outsidein

• Europe and religion

  August 27, 2008 @ 12:00 pm | by Bryan

  On Sunday, Cardinal Seán Brady gave an address at the Humbert Summer School in Co Mayo, during which he touched on the EU’s attitude towards Christianity. The point he made, if my understanding is correct, is that Europe has been so committed to secularism that it has at times turned its back on its Christian history, values and commitments. He also said:

  Without respect for its Christian memory and soul, I believe it is possible to anticipate continuing difficulties for the European project. These will emerge not only in economic terms but in terms of social cohesion and the continued growth of a dangerous individualism that does not care about God or about what the future might have in store.

  It is interesting to note that some Muslim religious leaders in Turkey have been saying the same thing for some time. Turkey’s institutions, especially the judiciary and army, are strongly committed to maintaining a secular country. In attempting to steer clear of the example of Islamic states like Iran, the Turks have at times encroached on people’s religious rights.

  Europe’s relationship with religion, as opposed to that in America, Africa or Asia for that matter, is very interesting. It sometimes feels as though the memory of the abuse of power by religious leaders has led to a suspicion of religion itself. Or, could it be that religious freedom and diversity have been so thoroughly welcomed that there are many religions to choose from and an overwhelmed Europe has chosen to choose none? Maybe secularism suits today’s Europe far better than either Christianity, Islam, or anything else that can’t be verified by science.

  It will be interesting to see if in time, Europe becomes more like Turkey where religion is concerned, or if Turkey goes the way of Europe.
   

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• The hijab in schools

  August 15, 2008 @ 12:12 pm | by Bryan

  

  A decision has been made concerning the wearing of the hijab in schools. Minister of State for Integration, Conor Lenihan, has decided that the government will not issue a directive on the subject. Having sought the advice of thousands of school principals, the minister found that “The overwhelming evidence is that it [the hijab] is not an issue in schools.” Schools will get to decide for themselves.

  My first reaction is that common sense has prevailed. But I still have two reservations. The first one has to do with the fall-out of this decision. What happens if a school decides that it will not permit students to wear the headscarf? Won’t that school be open to charges of discrimination? At some point, the government or courts may be forced to make a firmer decision.

  On the other hand, I agree that a headscarf is a non-issue. Which leads me to my second reservation. Are the underlying concerns surrounding this debate being investigated and addressed? Both Fine Gael and the Labour Party wanted to have the hijab banned from schools in order to promote ‘integration’ over ‘multiculturalism’. It would be a shame if this opportunity, to thrash out what those terms actually mean and how best to go about achieve the desired end, was lost.

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• Pope Benedict

  July 17, 2008 @ 12:23 pm | by Bryan

  Pope Benedict and Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

  There was a lot of uncertainty when Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI. But so far, he seems to be doing a pretty good job.

  He was surprisingly well received in the United States, and it looks like the same is happening in Australia. He has been wooing young people, which is impressive coming from an 81 year old. He apologised for the abuses that were perpetrated by members of the Catholic clergy. And he has even been speaking about the environment! If there is a winning issue at the moment, it is being green.

  I wonder how a visit by him would go down in Ireland. I‘m also curious about how a country that was once synonymous with Catholicism not so long ago has moved away from that faith so rapidly.

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• The Hijab

  July 3, 2008 @ 1:41 pm | by Bryan

   

   

  Is it just me of is the issue of the hijab (headscarf) getting out of hand? The Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe has asked Conor Lenihan, Integration Minister, for help. He wants to know if there should be a national policy on the wearing of the hijab in schools. Minister Lenihan then passed the issue on to school principals. Talk about a high profile game of hot potato.

   

  Honestly, what is the big deal? It’s just a piece of cloth isn’t it? If young Muslim ladies, or their parents for that matter, want them to wear it, what’s the problem? Should this really be taking up two ministers’ time as well as that of thousands of school principals? Aren’t there more serious issues to deal with, like renovating old schools and building new ones? Is this just a silly diversion to get us all thinking about something inconsequential, or do people really care about it?

   

  Let’s say that it is a genuine concern. What is the real underlying issue here? It cannot be about clothing. Or at least I really hope we aren’t that petty as a society. Is it about Islam, or religion itself? Either way, if there is going to be a debate, let it be about Islam or religion as a whole and their place in contemporary Irish society.

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