Faith Diary: Dutch Controversy

The BBC's Religious Affairs correspondent Robert Pigott reflects on the latest news from the world of religion and beliefs.

This week he explains why there could be a clash between the Dutch government and gay teachers. Plus - the ancient tribe using the internet to stave off disaster, and the US Sikhs pressing for the right to wear a turban.

GAY TEACHERS NEED NOT APPLY

The wisest of wise councils in the Netherlands has been asked to consider one of the greyest of religious grey areas.

Should Christian pupils be taught by heterosexual teachers?

The Council of State - the highest advisory body in the Netherlands - was consulted by the ruling coalition on whether religious schools should be allowed to exclude gay teachers.

Now its advice has been leaked, and has raised questions about how far the rights of religious schools should be extended.

The government called for help after a Christian primary school in the town of Emst suspended a teacher who came out as gay.

Article One of the Dutch constitution said "all persons in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in equal circumstances. Discrimination on the grounds of religion, belief, political opinion, race or sex or on any other grounds whatsoever shall not be permitted."

Dutch law currently says that even schools which treat the Bible as their foundation are not allowed to discriminate against a teacher for the "single fact" of his or her sexual orientation.

But the Council of State suggests that the single fact provision should be scrapped, and says religious schools may exclude homosexual teachers whose behaviour violates the school's values, even if it takes place in their private life.

If that is what you are, apply at a different school Yusuf Altuntas

The opinion has been condemned by gay rights organisations, and politicians from the Labour Party, who are members of the government coalition.

But a group lobbying for Christian education told the Dutch paper NRC Handelsbad that traditionalist schools should have the freedom to refuse employment to homosexual teachers, as well as heterosexual couples living together without being married.

Its view was that "their lifestyle does not square with the Bible".

There was support from an organisation representing Islamic schools.

Its representative, Yusuf Altuntas, said "Judaism, Christianity and Islam disapprove of acting gay.... If that is what you are, apply at a different school".

SAMARITANS GO SURFING

Upholding the traditions of faith is also the preoccupation of the Samaritans, famous for the parable told by Jesus of the Good Samaritan who stopped to help the man on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho who had been set upon by thieves.

But the Samaritans have more than just the sexual preferences of their teachers to worry about - for them the issue is of their very survival.

The Samaritans live an ancient faith, but are counting on the internet as well

The Samaritans - whose faith is similar to Judaism - numbered around a million in Biblical times, but are now down to 750.

They trace their ancestry to a northern Israelite kingdom that was destroyed by Assyrians in about 720 BC, and claim a line of high priests going back to Aaron, the brother of Moses.

But now they've been forced to turn to modern technology to keep their ancient religion alive.

A hundred years ago the population fell to fewer than 150, and inter-marriage was so common that by the middle of the last century 7% of Samaritans suffered from some genetic defect.

Living standards have improved, and pre-nuptial genetic testing has cut the rate of inherited disease in half.

But there is a surplus of boys in the community, half of whom live in the village of Kiryat Luza on Mount Gerizim in the West Bank.

So young Samaritans are using internet dating in an effort to maintain future generations.

However, outsiders might find the idea of joining the sect forbidding.

Samaritans observe strict dietary, Sabbath and circumcision laws, and women have to live separately from their husbands during menstruation, and for one or two months after having a baby.

However, some - such as Khader Adel Kohen - a Samaritan priest, are reluctant to accept outsiders for their own children.

Mr Kohen says his three sons might find someone themselves, but he regards it as his duty to offer them "alternatives".

"If they don't find a wife, my sister has three daughters and my cousin has three daughters. Of course we'd have them tested genetically first."

What about marrying outside the Samaritan religion?

Mr Kohen says that's impossible.

"I would try to dissuade them. After that, all I can do is deny them their inheritance."

TURBANS WONT WASH IN THE US ARMY

For Kamaljit Singh Kalsi, inheritance is about his Sikh religion, and its articles of faith, including his beard, turban and the uncut hair the turban covers.

But he too has encountered modern obstacles.

Military service is also in Dr Kalsi's blood.

Traditional Sikh dress contains a martial aspect

His great-grandfather served in the British Army in India, and both his grandfather and father were in the Indian Air Force.

Now a citizen of the United States, Kamaljit Singh Kalsi signed up as a medic in the American Army.

But he's shelved his plans to go on active service, after discovering that army policy would require him to abandon both beard and turban.

The spread of Sikhs across the world has brought them into conflict with secular policies on dress before.

In New York, Sikh traffic policemen went to court to force the city to allow them to keep their beards and turbans.

The British army generally allows Sikhs to keep such articles of faith, and the newly formed British Police Sikh Association wants a bullet-proof turban developed for serving as firearms officers.

Dr Kalsi is now at the centre of a campaign to persuade the American Army to change its policy.

The organisers say Sikhs are taught an obligation to active service and protection of their communities as part of their religious heritage.

Another Sikh pressing for the right to his military turban, 2nd Lt Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a dentist by training, puts the issue into context.

"I'm offering my life, but I'm not willing to sacrifice my religious beliefs."