A Lack of Color

Public schools no place for Christian fundamentalism

The Edmonton JournalMay 31, 2009

Bill 44’s parental-rights clause runs counter to the role of public education. It is meant to support a creation story particular to one certain religious tradition and to limit young people’s access to information about sexuality.

Who wants this clause? Clearly, the Stelmach government is pandering to religious extremists within fundamentalist Christianity. In the past, biblical authority was invoked to support slavery, racism, child abuse, and witch hunts. Now, it is being used to perpetuate other forms of ignorance and bigotry.

The parental-rights clause would allow parents to remove their children from lessons in evolution. This is because fundamentalist Christians do not want their children exposed to evolutionary theory. They instead believe that the Book of Genesis explains the origins of the human race.

What does the Genesis account actually say? In the first chapter of Genesis, God makes all of the animals, and then makes humans, “male and female.” But in Chapter 2, the order is reversed: God first makes a single man, and only afterwards forms “all the animals and birds.” When no suitable companion for man is found among the animals, He then creates a woman.

So which Biblical version is correct? Animals first or man first? Religious fanatics will no doubt be able to explain the contradiction to themselves, but to everyone else, it is obvious that the Genesis account was not meant to be a scientific treatise.

As for removing children from the classroom to “protect” them from learning about human sexuality, one only needs to recall former U.S. vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. She, too, was opposed to sex education. Her teenage daughter had an-out-of-wedlock pregnancy. Go figure.

Further, on the issue of sexuality in the classroom, the reality is that there are gay and lesbian students in every classroom in every school. They, along with their fellow students, need to understand that homosexuality is not a choice and it is not a moral failure. That is simply the way that God created them. Too many young lives have been lost to suicide because they could not find acceptance in a homophobic society.

As a Christian, I am opposed to Bill 44’s parental-rights clause. The clause is simply ignorance and hate dressed up in the guise of “protection.” It undermines public education and the public good.

John Buhler, Edmonton
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