Hindus & Jews Urge Norway to Treat Various Religions Equally In Schools

April 27, 2009

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Media for Freedom

http://www.mediaforfreedom.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=15589

Rajan Zed, acclaimed Hindu statesman; and Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, prominent Jewish leader in Nevada and California in USA; in a joint statement, said that syllabus of subject “Christian knowledge and religious and ethical education”, taught in Norwegian primary and lower secondary schools, was firmly based in the majority religion and culture, thus resulting in minority faiths getting step-motherly treatment.

According to reports, under this religious education, approximately 55 per cent of the teaching hours are allocated to Christianity; about 25 per cent on Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and other religious diversity and views on life; and approximately 20 per cent on philosophy and ethics. This class is mandatory, without any exceptions for children of other religious groups.

According to Norway Education Act: Teaching in Religion and Ethics shall—provide a “thorough knowledge” of the Bible and Christianity..., provide a “thorough knowledge” of the Evangelical-Lutheran faith and of different Christian denominations, provide “knowledge” of other world religions and philosophies of life, promote understanding and respect for Christian and humanist values,...

Zed and Freirich argued that offering equal treatment to each of the major world religions and non-believers’ viewpoint would make the Norwegian schoolchildren well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.