Poulcheria Papadopoulou

Another kind of conflict: the subject of Christianity in Greek schools No matter who you are or where you grew up, you must have heard, or even got involved, in the controversial issue of religion. No matter who you are or where you grew up, you must have heard, or even got involved, in the controversial issue of religion. Fights between families, wars between countries, and killings in the name of religion have been breaking out throughout the years, all in the ultimate pursuit of establishing the one and only religious belief. In Greece, particularly, though not a physical war, there was always a toll on people of different beliefs, especially in schools. The matter of religion, and what your beliefs are in general, has always caused quite a stir. The church, a symbol of faith and a refuge for Christians and minority groups in difficult times, has always been at the forefront in matters of the state. Christianity in Greece is not simply a religion, but rather a part of the state itself represented through the church. Up until 2000, the Greek identity cards would have “religion” as an extra section, prompting that such information was as important as your name and surname. In 2000, however, then-Prime Minister, Kostas Simitis, decided to erase it from citizens’ identity cards and as such leading the state and church to an abruption, albeit a brief one. However, as the official dogma of Greece, Christianity has crept its way in Greek schools, where children are introduced to the subject at the age of 8. In the morning, with the first ring of the bell, it’s mandatory for all students to attend a Christian prayer before the school day starts. But, one may ask, what happens with children of different religious beliefs? Well, they can get exempt from praying in the morning and can also abstain from the subject of religion by either choosing to stay in the classroom or going out to play by themselves. And, even though that may seem like a solid idea, fair for everyone, what then happens with the social life of these children and their assimilation to their new school, new life, new culture? Now more than ever, the refugee issue in Greece in combination with intolerance on the part of most Greek families has prompted conflict and controversy that readily escalates to signs and actions of racism. Exempting children from lessons that clearly teach the Christian ways further leaves them in the margin rendering it impossible for them to fit in. Adding intolerance and narrow mindedness to the mix can develop feelings of hatred from an early age. Being exposed to Christian studies, or religious studies overall, at a young and tender age, is too early for children to understand deeper concepts and meanings and to form an identity as to what they believe. They are not at a proper age to judge and think for themselves. That’s why the subject should be available in higher grades or even optional for those students who wish to further investigate the topic. Under the government of Syriza and the jurisdiction given to the ex-Minister of Education, Nikos Filis, a change that would come to create great conflicting sides was passed; the subject of “Christianity” is to be replaced with “History of Religions.” There was great uproar about such a decision, however just and inclusive of others it was. Filis was perceived as a perpetrator demonstrating feelings of hatred against the country, its ethics, and what it stands for. The Bible, a beacon of faith and influence in the Western and European civilization would be diminished so that teachings from other religious books, like the Quran and the Torah, would make their way into the Greek educational system. Such teachings would belittle the Greek orthodox fate and reduce it to something that could actually be questioned. Has no one stopped to think that the way Christianity is taught in schools does the exact same thing to other religions and free thinking?