Commenting on the RE.Act campaign, Simon Barrow, co-director of the religion and society thinktank Ekklesia said:
"Ekklesia is pleased to support the RE.Act campaign to challenge the exclusion of good quality, balanced and critically-aware Religious Education from the English Baccalaureate curriculum for secondary schools in England.
"We believe that enabling understanding of the wide variety of beliefs and values shaping our plural - but often divided - world remains crucial to a rounded education.
"Hatred and resentment breeds on ignorance.
"People of different faiths and non-religious people of good faith need to learn to agree and disagree with each other through conversation, respect and persuasion - not exclusion or coercion.
"Such life-giving habits begin at school, as well as in the family and the community."
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* RE.Act's website and petition is here: http://www.reactcampaign.co.uk/ [1] This initiative has been galvanized by Premier Christian Radio (PCR) and supported by people of many religious beliefs and none.
* See also on Ekklesia: 'Cameron, "multiculturalism" and education about religions and beliefs', by Robert Jackson, Professor of Education at the University of Warwick and Director of Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit (http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14271 [2]), and: 'Education about beliefs "vital" for a plural society', Ekklesia press release (http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14286 [3]).
* Ekklesia examines beliefs and values in society from an engaged Christian perspective. It advocates transformative ideas and solutions rooted in theological thinking and dialogue with others.