ACDP calls for Freedom of Religion in Education

Cheryllyn Dudley MP (African Christian Democratic Party)

Tuesday, 13 November 2001

Education Minister Kader Asmal at the offices of NAPTOSA recently called the Christian worldview a 'historical anachronism'. “Regrettably there are fundamentalists mostly Christian fundamentalists who object to tolerance and respect for others, in the belief that they alone are custodians of 'the truth'. I intend to resist these right-wing conservative tendencies, and I will use the Constitution as the sole basis of my approach", he said. This is the same man who attacked the Christians praying at Newlands on Human Rights day this year said Cheryllyn Dudley MP for the African Christian Democratic Party.

Mrs Dudley said, “This sort of Labeling is a crude way of dismissing an idea you don't understand. 'Right wing' is in fact, a term which refers to ethnic-based nationalism. It originated with the French secular humanists and has nothing to do with the Christian perspective on politics”.

“Today the liberal media is using the word fundamentalist to describe any religious group that is not liberal, including Islamic extremists like Osama Bin Laden and all kinds of cults. The African Christian Democratic Party strongly rejects the use of the word in reference to Christians who have nothing in common with the beliefs of these other groups”, said Mrs Dudley.

Mrs Dudley further said that if an adjective is needed to distinguish people claiming to be Christians who don't believe the Bible, from those who do, then 'Bible believing Christians' would be accurate.

“Christians are not being intolerant but simply asking the government to allow them to bring their children up in accordance with the Bible.” Mrs Dudley said that Christians are opposed to the notion that tolerance of all ideas as equal should be imposed on anyone, let alone learners at schools. She said, “Christians are arguing not for exclusive Christian teaching, but for the freedom to choose a religious ethos. This is called freedom of religion.”

“As far as tolerance goes, the Minister is displaying a serious intolerance for Christians, and for anyone who wishes to educate their children in any manner different from his own official edicts”, she said.


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For more information please call Cheryllyn Dudley MP at 082 8906520 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 4781037