“VARSITIES FRIGHTENED OF RELIGION”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 14, 17 January 1936, Page 3

“VARSITIES FRIGHTENED OF RELIGION”

DIVINITY DEGREE PLANNED. SYDNEP, Jan. 4. “The University of Sydney, the oldest Australian university, is notoriously ' non-rcligious. It is part of a traditional policy to keep religion out,” said I Canon A. H. Garnsey, warden of Bt. I I Paul’s College, yesterday. I Canon Garnsey said the Board of I Theological Studies was seeking an I amendment of the University Act to I allow the granting of divinity degrees. | The Senate hud approved of th-e ncces- I sary alterations, and the final decision I I now rested with the Government. I I The changes would involve no extra | J expense to taxpayers of the Univer“Urgent Need.” Australian universities were far behind colleges in other parte of the world on the question of religion, said Canon Garnsey. They were apparently frightened of religion, and were entirely scientific Or cultural in studies. They were failing to make the highest contribution to Australian life. An established place for religion in Commonwealth universities wa»> urgently needed, he added. Taught in a detached way, with the old lines of demarcation broken down, it could assume a position of great importance. Its relation with philosophy and science was fundamental. Canon Garnsey said the Board of Theological Studies had formulated a scheme for the organisation of religious teaching in universities.