MAY I reply once more to the 'Pagan Parent'? For the sake of a good debate I would argue that there is a connection between parenthood and Christianity being taught in schools.

No child lives in a spiritual/political/ethical vacuum. Pagan Parent originally stated: "Parents should not choose their child's religion" yet her own children will pick up her own views on this matter. That is a fact

of life. The Pagan Parent is no different from me, we both pass on our value system to our children.

Even if Pagan Parent had the power to remove Christianity from schools it would be her choice and would force her opinion onto her children and mine.

These are big issues. Who has the right to set the agenda? The state? The church? The individual?

I have no problem with this Pagan Parent not wanting to push religion onto her children but her actions are not value-free. That is the point I am trying to make. Hence it has been argued by some atheists that parents should not teach their children at all and if there is any truth to this, why have children?

She asks how I would respond if Christianity was replaced by Hinduism in our schools. It is an interesting question but it would not solve her original

problem. History has shown many times that when Christianity is usurped and Christians are persecuted, the church still thrives.

As a Christian minister I am very passionate about the 'Truth.' Pilate asked Jesus: "What is truth?" A simple question, but no easy answer. Truth for me is to be found in religion, politics, art, science, in relationships and so on. Ultimate truth does not lie wholly within religion, or indeed within anything else. My faith is a journey. Maybe one day I will discover what

truth is but now I am more than happy searching for it.

Reverend John B. Gordon (address supplied).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.