Botswana is not a Christian state
Owen Nsala | Wednesday July 5, 2017 17:33
The above quote emanates from a South African judgement which is recent and resonates very well with my thoughts and concerns. For far too long, and on a theoretical point of view and standpoint, Botswana is by and large a secular state. Our Constitution recognises, accepts and endorses a nation where no one is indoctrinated to a particular religion or forced to conform to a certain religion of faith.
The reality though is that we have since made a silent and unwritten amendment to the Constitution regards the freedom of religion. We have, without not so necessarily saying become a semi-Christian state that subscribes to Christian views and beliefs. At each official government ceremony or occasion one cannot miss the presence of a prayer by a pastor from one of the many Christian denominations.
Public schools offer lectures on religious education but the irony of it is that there is an insistence on Christianity and an indoctrination onto Christian views. Although there is a touch and go on other various religions, there is a deliberate emphasis on Christianity being the go to religion. Have we become a Christian state without so realising? Have we surrendered our faith to the Christian circle?
It is of concern in a constitutional state that subscribes to ideals of constitutionalism to have peoples ideals being forced onto others as if those that do not subscribe to the Christian faith have no cover under the Constitution. At public schools, each morning prayers are held in the name of Christ and praise and worship songs are sang in the name of Christ. Bible scriptures are read out in assemblies each mornings and counselling is done through the bible.
There is a certain standard set which requires children to conform to Christian values, beliefs and standards. A few months back it was reported that a student at Masunga Senior School had been returned home on account of his seeming belief in Rastafari cult and religion. The school chose to not associate with the child on account of his different religious belief. It therefore is evident that although there is a notion of us being a secular state the reality though is that we have been pushed to the brink of a Christian state that conforms to Christian values and beliefs.
When the country was on the verge of a drought and rains had stopped pouring, there was a cry from the highest office in land to ask for people to pray for rain. There was a concerted effort to drive the prayers through the Christian medium and the local broadcasters concentrated largely and depicted Christianity as our near saving grace. Was that confirmation that we are a Christian state?
There is nothing inherently wrong or offensive in states entering into special relationships with a certain religious propagation provided discriminatory consequences are avoided. This has been recognised by the European Court of Human Rights. Successive waves of European Directives have embedded strong anti-discrimination provisions into national legislation, which has the effect of strengthening the protection afforded to minorities by ensuring that it is equal to that given to the majority of favoured group. Equal treatment does not mean identical treatment. Majority churches (whether established or not) carry a heavy social duty, which is responsibly discharged in various states of Northern Europe. This includes the promotion of all religions and belief systems, an essential instrument of ecumenism. It also embraces social and humanitarian action in the files of education, medical treatment and care of the young, the elderly and the infirm. The responsibility is founded upon trust and becomes workable as a result of the confidence engendered by the prolonged security of safeguarding fundamental freedoms. It is a delicate but effective means of promoting tolerance and religious freedom.
The state also carries an obligation. It cannot favour one religion or denomination over others, nor must it work too adroitly to separate church and state with an artificial rigidity. Instead, it must value all equally.
To this end, whereas we accept albeit reluctantly that the government has chosen the Christianity route and dogma to dominate our daily gatherings, it should not come across as if other religions are being sidelined in public schools and institutions. It should not be seen as an act of contempt or outright defiance to have a child subscribing to a certain religious belief without discrimination and ridicule.
The South African court rightly discovered that “The overarching constitutional theme is that our society is diverse, that diversity is to be celebrated and that specific rights are conferred and dealt with in pursuance of that principle. Within this context, public schools are public assets which serve the interests of society as a whole”
In conclusion to the discourse, The aim is not to ban religious practices in schools but about protecting children and emphasising that schools should engage in religion education rather than religious instruction and not promote one religion over another.