Mike Pass
"CAVE CANEM"
Membership Level: Full
Posts: 11866
Status: Offline | Should religion be compulsorily taught in schools?
OK, so the title says it all. However, I will elaborate.
(Making a note along the way that, even though a political aspect could apply - party politics does not....so don’t even think about it or I will have the thread closed!).
I am an Atheist. This is well known here and there are at least two more to my knowledge. As Atheists, unlike many Christians, we have no problems, whatsoever with the other practising their beliefs. They are simply not for us.
My contention is this:
Christianity has long, long been forced upon children in school under the guise of ’Religious Education or, R.E. if you will. I see this as unacceptable as part of the child’s formative upbringing.
My feeling is that, children should not be subjected, mandatorily to a subject so contentious.
Apart from this, I recall my own classes in R.E. Our teachers must have been on drugs to possess the level of patience that they had! We spent all lesson picking out fallacies, lies and errors from the Bible and associated teachings. This does not mean that we felt ourselves to be the only ones ’in step’ of course. We learned later about religious tolerance and came to respect those who held the views and those who broadcast them (though not those who chose to evangelise, as we once saw in these hallowed halls).
For instance. Rev. Roger Perry is a man of God and also an ex-Boy Entrant. Had he only been the latter, I, as an ex Apprentice would likely have nothing to do with him......
I contend that Religious Education should be given in schools but only on a voluntary learning basis.
My reasons for raising this issue are various but the major concern is the spread of Islam througout this country. A religion which, if followed by true believers is of little danger to anyone but when used a weapon, as it mostly seems to be, these days, becomes one of the greatest threats to mankind in the past 2000years or so.
The teaching of Islam is becoming forcibly imposed by claim of discrimination on any school that is too weak to oppose it.
My premise, however, is that no form of R.E. should be mandatory in schools.
What is your view?
Last edited by Mike Pass |
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