PLANS to tell teachers to drop terms such as "Holy Ghost" and "Old Testament" from religious education lessons have been postponed after they were branded a move too far in political correctness.<\/p>\n
Guidelines drawn up for schools in Norfolk listed a host of terminology and images, which were to be banned for fear of frightening children, or portraying offensive images of various religions.<\/p>\n
Under the recommendations, communion bread and wine would no longer be referred to as the "body and blood of Christ", to avoid "cannibalistic" connotations.<\/p>\n
The phrase "Holy Ghost" was said to imply "a trivial and spooky concept" and so should be substituted with "Holy Spirit", said the guidelines.
\nAnd the Old Testament should not be referred to, as it made the Bible sound out-of-date.<\/p>\n
The guidelines were drawn up by the Norfolk Agreed Syllabus conference, which described them as "a useful thing to help teachers prevent making mistakes".<\/p>\n
But last night, Norfolk County Council said it was reviewing the policy after it was met by a barrage of criticism.<\/p>\n
Maybe they can get a marketing consultant to change the name of the Old Testament as in the case of used cars becoming pre-owned cars. Maybe the "Classic Testament", "Oldie-but-a-Goodie" Testament, or "God’s plan: Volume 1." Possibly they could hype it as a prequel to the New (and improved!) Testament.<\/p>\n
Not referring to the body and blood of Christ in a religious education class is unbelievably stupid. What passes for religious education must be incredibly vapid if what they teach about the Eucharist makes it hard for children to differentiate between what first century Pagans accused the Church of doing. What in the world were they going to refer to it as?<\/p>\n
The guidelines also warned against linking Islam with terrorism and violence by showing "photographs of Muslims holding swords and Kalashnikovs".<\/p>\n