How can we prevent our children from catching religion at school?

Question

Is it like Chickenpox?

Is it something everyone gets eventually?

Answer 1

the same as any inoculation...

expose them to a small poisonous sample early on, so they get an imunity.

Answer 2

Naw, not everyone gets it eventually -- keep the brain strong and you won't catch it.

I'm pro-active about it in reality (though I know your question was sarcastic). I tell my kids teachers that they won't be saying "under god" during the pledge, on the first day of school, so they're aware of it. I *nicely* but firmly let people know how we raise our children (my son's friend invited him to a cub scout thing, and I politely told the kid's dad that my son wouldn't be going because he can't join as the child of an atheist. This other dad said, "what do you mean -- they don't keep atheists out!" I told him to check with his pack leaders -- the next week he apologized to me, and said he thought that policy was stupid and he understood my position).
If you're nice but firm about it, nobody will mess with your kids. Although I did get one parent to yell at me, when at a birthday party at our house we started serving the meal, one parent asked if we were going to say "grace," and I simply said, "we don't do that in our house. If you'd like to do your own silently, feel free." The parent then went off about how godless heathens would be the end of america, how we must be terrible people, and how we must have no morals...all this in front of the kids. And from somebody who's divorced and remarried and had an affair while married (I'm not, been married happily for 13 years).
Needless to say, they don't get invited over anymore :)

Peace.

Answer 3

I don't understand which view you are taking on this question. No, religion should not be 'taught' at school, yes they will probably have some friends who are of different faiths and yes they will be exposed to that. There is a difference between religion being forced into a way of life at school (what we want to get rid of) and people of many backgrounds and religious beliefs attending the same school. Ah, I must be naive to suggest such a thing.

Answer 4

I think everyone has to deal with that question, "What do I believe" at some point in their life. My sister, who's Agnostic, has been recently having problems with other kids in the first grade class approaching my nephew and asking him if he knows Jesus and goes to church. At 7-years-old they're doing this ****. So I think it is like chickenpox.

Answer 5

What? Are you asking if a kid can through school their entire life and not learn about different religions, and not recognize the fact that there are many different beliefs? That's not possible, even with home schooling, one way or another that child is going to come across someone, see something on television or read something somewhere that has to do with religion.....

Answer 6

Just remind your children that being religious is a lot of work like praying, getting up early on a sunday, and you have to be good all of the time or they will face religious consequences. That should cure any religious deisease that they may aquire from school.

Answer 7

you can't prevent anyone from catching a religion. If they like the religion and really truly believe it, then that's what they believe. Best way, be an example of what you want your children to believe. If you don't want them to be Buddhist, then don't have a bunch of buda dolls in the house, if you want them to be christian lead by example and take them to church, spark up conversation and talk to them about it, get their opinions on it, religion can just be told, it has to be taught and believed. There are people who will live to be 100 and never actually have a religion. With all the different religions there are and different things that are supposedly found everyday, its hard for people to believe just one thing anymore. If you don't believe in anything, you just have to let your kids decide for themselves, besides if its not a cult, it can't hurt anyone. (unless of course hurting someone or something is part of the religion) you should just let them believe what they want, its kinda like Santa Claus it didn't hurt anyone to believe he really existed for awhile. You just have to be supportive.

Answer 8

The only way to prevent a person/child from "catching religion" is to let your child know of all religions and that he/she is aloud to choose which he/she decides to follow at what ever point in their life. And that wether they believe in God, Allah, Moses, Budha (sorry for mispell) or Bishnu (again sorry for mispell), at least you will love your child and respect their decisions. Oh and to respect other peoples religious choices as well.

Answer 9

Quit teaching them about the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny at Home.

Answer 10

They're not gonna "catch religion" in a public school that's for sure! Public schools don't teach about the love of Jesus. Only private schools do. I am blessed to homeschool my daughter for that very reason. I teach it to her at home and she learns it when we go to church every week! The public schools don't teach the most important lesson and that is that Jesus died and rose again for us to forgive us of our sins. I think kids learning about this is the best thing that can happen to them!!!

Answer 11

Our schools are so devoid of religion that kids don't know the ten commandments or any consequences for their actions, unless their parents tell them about it. Personally I think it is a sad state of affairs. Guns get inside schools but watch out if a bible slips in Whoa!!