Hindus & Jews Urge Religious Equality
Hindus & Jews Urge Queensland To Treat Various Religions Equally
Hindus and Jews have asked Queensland state of Australia to treat all major religions evenly.
According to its Education Act, “Instruction…may be given in State primary and special schools during school hours in selected Bible lessons.”
Rajan Zed, acclaimed Hindu statesman; and Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, prominent Jewish leader in Nevada and California in USA; in a joint statement, said that instead of just Bible lessons, Queensland schools should come up with a comparative religion class teaching basics of all major world religions and local indigenous beliefs, including the viewpoint of non-believers.
Zed and Freirich argued that opening-up the children to major world religions, local indigenous beliefs and non-believers’ viewpoint would make them well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.
Australia, a culturally diverse society, has no official state religion and people are free to practice any religion they choose. Australians are also free not to have a religion. Religious freedom is safeguarded by section 116 of the Australian Constitution. Besides various Christian denominations, Australia has now a considerable population of Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, indigenous beliefs practitioners, etc, including about 19 percent having “no religion”.
Second largest state of Australia and full of dazzling landscapes and 300 days of sunshine a year, Queensland is the fastest growing state.
ENDS