Have you signed the 'faiths in school' petition?

Question

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/nofaithinschools/

What do you think about the whole issue of presenting religion (not morals, ethics or good manners - just religion) to kids before they reach maturity?

And likewise what about people being 'born into a religion' as opposed to adopting a religion out of choice?

Answer 1

I think it's absurd, school is meant to teach you how to learn, to achieve this you must open the mind not close it. To subscribe to a system of beliefs is to close the mind to certain issues, there is no other way around that. To truly learn a new thing efficiently and without bias you must first admit that you don't know certain things. If you have already come to a conclusion about a thing because of religious indoctrination with out doing your own research to confirm, then this trend will continue for the rest of your life, because it is easy, it is human nature to take the easy road, and this is what cripples your ability to learn efficiently.

Answer 2

Presenting religion to kids through school is perhaps not a good idea because it will divide, not unite students who believe differently than others. To me, being a Christian is following in the ways of Jesus Christ. To me, being a Christian is not about an organized religion but rather a relationship between me- a sinful man- and God the creator of everything. The facts recorded in the Bible are what should be presented in school. And if one person, on this planet of 6.5 billion, can find an error from within the pages of the most respected, authortative book available to mankind, than I take back all of what I say. Until then, I choose to live by faith and not by sight.

Answer 3

"And if one person, on this planet of 6.5 billion, can find an error from within the pages of the most respected, authortative book available to mankind, than I take back all of what I say. Until then, I choose to live by faith and not by sight. "

Right....

How come Judas Iscariot dies twice - once by hanging and once by disembowelling? Surely a man my only die once? And the witnesses to the suicide would surely be unanimous as to cause of death?

We are told there are twelve disciples. But as Robert Anton Wilson pointed out, when you count 'em up accross all four gospels, there are actually SEVENTEEN named disciples of Christ. Who's wrong?

And as I have mentioned elsewhere, how come Satan is at one and the same time the great enemy of all, thrown out of heaven and cast into hell - AND allowed (in the book of Job) to visit Heaven and stand at the throne of God as an obedient working angel with a job to do?

What are the point of the genealogies of Christ that "prove" his descent via Adam and King David (and all are different in their details!) on JOSEPH's side of the family - when Joseph is only the foster-father of Jesus and God is his true father?

There are loads more, but these are the the first that come to mind...

Answer 4

Children should not be subjected to religion in schools - not even as part of history lessons, as it is extremely debatable whether any religion is based on fact or myth. Children should certainly not be encouraged to worship a particular god, just because that's what the teachers believe in. If parents want to brainwash their own children, that's a different matter.

Answer 5

Religion is the ultimate con, it is government protected, tax free and the product they sell doesn't have to be delivered until you reach a place that doesn't exist. Children should always be protected from lies and cons and because there are no such things as gods, that is the big lie they need to be protected from the most.

Answer 6

I don't like the idea. Any teacher can show hostility to a certain sect or religion and present only bad things. Its better to speak of no religion instead of attacking any religion.

Answer 7

Teaching children religion is completely contrary to freedom of religion.
But I'm not signing the petition because I'm not a British citizen or resident.

Answer 8

School is for education and preparation for the real world. Religion is not needed to function in society. You don't need it to get a job, you don't need it to interact with other people. So there is absolutely no reason that it should be taught to children in school. Let them decide for themselves when they get older.

Answer 9

Whenever some religious dimwit says, "We want religion in schools!" what they REALLY mean is "We want OUR religion in schools!" There is no honesty in such people.

There's only one way to smack them and wake them up: subject them to other people's religion. Tell them, "You can have religion in school as long as it's not yours."

Read the link, it's a letter to Wing Nut Daily - oops, World Net Daily - which is a fundamentalist christian propaganda - oops, news - website.
You'll see just how prissy christians can be about "school prayer".

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46828

Notably throughout, the clown goes on about "judeo-christian values" being part of the US constitution and "US history", which is as much an act of revisionism as saying the Nazis didn't kill jews. (But then, they are christians....)


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Answer 10

I would rather my kids get an education not a religion.