Hindus have welcomed reported plans of Australia’s Victorian Government to teach five major religions—Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism—in schools in the general religion class as part of the curriculum.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to treat all major religions evenly in this proposed class on religion. They would also support the idea of adding Sikhism and non-believers’ viewpoint to the curriculum of this class, he added.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stressed that opening-up the Victorian children to major world religions and non-believers’ viewpoint would make them well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow. It also made a good business sense to know the beliefs of “others” in a global community. Moreover, students should have knowledge of the entire society to become full participants in the society.
Rajan Zed says that Victoria, a culturally diverse state, besides various Christian denominations, has now a considerable population of Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, non-believers, etc. Moreover, this class, proposed to be taught by qualified teachers instead of volunteer agencies, appears to do more justice to religion and its role in the Victorian society, Zed argues.