Why do state primary schools teach children that Chrisitanity is fact?

Question

When I was at primary school (ok, it was 10 years ago so it might have changed) in religion lessons and in assembly, teachers referred to Chrisitanity as fact (e.g. 'Jesus DID such and such, God said don't eat that apple)

but when they taught about other religions they would say 'Hindus believe that.....' 'Jews would say that......'

Shouldn't they teach them all the same? after all they all have the same reason for them being true, because someone SAID it happened and wrote it down in a book

no i went to a state school......erm....thats why I know how they taught me as I child...hence the question

ok buts that my point, there's no more evidence to say Christianity is fact than to say Hinduism is fact. So to teach them in the context that one is fact and one isn't seems strange. (Did I say strange? I meant brainwashing)

i went to school in Stockport, England. Not really a bible belt, but it still happened. Is it wrong for teachers to give their opinions as fact?

Sarah - but it isn't. It's a theory that some people believe.

Dee - I care, thats why I asked the question.

Also, you clearly have not either read or understood the question.

I didn't say they should teach every religion. I am saying that they teach one as fact and the rest as fiction.

And I have to laugh at the 'it was 10 years ago get over it' remark! They teach religion that is WAY older than 10 years and haven't got over it!

Answer 1

this is very true and i think it's a natural human characteristic to think that what u believe in and ONLY what u believe in is true and to be skeptical about other things.so the best would be,as u say,teach everything the same.because the only FACTS there is in this world are common sense and logic :) anything that defies logic and evidence is best regarded with a dubious view.

after all, if u go around saying my best friend slept with so and so merely because someone else TELLS u that he/she did, u could be sued for defamation!!! :P LOL!

Answer 2

I'm 59. When I went to primary school we prayed, talked freely about Jesus and the Bible, and teachers encouraged children to live by the Ten Commandments. It was a way of life. Gradually, those things have disappeared through the political process and I imagine if you went back to your school now, it would be different too. Today if there's any prejudice towards religion, you can bet it's against Christianity. But, you know down in the Bible Belt, we have ways of getting around all that. You just can't stamp out Jesus.

Answer 3

It would not even occur to Primary school teachers that they are giving this slant on their teachings, not unless someone pointed it out. I do not think it was deliberate, just that the chances are they spoke from that point of view because they, and the majority of the children, though not necessarily of the same belief, were of the same background. There is such a thing as being too politically correct.

Answer 4

Anyone who thinks Christianity/Jesus is truth/fact, then check this; The letter J didnt come into existence until the 1500's, then what was the Messiahs name b4 then. The point is that, all religion is RE-Ligion, something being RE done again. Another example is in Genesis chapter 1 & 2, God tells Adam & Eve to REplinish the earth, the fact that theres a Re on the beginning of the word means it was plinished b4, something happen'd and now they had to REplinish, do again. Religion including Christianity was formulated by King James and his 46 scholars to control the minds of the masses. By no way is fact or truth.

Answer 5

They should be the same, and that's the basis for the HAF's lawsuit against the California board in charge of editing text books for sixth graders. The other religions (even Islam) come across as wonderful inspirational faiths, yet Hinduism was treated in a degrading (not to mention inaccurate) way. Below is the url for the website if you're interested.

Answer 6

who cares?
it was 10 years ago, get over it!

So, you expect the teacher to go through every religion in the world just to make sure no-one is offended.

I went to a catholic school 10 years ago, we were taught evolution in our Science lesson (we even had posters on the wall showing man coming from an ape) and we were taught about all religions in our RE class. Our schools only difference was that we had to sit the Religious Education as a GCSE.

I'm not religious, am just not a drama queen jumping on the anti-christian bandwagon that people have imported from American documentaries.

Answer 7

Where I come from the Majority of State Schools in Ireland were under the control of the Roman Catholic Clergy and the Teachers had to Teach the Roman Catholic Ideology. There is a few Inter Denominational Schools now and the Catholic Church tried for a long time to get these Banned ,But there is more of these coming on stream now much to the disgust of the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Answer 8

I think it has loosened up a lot lately. But you could always opt out of RE and assembly - my parents requested that I be excused those elements, and there was no problem at all - mind you, this was not because they wished me to have a secular education, it was because they were Jehovah's witnesses and only wanted me exposed to their own dogma!

But I agree with your indignation - no religion should be taught or promoted at the state's expense. trouble is, we don't have separation of church and state in the UK. Ironically, though, we are a much less religious bunch that the Americans, who's constitution DOES separate church and state!

Answer 9

The same thing happens in Australia. There's even a scripture class once a week.

We've signed an exemption form for our 10 year old, but there's still all the other references to chritianity that you mention.

Answer 10

You went to school in the Bible belt didn't you. I've been out of school for over 35 years and when I was in grade school (in New England) they didn't teach anything about any religion. (We did learn about mythology)