[Misc] Religious promotion in schools

[CherryInHove]

I don't think very many people consider Christmas a religious festival these days, it's just time off work to spend with friends and family and exchange presents. (And it was originally a pagan festival).

 

[Gwylan]

Well, yesterday was the first time one of my children has been approached to join a cult - I think I might just protest.

Careful, you'll have the Daily Mail after you if you protest too much

 

[Uncle Buck]

We had to buy one at my school and it was a slightly obscure 'version' that was not available at all book shops.

 

[mac04]

I received one at Durrington High School in 1983. I never opened it.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

 

[symyjym]

My old school gave all the kids a small pocket-size New Testament. Came in handy when I ran out of Rizlas though.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Double post. Gah!

 

[Pavilionaire]

I send my children to a C of E school. I'd describe myself as Christian-lite. I expect some religion via the school and so I wouldn't have a problem with my kids getting Bibles. However, I would have a problem if I was a non-believer and had deliberately sent my kids to a secular school.

I'm also mindful that in the Cub Scout the Promise is to do your duty to God and to the Queen. Again, I haven't got a problem with that.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I send my children to a C of E school. I'd describe myself as Christian-lite. I expect some religion via the school and so I wouldn't have a problem with my kids getting Bibles. However, I would have a problem if I was a non-believer and had deliberately sent my kids to a secular school.

I'm also mindful that in the Cub Scout the Promise is to do your duty to God and to the Queen. Again, I haven't got a problem with that.

They now have a non-God version of the cub scout promise, so I'm told.

I haven't deliberately sent my kids to s secular school - I just haven't sent my kids to a school that is overtly religious. I am however, a non-believer.

 

[emphyrian]

I send my children to a C of E school. I'd describe myself as Christian-lite. I expect some religion via the school and so I wouldn't have a problem with my kids getting Bibles. However, I would have a problem if I was a non-believer and had deliberately sent my kids to a secular school.

I'm also mindful that in the Cub Scout the Promise is to do your duty to God and to the Queen. Again, I haven't got a problem with that.

There are many different versions of the scouting promises which allow for any God name to be included. We also now have the alternative promise which takes out the 'duty to God' part and replaces with 'to uphold my scouting values'
whenever we have a newbie turn up at our troop we give them all versions and let them choose which they would prefer to take.

 

[Pavilionaire]

I got given a Gideon Bible whilst at school, but I can't remember whether it was Steyning Primary or Steyning GS.

 

[yxee]

I assume you don't celebrate Easter or Christmas as well?
Or are you just being selective in your outrage?

Unless the Gideons gatecrashed his Christmas party, I don't think it's really comparable.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

surely it's up to the distributors of other texts to approach the schools to give them out, I doubt schools are actively refusing them

 

[Badger]

We don't really do Easter, but Christmas for me is now more like ThanksGiving in the US. That's what I celebrate at Christmas anyway - a day a year where family gets together, drinks a lot, and then argues.

And watches Scrooged, you can't forget Scrooged.

 

[Jambo Seagull]

I feel very strongly that religious teachings should be kept out of primary and secondary education. I think children should be taught a subject which includes being educated about the great religions of the world in a wider context of morals and ethics. However, imho, the state should not be sponsoring C of E, Roman Catholic, Jewish or Muslim schools. If people want to go to such schools they should pay for the privilege. The French are correct on this. All sstare schools are secular which is the way it should be.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

RE should be replaced with philosophy, which covers religion and provides a much broader education on the issues religion trys to cover.

At my son's Secondary School, RE was taught as 'Philosophy and Ethics' and as such he got a fairly broad education with regards to (pretty much) all religions.

 

[Triggaaar]

It's a discussion about religion, and NSC is largely in agreement. WTF?

 

[happypig]

I got given one at Patcham Fawcett in 1975. I spend ages carefully hollowing it out and fitting a little transistor radio inside it. I was that sort of kid...

 

[Papa Lazarou]

surely it's up to the distributors of other texts to approach the schools to give them out, I doubt schools are actively refusing them

Well, should they? Surely the school wouldn't allow someone to hand out a load of these: http://www.klps.pl/pliki/gospel_fsm_eng.pdf

Or the religious writing's of L Ron Hubbard?

 

[chimneys]

On a not dissimilar note, am surprised Gideon is still allowed to leave its bibles in a lot of hotel rooms in UK.