[Misc] Religious promotion in schools

[Badger]

That sounds more realistic.

Money is on Nick

Odds-on favourite

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I'm not suggesting that the Bible, Koran, Torah etc. should be treated as religious texts at all but rather as pieces of literature which are of real historical significance - in much the same way as many texts concerning Greek mythology already are. To ignore these texts and/or to discourage people, (youngsters in particular), from reading them does them a disservice as they explain much of why the World exists as it is today.

By all means include texts from the religions you mention as they all have influenced the historical direction of many civilisations, although I would suggest that the three I mention have had a far greater influence, and continue to have, on World development and politics than the ones you mention.

I've got a bible at home - I might start them on Leviticus.... classic.

 

[looney]

Morning,

1. Why the Bible and not The Koran or Torah?

2. Who gives them the right to hand out religious 'propoganda' of any flavour to 13 year old children anyway?

3. Where was the consulatation with the parents? I am aware that there are some children, who because their parents are Jehova's Witnesses have opt outs for all sorts of things, but why has the school allowed this without any discussion?

My responce is mixed.

1 You can expect the predominant religion of a country to proslesyse and attempt to restrict others from doing likewise, this is normal and if you dont get that you are a fool, this is cranked up given the influx of radicals/missionaries into the UK in the last 15 years.

2. See my point 1, if you get that you will antcipate this and take measures, like many I know who wont let their daughters take cabs with muslim drivers.

3 Agree, unless yours are at a C of E school or similar then its prob in the small print, opt out not opt in.


You need to aquire a theological form of streetwise for this era, there are loads of African missionaries in the UK come to convert the white savage,( but mainly muslims).

 

[Creaky]

I've got a bible at home - I might start them on Leviticus.... classic.

And why not - it might just make themunderstand why we have threads such as the one on here about UKIP's suggestion to allow Christians the right to discriminate against gays.

 

[brightn'ove]

I remember at my school someone using the bible paper to roll up a cig.

apparently it smoked well too.

Its very thin paper, like rizla.

Very good in times of emergencies

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Isn't the same as being given any other fictional novel?

 

[mune ni kamome]

Standard practice throughout recent history. I have one from Moulscoomb infants, juniors, what have you

 

[Creaky]

Isn't the same as being given any other fictional novel?

In what way isn't it the same?

The intention of the giver may be different but the Bible is no different to any other work of fiction based in part on history. Would gifts of Homer's Illiad or Hesiod's Theogony cause the same controversy? Reading the Bible is no more likely to convert the reader to a particular way of thinking than reading a Stephen King novel or novels about the Argonauts.

 

[Wrong-Direction]

religion is the cause of most problems, im so happy to live in a country which gives you the choice to "believe or not

 

[Frampler]

I got a Gideon Bible foisted on me at my supposedly non-religious secondary school (it didn't survive the journey home without spontaneous combustion), but oddly enough they never gave us one of our own at the C of E primary - we had to use the set that lived in the Assembly Hall.

 

[Tommy Tradlles]

You're a bit of an extremist. I've nothing against people pursuing their beliefs in the private sphere, just don't want them in the public. Separation of Church and State and all that.

No I am just taking some of the arguments made on this thread to their logical extreme. However what do you mean that religious faith not be exercised in the public sphere? Should practising Christians not be members of parliament for instance? Should politics, educations and health be the domain of solely of atheists.?

 

[Perkino]

Oh my goodness, a Christian country has a school handing out the holy book...
The school also follows all the Christian holidays such as Christmas and easter

 

[mothy]

Child abuse? Why would you go to church just to get your child into a school and then denigrate the school just because you didn't like it?

because i didn't realise how anti religion i was until i'd tried it & having done so & the school having 'strong christian principles' i realised it wasnt for me. my comment wasn't to denigrate the school - but the parents & ilk who behave immorally like they did (playing the system & forming a cult) but claim to be good christians at the same time

 

[Surrey_Albion]

Oh my goodness, a Christian country has a school handing out the holy book...
The school also follows all the Christian holidays such as Christmas and easter

Yep we all celbrate Christmas and easter.......with pagan and hindu practices , tree, eggs nee life ect, I think we need to keep these things as holidays but do we really need to bring religion into it?? The answer is no, imho all religions should be cast aside as old fashioned mumbo jumbo.

 

[Seasider78]

I sang hymns in assembly's at non religious primary schools before having a sustained spell at Sunday school to get into a CE school. In that school there was obviously a Christian focus but also a refreshing amount of background on other religions through RE.

The outcome of that is today I am an atheist but came to that decision having received a fair amount of exposure to the various elements of religion.

In my mind kids should be exposed to all forms of religion and left up to their own minds where they take it from there. I would rather see a society that educated and left room from freedom of thoughts and decisions than simply masking and legislating against religious teachings in school

 

[Tommy Tradlles]

because i didn't realise how anti religion i was until i'd tried it & having done so & the school having 'strong christian principles' i realised it wasnt for me. my comment wasn't to denigrate the school - but the parents & ilk who behave immorally like they did (playing the system & forming a cult) but claim to be good christians at the same time

Ok I can't comment on the school nor the parents as you know them and I don't. However, using child abuse and cult is very strong language. Furthermore religion isn't something you try out because you are looking for a school. Religion is the practice of a faith in Jesus Christ. if you don't believe in Christ the religion is going to seem nonsense.

 

[Wrong-Direction]

10 years ago my religious education teacher believed the Matrix was real, he's still teaching at the school..

 

[Frutos]

Education should be 100% free from any religious influence or teachings.

Let the kids grow up and make their own minds up as to their personal religious beliefs or lack thereof, rather than having it pushed onto them from one direction or another at school.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Morning,

My son happened to mention to me yesterday evening that in year 8 assembly yesterday every child was given a Bible. Apparently a nice man from Gideon was giving them out.

Now, I have an issue with this on a number of levels;

1. Why the Bible and not The Koran or Torah?

2. Who gives them the right to hand out religious 'propoganda' of any flavour to 13 year old children anyway?

3. Where was the consulatation with the parents? I am aware that there are some children, who because their parents are Jehova's Witnesses have opt outs for all sorts of things, but why has the school allowed this without any discussion?

I've read that this is a big thing in the US, particularly the Bible belt states, but I never thought it would happen here.

I might contact them to see if I could hand out some satanism leaflets, or some of Richard Dawkins' or Sam Harris' books in the school and see what reaction I get.

It's parents' evening tomorrow - I think I might have a word.

By the way - my son said he left his copy behind

What's the view of NSC?

Papa

Which school is it?

 

[SIMMO SAYS]

because i didn't realise how anti religion i was until i'd tried it & having done so & the school having 'strong christian principles' i realised it wasnt for me. my comment wasn't to denigrate the school - but the parents & ilk who behave immorally like they did (playing the system & forming a cult) but claim to be good christians at the same time

Have you ever posted anything about football