visiting gurdwara

[spiderpig8]

MY DDS school is visiting a gurdwara and they have been told they have to wear a scarf and bow to their religious book.
Whilst I respect other peoples right to take part in whatever religion they like, I do not respect their religion , because as a Christian I believe christianity is the only true religion.
I feel that wearing a headscarf and bowing to a book crosses the line from educational into observing some of their religious beliefs.
DH has been into Muslim, sikh and hindu temples in the courses of his work and never been asked to cover his hair, so it can't be an 'absolute' rule.

worraliberty- there's a fair few of the children at that school with baseball caps!

Flange You're missing my point

My point is, it would be downright disrespectful to enter this place of worship knowing the protocol and then at the last minute, refuse to adhere to it.

It's one thing being adamantly against it (or being the child of a parent who is) and quite another to be disrespectful enough to enter...knowing full well what you should do and then refuse to do it.

Rude Rude Rude

I think wearing the scarf is a good thing to do as it is showing respect to another religion

Bowing to the book? No, no, no.

Try a couple of hours in the Free Church of Scotland.

I was a bit about RE in DC1's P1 class being all about 'The wonderful things Jesus did'. NOT my bag, never will be...and living in a white, eurocentric, rural enclave, means that it's unlikely DCs will ever get to visit other places of religious worship for 'comparison'

spiderpig I don't see the reference to the 40 year old surveyor on this thread (haven't read through every post), but the gurudwara building itself has no particular significance; it's just a building. It's the book, that's kept in a safe, clean place and only brought out to teach or preach, that's considered holy. If the surveyor was there in a professional capacity, I imagine it wasn't during a service. So the book won't have been in the room. There was therefore nothing there for him to show respect to by covering his head/bowing.

Not that funny, imo.

This is my last post as (seemingly) the only Sikh person on this thread. I perceive your attitude - as it comes across on this site - to be closed to discussion or debate, or to putting considered thought into the subject matter, which is what I thought these threads were about.

To paraphrase a favourite MNism: your child, your rules!

Nice to see you runningwilde

This is a really interesting thread. For the record, I think you should allow your DD to participate in the visit. A few years ago I (a non-Jew) went to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. I was asked to put on a sarong type-thing as I was wearing shorts - had no problem with that. I went up to the Wall (on the women's side), had a good look, then turned around and walked away. I was aware of women staring at me but it was only afterwards an Israeli friend told me you aren't supposed to turn your back on the Wall. I was mortified - I must have looked so rude, like I didn't give a stuff about Jewish customs. And there is something in those customs. It makes me so sad when I hear Christians say Christianity is the only true religion - it is the root of prejudice against people of other faiths and just adds suffering to the world. All the major religions clearly have something offer - they are about believing in God and trying to be a good person. Also it is a tad arrogant don't you think, claiming your religion is better than other religions? How do you know? None of us are party to God's mind.

Furthermore, your children will be left out and at the very least are going to have to answer difficult questions from the other kids, if not get picked on. There is a time to stand out from the crowd but there is also a time to go with the flow.

I didn't mention baseball caps

FWIW the children round here who visit the gurdwara do wear baseball caps because the school has been told it's acceptable.

I think it boils down to the individual place of worship.

i dont get it, how is it making the school look good and to whom?

Fright Night I'm not suggesting Christians are all intolerant. Plenty of Christian Churches teach tolerance, but it is not a basic tenant of Christianity. Religious tolerance is fairly new for British Churches, just look at our history of sectarian violence.

catsarecool Very interesting point...In rural parts of Scotland, single track roads, the drivers put up a hand (palm facing) to demonstrate thank you.

I pootled around Greece on a few occasions in hire cars and did the hand signal, only to find out later this is a HUGE insult in that country...

And it's nothing to do with 'making the schools look good' OP.

The teachers are given a pre visit printout, telling them what's expected of people entering the building.

YABU and very disrespectful OP and what is more you are teaching your children that it's ok to be so pig headed and intolerant. If you really are a Christian, and I'll be honest - I doubt that you are - you would have a quiet word with yourself until you see that you are acting like a complete chavvy thicko over a non-issue. Nobody's going to die or get possessed by a thousand malicious chanting demons just because your precious kids have to cover their hair for five minutes. And as for wasting the time of a TA so that you can make your dubious point via the children - shame on you.

Menopausal, surely that would be spiderpig-headed. And, hypocritical

Sorry but I just cannot abide such selfish me me me badly thought out nonsense.

slubadub not the only one :P

Wow - ffs it is covering your head no different to covering shoulders in vatican city, or a orthodox church, or a synagogue.
Think you'll find that one is written in the bible as well - I'm going to say St Paul said it.

As for bowing. Look for me (as a sikh) i bow to the ground so my forhead thouched the floor. That is not expected of a non sikh. Just stopping infront of it and a slight inclination would be fine (and actually just stopping infront of it would be fine - well in the ones I know) Also most will have a donation box (just like a donation box in a chuch)
I don't throw the bible around and wouldn't put it on the floor. Think of it like the same.

It is about a respect for other peoples beliefs that is all.

Well said MH. When children have a parent who is so clearly religiously intolerant, and ignorant, it is such a shame.

I don't think some of you know what tolerance means
Tolerance is allowing others to follow their own religious beliefs and practices free from persecution.It does not mean that you have to follow them too!!!

Just a thought, OP.Perhaps one of your DCs will grow up to be an important member of your church. Perhaps a vicar, or bishop or lay preacher?
As part of their role in the wider community they would undoubtedly attend multi-faith services or meetings. How would you expect them to behave then? Perhaps they could stand outside in the car part whilst the community discussions go on?

I'd still like to know how the OPs DC actually feel about this.

Is it their decision or has she made it for them?

die forrest you go these places voluntarily, it is not forced on you by others.

Not read the whole thread but it strikes me that OP is in effect teaching her DD not to respect other religions.

It's parents of that very nature who inflict upon the next generation that religion equals division. A "them -v- us" mentality.

It's archaic. It's damaging to society as a collective.

Respect is never wrong.

Tolerance is allowing others to follow their own religious beliefs and practices free from persecution.It does not mean that you have to follow them too!!!

It's also about allowing your kids to be taught about something you personally don't believe in.

And all they're being asked to do is cover their heads and respectfully acknowledge the Sikh Holy book.