The Oatmeal comic yet again does an excellent satire How to Suck at Your Religion.
Category Archives: Theism/Atheism
The Compass
I frequently get questions about the compass residing on the wrist band of my watch.
The real answer is that I use it when bushwalking – I also have a “proper” one for things that need more accuracy, but this works and is always handy. More recently, I figured I might as well have some fun with it. So now my answer (to adults) is “I’m an atheist, so this is my moral compass.”
People also wonder why I wear my watch on my right wrist, even though I’m right-handed (for writing). I actually throw left-handed and tend to catch with my right hand – but that’s a sideline. Here’s the truth: the origin of the choice-of-wrist is decades old, and was part of an experiment that stuck. You’ve probably seen or read detective stories, where the brilliant deduction is made that because a victim or suspect wears the watch on the right wrist, and “therefore they must’ve been left handed”? Being young and already inquisitive, I thought I’d just test that and of course it’s complete nonsense. But I kinda got used to wearing the watch on the right wrist, and it’s a neat reminder that while Occam’s Razor is a good guide, drawing far reaching conclusions on seemingly obvious little things can easily (and thus quite often) yield invalid results!
New National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/NSCSWP/Pages/NSCSWP_Overview.aspx
The National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program will begin in 2012 and expands on the current National School Chaplaincy Program. The Program provides funding to schools to access the services of a school chaplain or secular support worker.
The latter (secular Student Welfare worker) is new, and upon further reading it appears to be a great improvement in at least opening the option (see the changes fact sheet). There are also improved requirements in terms of qualifications. I don’t agree that a diploma or degree in theology qualifies you for the task, but the other stuff makes sense (see the new qualification requirements for existing workers).
Each school now needs to either extend (existing) or expand (new) with the program to get (or continue to get) funding – and for that the school must be aware of the new secular option. The P&C has only just announced this, with a special meeting set for next week. Currently the only motion tabled is in support of the existing chaplaincy program and for continuing with it. That’s an unfortunate bundling. Not sure additional motions can be tabled before next week. Will see about that tomorrow.
My local primary school currently has a chaplain from Scripture Union. I don’t know if she satisfies the qualifications (may well be – will ask, now that I have reference points) – I’d just prefer that job to be done by a secular worker. Our school is particularly multicultural, and the chaplain’s own religious background may well represent a minority – so what’s the point? People’s religion is their own business, I just don’t believe it belongs in a (state) school and has no relevance to the work the person does (or is allowed to do under the guidelines). If she’s good and qualified, then I’d be fine with her re-applying for the same gig as a Student Welfare worker: she’d no longer be there for Scripture Union.
So while I’m pretty happy with the changes to the program, I fully appreciate the inertia that existing chaplaincy arrangements at schools will have… change there won’t be easy, regardless of its merits.
In particular, I find the complaints-based system problematic. First of all, taking issues up with your school is a matter of “picking your battles”, overall they do a really good job and yet by raising something you end up completely on the wrong side of things, which may well affect your child at the school. So it’s by no means a scenario between equals. You can compare it to raising a complaint against your boss or your employer. Very tricky.
Secondly, the person directly exposed/affected is a student, not a parent – the parent would have to hear everything and on the basis of that lodge a complaint. That’s already hearsay and a child’s interpretation of things is subject to their perspective and age. In addition, if something happens the harm is already done. I want issues prevented, not potentially remedied. And think of a situation where a student goes to the chaplain or student welfare worker with a problem relating to a parent/carer. There are requirements for referral to appropriate organisations and so on, but the only people directly in the situation are the worker and the student. I’d be fine with my child discussing something confidentially with a worker, provided basic qualifications and safeguards are in place. In this case, the qualifications are coming (with the theology and other loopholes due to the legacy of the program) but the safeguards appear borked to me. The child is in no position to judge whether anything might be wrong, and they might have noone to turn to or check with for an extra opinion – or at least feel that way. Problematic.
So in conclusion, I reckon the new program is a big improvement, it just carries the inevitable legacy of the pre-existing program… let’s see how it progresses! And do check with your local school and P&C as they’ll be up for extension (renewal) as well.
The Gruen Transfer – The Pitch: Banning All Religion
The Gruen Transfer is an excellent ABC TV program exploring the murky world of advertising. It’s insightful as well as funny.
One of the regular items is “The Pitch” where two ad agencies are commissioned to create a TV ad to “sell the unsellable”. Note that this is satire… past examples included briefs for invading New Zealand, reintroducing child labour, and a parenting licence.
Last week, the two companies had to sell the idea of “banning all religion”. Interestingly, that was also for the first time in four years that several ad agencies declined to participate. They were ok with previous topics like those mentioned above, but not this. Hmm…
Both ads are good, but reckon the second one is a particularly awesome.
As presenter Adam notes: “You and your god may have other views” ;-)
