RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19412, 21 August 1926, Page 9

RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY.

* Sir,—l notice that a'petition against the Religious Exercises in Schools BiU has been signed by a number of university professors and State school teachers. They contend that such would violate the principle of religious neutrality in our State schools. But are they consistent? A recent issue of the School Journal contained an article. on the evolution of the horse, and I . understand that the evolu-tionary-view of the origin and development of lifo is taught in our university colleges. But there are many, thousands o| people in New Zealand who regard the idea of evolution as definitely anti-Chris-tian. It is in direct conflict with the religious opinions of al! who believe in the verbal inspiration of the-Bible. Yet these people are:taxed-to pay for the propagation of a theory to, which they strongly object' on religious and conscientious . grounds. They are not'even given the protection of a conscience clause. Personally, I accept- the theory of evolution. I do not think that it in conflict with the Christian faith But; I must admit that the people who, tigKUy or wrongly, regard evolution as anti-Christian have a very real grievance. Indeed, I am surprised that they have not' raised a great public protest. I would like to know what the professors and teachers who have sipped the petition against Mr. Tsitt's bill think about this, matter. The teaching of the theory of evolution in our J Hate schools and colleges is certainly a more serious violation of the religious noufa'ality of the State than (my .of the proposals contained in Mr. Isitt's bill. r . Noiuian Burton.