A claim has been made that Kiwis are naive and gullible about religion.
Since 1877 New Zealand has a public education system that is compulsory, free and secular.
Douglas Pratt suggests that this has given rise to a poor knowledge of religion on the part of many New Zealanders which in turn has made them naive and gullible about religion.
Because of this naivety he thinks Kiwis are susceptible to getting caught up in extremist activities.
“New Zealand’s biggest danger has been in its naivety around religion and diversity. We have an attitude that it’s a private matter to be discussed behind closed doors,” Pratt says.
“We think if everyone goes to the beach and has another barbie, everyone’s happy.”
Douglas Pratt is Professor of Religious Studies at Waikato University. He is currently the President of the Australian Association for the Study of Religion (AASR). He is also the New Zealand Associate of the UNESCO Chair in Intercultural and Interreligious Relations.
Image: Centre of Australian and New Zealand Studies
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