A Bible story video featuring a violent attack on a young girl and sexualised images of women, including of a strip club, has been withdrawn after a parent – who was asked to use it with his 7-year-old daughter as part of a home learning activity in religious education – complained about its content.
David Lacey was sent the video – a modern reworking of the parable of the Good Samaritan in which a young girl on her way to a Lady Gaga concert is set upon by ‘a gang of youths’ who ‘savagely beat’ and ‘rob’ her before leaving her ‘bleeding out, close to death’ – by his 7-year-old daughter’s Church of England school. It was produced by Christian organisation Youth for Christ for use in school RE lessons and, while the school later admitted that it had been sent to the parents of pupils in Key Stage 1 (ages 5-7) by mistake, was labeled as appropriate for pupils in Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11).
In the animated video, seen by Humanists UK, Lucy walks through ‘a dark, dangerous, and rather unfriendly neighbourhood’. Feeling ‘increasingly uncomfortable’ as she walks through the dark and unfamiliar streets, including past what appears to be a strip club, she is ‘heckled’ and then cornered in an alleyway where a number of hypodermic syringes are clearly visible, before being beaten and robbed. While ‘drifting in and out of consciousness’ she is ignored by various passersby, one of whom steps over ‘her bloodied body’ because she is too busy to stop. Eventually, she is rescued by a homeless man, who stays with her in the hospital until she is fully recovered.
Concerned by the explicit violence, drug use, and sexualised imagery in the video, as well as its stereotypical depiction of poor neighbourhoods and the people living there as dangerous and violent, Mr Lacey complained directly to Youth for Christ who eventually pulled the resource from their website in order to carry out an internal review.
Parent David Lacey told Humanists UK:
‘This video is absolutely shocking and has no place being used to teach RE in a primary school. Youth for Christ badge this resource as suitable for young children who certainly shouldn’t be exposed to negative stereotypes, drug-taking, sexualised imagery, and direct violence as a means to encourage a particular religious belief.
‘In my view, the video attempts to recruit children and young people into Christianity through the use of fear and violence. As a humanist, I would prefer that my daughter made up her own mind about what she believes. I certainly don’t intend to expose her to this kind of frightening religious propaganda at such a young age. I very much hope that Youth for Christ removes this resource permanently but, if not, I would strongly urge schools to look elsewhere for their RE resources.’
Humanists UK Education Campaigns Manager Dr Ruth Wareham commented:
‘The content of this video is particularly egregious – especially given the age of the children it is aimed at. But it is sadly not unique. We are often contacted by parents who are shocked about the graphic nature of the religious stories being shared with their children and the problem is often made worse when these stories are shared in faith schools.
‘Faith-based RE often sets out to conscript children into a particular religion. Unfortunately, one of the most successful ways to do this is through shock, fear, and distortion of the truth. Children should of course learn about the different stories faith and belief groups have traditionally told in order to share their understanding of the world. But that the content must always be age-appropriate and taught objectively.’
Notes:
For further comment or information, please contact Humanists UK Education Campaigns Manager Dr Ruth Wareham at ruth@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3000 or 07725 110 860.
Read our latest article on the state-funded faith school forbidding pupils and their mothers from wearing ‘very straight dresses or skirts’ that breached the Admissions Code.
Read our recent article on the two additional faith schools given Government approval in latest funding round.
Read our exposé of the Catholic RSE resources saying men were created to be ‘initiators’ in sexual relationships and women ‘receiver-responders’.
Read more about our work on religious education and faith schools.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by 100,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.