DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - The Cross has been banned in school, a sign of the times?

**DF9sLGSU** · 09-12-2006, 02:55 AM

Now "spiritual care" in hospitals is pretty "ecumenical" and not even necessarily Christian - but at least there is a recognition of the need to care for the whole person still evident in most institutions in the US.

Fr David Moser

Father David,

It is, I suppose, another sign of the times that spiritual care is now ecumenical, but that is, at least, better than in some UK hospitals, where there seems to be a hard-edged antipathy to the spiritual dimension.

The UK is, I fear, a post-Christian country. Although Schools still have an obligation under the 1944 Education Act to provide an act of worship for their pupils, it is ignored more often than not. Oddly enough, in areas where there is a large Muslim or Hindu community, Schools seem happy enough to meet their spiritual needs, whilst ignoring those of the host community.

Students I teach at University have, in most cases, no knowledge at all of Christianity or of its role in shaping their country. I find it so sad that many young people turn to 'Eastern religions' when they finally acknowledge their spiritual urges - as though Christianity originated in the West! One of the great advantages Orthodoxy has is its ability to draw such young people - if only they can be exposed to it.

For various reasons Orthodoxy in this country has not has a strong sense of mission, but in these times it needs to acquire it. Although not (yet) Orthodox myself, I have found my life enriched by my encounter with it.

In Christ,

John

09-12-2006, 02:55 AM	#19
DF9sLGSU Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 438 Senior Member	Now "spiritual care" in hospitals is pretty "ecumenical" and not even necessarily Christian - but at least there is a recognition of the need to care for the whole person still evident in most institutions in the US. Fr David Moser Father David, It is, I suppose, another sign of the times that spiritual care is now ecumenical, but that is, at least, better than in some UK hospitals, where there seems to be a hard-edged antipathy to the spiritual dimension. The UK is, I fear, a post-Christian country. Although Schools still have an obligation under the 1944 Education Act to provide an act of worship for their pupils, it is ignored more often than not. Oddly enough, in areas where there is a large Muslim or Hindu community, Schools seem happy enough to meet their spiritual needs, whilst ignoring those of the host community. Students I teach at University have, in most cases, no knowledge at all of Christianity or of its role in shaping their country. I find it so sad that many young people turn to 'Eastern religions' when they finally acknowledge their spiritual urges - as though Christianity originated in the West! One of the great advantages Orthodoxy has is its ability to draw such young people - if only they can be exposed to it. For various reasons Orthodoxy in this country has not has a strong sense of mission, but in these times it needs to acquire it. Although not (yet) Orthodox myself, I have found my life enriched by my encounter with it. In Christ, John
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