eChurch Blog

Yesterday was of course Easter Sunday, focusing on the glorious resurrection and wondrous victory over death and sin of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In view of this, I was somewhat surprised, puzzled, and a little disheartened, to view the ‘theme of the day’ emanating from prominent Christians.

We had Cardinal O’brien attacking secularists, Lord Patten attacking secularists, Bishop John Sentamu attacking secularists and Cranmer attacking secularists.

Now, this post is not about the march of secularism, but is a gripe at the use of our most Holy Day to vent our spleen at those opposed to our faith.

The Church Mouse has also rightly criticised Bishop John Pritchard for choosing Good Friday to discuss admission policies to Church schools.

Surely, Easter at least, is a time when we can leave far behind the concerns of this world and focus our minds on the things above.

I know some years back, in some Church of England diocese,  the Lay Reader course was connected with – and accredited through – the University of Wales, Lampeter. However, I don’t know if this still holds true.

This is an interesting development nonetheless, especially given that this University is the oldest in Wales (possibly 3rd oldest in UK), and is renown for its theology department which validates degrees internationally.

THE University of Wales could face an inquiry into an allegation it is breaching a new equality law by validating degrees at Christian fundamentalist colleges run by groups that believe homosexuality and sex outside marriage is sinful.

A number of senior academics in Wales intend to make a formal complaint about the university’s involvement with such colleges to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

On Tuesday, Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 comes into force. It introduces a public-sector equality duty which imposes on public authorities a legally enforceable obligation to “have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act”.

One of the “protected characteristics” defined in the Act is sexual orientation. Public bodies that fail to comply with the equality duty can face action in the civil courts.

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This is breaking news and I can’t find anything online yet that I don’t have to pay for, except this link to the National Secular Society.

Sorry about that. I’ll update this post as news becomes available from more friendly sources.

UPDATE:

Here’s the full judgement in PDF format

This from the Associated Press:

European court: Crucifix acceptable in classrooms

Cranmer was quick off the mark.

Final link on this, with Vatican statement:

National Catholic Reporter – Big win for the Vatican in European crucifix case

Mad as March Hares, they are really are. Take my advice and home educate:

A number of made-up words such as “koob” or “zort” are to be included in the government’s planned new reading test for six-year-olds in England.

The idea has drawn criticism from literary experts who say the approach will confuse those beginning to read.

The UK Literacy Association said the plan was “bonkers” as the purpose of reading was to understand meaning.

The government said non-words were being included to check pupils’ ability to decode words using phonics.

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English is not even a fonetik phonetic friendly language!

Telegraph:

The Everyday Champions Church, based in Newark, Nottinghamshire, has said it will teach evolution as a “theory”.

Free schools can be set up by charities, universities, businesses, educational groups, teachers and groups of parents.

The church wants to open the new school in September next year and says there are currently not enough secondary places available in the area.

Pastor Gareth Morgan, the church’s leader, told the Independent: “Creationism will be embodied as a belief at the Everyday Champions Academy but will not be taught in the sciences. Similarly, evolution will be taught as a theory.”

Evolution is a recognised part of the science curriculum.

But free schools will have freedom from following the national curriculum.

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I’m not denigrating this initiative, however, I despair at our society if the report is indeed accurate.

Telegraph:

A Coalition-backed report published today warns how many parents, particularly those on low incomes, are “ill-informed or poorly motivated” when it comes to raising their children.

It recommends that a national parenting campaign – primarily aimed at pregnant women – should be launched to give all children “healthy, stable and strong social and emotional foundations” in the early years.

The report says that mothers-to-be need to learn how to speak to their unborn babies because research shows the tone of a pregnant woman’s voice can “influence the child growing inside her”.

It also says that other parents must be taught how to appreciate the importance of child development in the vital first 18 months, adding: “They need to appreciate the importance of talking frequently with a baby, and all the things that would make a positive difference such as cuddling, looking and smiling”.

The report, by the Labour MP Graham Allen, recommends that a parenting campaign should form the centrepiece of a cross-government strategy to give children a better start in life.

It should also include:

Regular assessments of children’s emotional and social development from birth to the age of five to make sure children are ready for full-time school;

Putting children in “year groups” from birth to give early education the same status and recognition as primary and secondary schooling;

Creating a super quango – the “early intervention foundation” – to co-ordinate cross-government action on the issue;

Giving all vulnerable young mothers access to a family nurse to give them hands-on support in raising their children;

Increasing the number of graduates working in early years education.

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I just wrote loads on this and deleted it, as it simply exposed by current belligerent and depressed state of mind, and so I ask for your thoughts on this.

Is dysfunctionalism born of poverty, or poverty born of dysfunctionalism?

Fascinating. Hat-tip Richard Beck of Experimental Theology

And now for some good news:

Francis Sedgemore – Coffee and cake are good for the brain

For some reason this reminded me of yonks ago when I studied memory and came across the term “state-dependent cues” in relation to “cue-dependent memory”.

Put simply, the premise is that the psychological state in which you receive information, is the optimum psychological state to recall said information.

They did some great experiments to prove this.

They got folk drunk and asked them to hide items in their house and asked them the next day where they hid the items. Often, the – now sober – person couldn’t remember, however, once they were drunk again, they often could.

They did experiments with cannabis, caffeine and amphetamines, which all yielded similar results.

This has implications when studying, as if you are in the habit of using a substance to revise, then you ideally need to use the same substance for optimum recall during the examination.

Of course, during a three hour exam, it might be a little awkward to get hold of three pints of beer coffee and two mars bars.

Interesting article in the Chronicle written by a guy specialising in ghost writing academic pieces for students to pass off as their own.

This part caught my attention:

I do a lot of work for seminary students. I like seminary students. They seem so blissfully unaware of the inherent contradiction in paying somebody to help them cheat in courses that are largely about walking in the light of God and providing an ethical model for others to follow. I have been commissioned to write many a passionate condemnation of America’s moral decay as exemplified by abortion, gay marriage, or the teaching of evolution. All in all, we may presume that clerical authorities see these as a greater threat than the plagiarism committed by the future frocked.

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