The saga of the Church of Scotland and The Humanist Society continues. I draw your attention to two articles – the first my own in Christian Today which shows how this whole story has been spun.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/the.politics.of.spin.in.the.church/35691.htm
The second from Forward Together
http://www.forwardtogether.org.uk/forward-together-statement-on-religious-observance-in-schools/
This latter, despite being the result of an investigation is very naive. The notion of the Church of Scotland and the Humanists allying together to protect religious observance from the evil machinations of the Scottish Secular Society is ludicrous. I have been involved with this from the beginning and I have no doubt that the majority of SSS would want religion removed altogether – but that is not what their petition asks for and I believe they are sincere in seeking to have an opt in rather than an opt out. But what Forward Together do not seem to know is that the Humanist Society did not support SS’s petition because it did not go far enough – not because it went too far! The Humanists want the eradication of any meaningful religion from the education system. It says a great deal about the current state of the C of S that the Humanists were prepared to ally with them to achieve that name. I’m afraid for Forward Together to defend the C of S and Humanists going forward together is at best naive. In a sad way it also helps explain why the evangelical cause in the C of S has been so sidelined. To believe that making common cause with the Humanists to remove Christian worship and prayers from schools, is somehow working for the Gospel, is naive. The original press release and the original joint letter to the Parliament still stands. No matter how it is spun.