,"-the severe, expressions heard from those who complained of it. However, it/was definitely not antiChristian. .After all, the tone of a school depended on the teachers, among whom there was a strong disposition to teach religion in some such way as the -Nelson system or other legal means. He could not understand the fear which had been expressed regarding this book, which was.accepted by a.very wide circle-that was not antireligiOufe. Mr. Doidge: Clerics of all denominations have roundly condemned it. • Members: No, no! The Minister suggested that if Mr. Doidge would read the book he would be in a better position to judge it. There was only one unfortunate word in the book which was likely to create a wrong impression, and that was the use of.-the word "rumour." The word was often used in a slang .sense in such a phrase as, -."it's only a rumour," or ih-an ironical sense.to suggest unreliability, .But. he .had seen a dictionary - definition .'that rumour was, "a "widespread a&tory."..-..;;. .... .. Mr. E. M,. Algie (National, Remuera): •Biased on fact or imagination? ONE OF A LIST OF BOOKS, The Minister replied that there was nothing suggesting falsity in the word. Everything depended on the teacher. The book was simply listed with others as a guide in the financial sense in securing a supply of suitable books. It had not been - subjected to censorship, and as it was & well-reviewed publication, it was included in the list as one which could be USed. The list Was periodically reviewed, and Would be due for attention in 1946. Books proposed, to be included in the list were, indicated .beforehand to representatives of the profession, and > the list always -consisted of a' generous at-1 ldwaiice of alternative books. " MEANING OF '•RUMOUR.'' Mr; T. C. Webb (National, Kaipara) said he thought.too muph might have been made of the word "rumour." The original meaning of the word was a widely circulated report of a favourable nature. It had since acquired the meaning of an unconfirmed-report, and later still it seemed to have acquired the meaning of a report of a doubtful nature. Mr. J. Thorn (Government, Thames): It has also been defined as a lying jade. , • Mr. Webb said that that was so, but he thought the people, and especially the clergy,,when they were criticising the book, should be charitable enough to credit the author with using the word in the way it would have been used in the period" of which he was writing. "HORNS OF DILEMMA." "We are on the horns of a dilemma," declared Mr. Clyde Carr (Government, Timaru). "We have a system of education whichj according to the Act, is secular. At the same time we have a great many people urging ;that some element of religious education be in-* troduced into the schools. Well> you I can't have, it both Ways. Unless the ,Gospel narrative is. to7be.exlcluded^ •well, then, you must have some book lof reference at least, such as this. 'Man and His World' is not a textibook/' Apparently, continued Mr. Carr, i some., Church dignitaries -were insisting that dogma should be introduced into-the schools, but that could not be done,-because the school children came from families possessing many different creeds. In his opinion, the book treated the Gospel story with reverence and in such a way as to encourage , further research and stimulate a child's interest in the Bible story. It was only an outline. "I think," Mr Carr concluded,' "that Dr. Mainwaring lias .held the balance very fairly and very reverently, so as not to offend the susceptibilities of anybody, but to encourage any of the children who desire to make themselves familiar with the original Gospel story, from, which I •would-suggest th/iy are more likely to learn the truth than from anything ■else." - ' • - v, - ;