THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20450, 3 July 1928, Page 5

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

r TO THE EDITOK. l' Sir, — "T>. B. F." instances the historical record of religion or Ghristianity after himself emphasising the fact that we should not serve up old stuff of this kind which was dealt with last year, ami to dot If T launch into cor-

rection of the views expressed by " D. B. F.," I may run foul of the editor's scissors, and if I let them go they will be taken as self-evident facts which I cannot dispute. "D. B' F." writes of the "uplifting character of the Bible and of its beneficial influence on conditions of humanitarian reform. He must be singularly ignorant of the real record of his religion to make such an utterly unfounded statement. Scientific advancement is also placed, at least in part, to the credit of Christianity. Nothing could be further from the actual truth. . Every single early reform, the fruits ot which we now enjoy, was stubbornly resisted by the Christian religion and its advocates. Scientific advancement was held up and its spirit altogether strangled in Europe for hundreds of years, lo its survival and consequent development we have to thank the splendid Moorish civilisation in Spain and Mohammedanism, which, when Christianity was burning, slaying, and torturing all over .Europe, assiduously fostered and developed science and humanitarianism. lam quite ready and eager to supply annihilating evidence of this sort, but I forego the pleasure on condition that " D. B. F." confines himself as much as possible to argument as to whv we should teach religion to New Zealand children. The broad fact stands Unchallengeable that the last century, which hss been notable for an unprecedented decline in religious belief,.has shown a corresponding and mighty step forward in civilisation, social reform, humanitarianism, industrial development. This simply represents the release of the various forces which work for enlightenment from the paralysing stranglehold of superstition. It is of much greater importance than some realise because it constitutes an unanswerable argument against the introduction of religion to our schools.—l am, etc., E. W. F. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l have read with, interest the letters in your columns for and against this question, and it is quite evident that the advocates of the Bible-in-schools cannot furnish you with any evidence in favour of their case. Occasionally, an odd bishop here and there may rush to the fair pouring out abuse on the people and calling them names and charging them with ignorance, but that simply recoils on himself. Anything that Mr Tennant has written on this matter up to the present does not count either one way or another, for it lacks evidence of a convincing nature. In your issue of to-day "D. B. F." reminds "E. W. F." that "sound debate is characterised _ by accuracy of statement and quotation," for most of the conclusions expressed by "D. B. F." himself ■ will not stand fair investigation, according to authentic history. All leading thelogians do not now believe all the Bible. —I am, etc., Theologian. [The above letters have been' considerably abridged.—Ed. O.D.T.]