To feel a bit [hmm] about 'Christianity Day' at school

[nameforaday]

Regular MNer, namechanging because this identifies my son's school.

He is in year 7. Now their end of year exams are over there are a lot of special projects, away days etc...One of the compulsory events is 'Christianity Day' which as far as I can work out is a whole day run by these people...groovy young evangelical Christians who are basically doing missionary outreach work in schools - their aim is to bring more young people to Jesus.

I don't think it is appropriate; it is one thing to teach children about different religions, but another to give over teaching time and premises for an evangelical group to peddle their wares for a whole day. They didn't even send home a letter saying what they day was going to be, and giving people a chance to withdraw.

Any advice on what to do? If if it was primary school I'd go and have a chat with the Head, but secondary school is so much more intimidating! I don't think it will harm my son, I just think its a bit off.

Well i hope your children and young people are more tolerant than some of you on this threAd. Using abusive or insulting words about other people s faiths is unnecessary. You can disagree with people or ideas or ideologies without calling people nutty, God botherers, cult like, fucking awful, Shit, weirdy, preying on the weak, happy clappy ( to use just a few examples from thsi thread)

and, no, they don't expect him to rub himself up against weeping statues either

I would inform the school that my DS would not be attending on that day and give clear reasons why (in my case because we are atheists). I do not object to RE in schools and like the fact that kids are taught about other faiths etc and do not object to the odd hymn in assembly as we can all enjoy the music but a whole day of christianity, no thanks.

OK, you've lost me now. No idea which 'values' you're talking about TBH.

Parents also indoctrinate their children with values that can be damaging.
True, they are largely responsible for propagating belief in unreality.
Not what you meant?

You have no idea which values I'm talking about?

'largely responsible for propagating belief in unreality'

All you can manage are sly digs.

Nice

Those are probably the values I'm talking about actually.

Intolerance of others' religious beliefs.

hiding thread

No point in this whatsoever.

You have no idea which values I'm talking about?

No, because I've seen nothing harmful and damaging in DDs curriculum (but a lot of positive stuff), nor anything she'll have come across at home.

no zombie wide spectrum here, grew up catholic ( grandparents gave a lot of money, but they were wealthy), moved to England, from Ireland went high Anglican for a while parents didn't like it, coe after that. then i joined a evangelical church independently heard pretty much the same service you just quoted, seeing it there made me lol. now i don't go any where. i can also say that at the coe church there were giving sermons just not so blatant.

It's fine. Make sure the BNP get their day too for balance though.

Sheesh. I'm actually quite tolerant of adults believing whatever they want. Its indoctrination of any sort which bothers me.

(and it wasn't me who called ECs nutty, for the record, I deliberately edited that out. I left happy clappy because I never minded the designation when I was one, so didn't occur to me it was an insult. If it offends anyone, apologies)

Where's the respect for my values? As an atheist am I not allowed to have any or assert them anywhere or do only people who believe in a deity have that right? I'd like a bit of tolerance back from those with faith, I really would.

My DS would be having the day off. RE is fine recruitment is not.

yeah i never though happy clappy was an insult when i went to one. in fact i alway use to say i went to a happy clappy evangelical charismatic free church. it was a moth full

mouth even

Hiddenhome, I guess you'd be fine with a scientology day then at your kids school?

just out of interest would anyone object if it was another religious group doing a similar thing or is it just because it is christian group and no one has said why Steps is so bad. If it was greenpeace would it be okay? I know christianity does present itself in a bad light at times and people within the church can be a bit overzealous and OTT about things at times.

also I think the climate change stuff in science is always being pushed down children's throats as though it is unproven without a doubt.

agreed alemic

Thanks folks, its good to know I'm not the only one who thinks is not educational.

I've left it too late to complain preemptively (its next week) so I think if complain to the head now he will only be defensive because its a scheduled event and there is no way they will cancel it. I don't think I'll pull my son out either, because he is a thick skinned atheist and he will probably go along and ask difficult questions.

What I think I will do is ask if I can go in and sit in on one of the sessions and see if it confirms my fears or not.

Hellatwork - I agree those Q&As on the website are .

I think I will suggest 'Religions Day' for next year - it could be like freshers fair, or careers week, where they visit representatives from all the different interest groups.

I mean, it isn't even accurate to call this 'Christianity day' - they would need to include some Catholics, orthodox etc.. It should be called Protestantism day

I wouldn't pull my DD either - she's not particularly impressionable. I might show her that website beforehand, and see what she makes of those Q&As... I would predict a lot of

I think it is good you are going in to watch. you may be pleasantly surprised. I have looked at their website and the questions.

TBH they want to be invited to schools so they do not want to overstep the mark.

I would withdraw my child for that day. It's a shame that religion and religious people sometimes makes that necessary but as someone bringing up a child without religion it seems I might sometimes be forced to do so. :(

Good idea op.

Alemci
I can't believe that you really want to compare climate change science where it is taught in school, with inviting an evangelical Christian group for whole day in school. They really aren't the same at all.

Nameforaday Good idea about asking to go in and watch. Maybe you can have a few difficult qns of your own or would that be too much?

Those questions were just peculiar weren't they? The way they went to all the trouble to mention Ian Huntley as a paedophile murdering 10 year old girls? The specificity of the qn being phrased as focusing on Ian Huntley and then no mention of him in the answer (and a very crap explanation of free will imo) felt very much like scaremongering to me. Why focus on one evil person who did something to children as your example when you are speaking to children? What about wars? Or do we not mention wars because too many of them are instigated are people killing other people in the name of religion? If unintentional, very misguided at the least, if intentional, extremely sinister.