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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

"If you don't love God, you're siding with the devil."

77 replies

CrumbsOnTheFloor · 06/12/2011 21:44

So espoused my 5 year old dd this evening.
who told you that?
My teacher.
Which one?
All of them.

AIBU to think that she is being indoctrinated?

She attends a c of e primary school. Not really my fault, I didn't get my choice of non denominational school as it is very over subscribed.
As background, My DH and I are Buddhist so Atheist/Humanist. Whether my kids practice my religion or another is up to them. They obviously will get to know my beliefs but they will choose what to believe in by themselves, like everyone does. How on earth can this sort of teaching, as if it is just a fact, have a place in the education of a 5 yr old in 2011?

OP posts:
MarianneM · 06/12/2011 21:47

What interests me about your post is how does Buddhist = Atheist/Humanist? You sound confused.

SucksToBeMe · 06/12/2011 21:47

Thats a bit harsh! My mum used to threaten me with the bogeyman if i didn't go bed. Same thing really Grin

Mum1369 · 06/12/2011 21:48

Very weird thing to say to a 5 year old, religion aside, that would scare the bejeesus out of them

lubeybaublely · 06/12/2011 21:52

Marianne Buddhists don't believe in a god. It's more a common sense belief system than a religion

I would tell the child that neither exist so don't worry about it, and that the teachers are being a bit silly. and then start homeschooling But that's me

Original poster
CrumbsOnTheFloor · 06/12/2011 21:53

I'm not confused at all, Marianne. Buddhism is a human made religion that has no concept of a higher being. Its a perfectly nice school. I just wish they wouldn't preach religion (of any kind) as if it is just another school subject;

OP posts:
DartsAgain · 06/12/2011 21:53

As I understand things there is no god in Buddhism, it's focused on the path to enlightenment.

And, as I mentioned in an argument with someone, the devil is a construct of the christian religion. If you don't believe in god, you can't believe in the devil.....

springydaffs · 06/12/2011 21:57

I'm a christian and I'd be concerned about talk like this. I would make an appt with the headteacher to find out exactly what was and wasn't said.

MarianneM · 06/12/2011 22:03

OP, Buddhism is not the same as atheism. I doubt most Buddhists would refer to themselves as atheists.

Sounds a bit pick-and-mix to me. Sign of the times!

Mum1369 · 06/12/2011 22:04

Or, you could just give an opinion on the question asked ?

thepeoplesprincess · 06/12/2011 22:06

I always thought God-bothering was par for the course in C of E schools.

Original poster
CrumbsOnTheFloor · 06/12/2011 22:07

No, of course its not the same as atheism. But, there are no gods, goddesses, Devils or higher beings. in Buddhist terms, you yourself are a Buddha if you choose to believe so, and are equal to all other beings. No God = Atheist. Any Buddhists disagree?

OP posts:
PointyLittleDonkeyEars · 06/12/2011 22:10

If it's any comfort to you, crumbs my two went to a C of E primary (DD2 still does) and went from being very indoctrinated at age 5 to being committed humanists and critical thinkers now that they are nearly 9 and nearly 11. As long as you openly and honestly discuss matters of faith in the home, don't impose your beliefs (or lack of them) on your DCs and maintain an ongoing and rational discussion, your DCs will find their own path.

Which is what it's really all about, and I say this as a committed atheist - who has no right to impose her beliefs on her children Smile.

MarianneM · 06/12/2011 22:11

Me? I doubt very much that the OP's child's school told her that if she doesn't believe in God she is siding with the devil. As for religion being taught in a C of E school, yes, obviously they would teach the children about religion.

Christianity is not very popular these days, whereas pretty much anything else goes (as with the OP).

TeamDamon · 06/12/2011 22:13

Teach your DD to quote Milton: "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven."

Grin
Original poster
CrumbsOnTheFloor · 06/12/2011 22:14
Xmas Shock
OP posts:
TeamDamon · 06/12/2011 22:15

MarianneM - you can't side with the devil if you don't believe in God because you wouldn't believe in the devil either - as was said earlier, the devil is a Christian concept.

But the OP said that her DD was told she is siding with the devil if she doesn't love God - she can still believe he exists, just not love him.

MarianneM · 06/12/2011 22:18

I didn't bring the devil into this! A massive Grin

Original poster
CrumbsOnTheFloor · 06/12/2011 22:18

Shock face was for Marianne, by the way.

OP posts:
TeamDamon · 06/12/2011 22:20

I thought it was for Milton Grin

Just studying Paradise Lost with my U6 so God and the devil very much on my mind at the moment!

MarianneM · 06/12/2011 22:22

Shock and horror, presumably for my comment about "anything goes these days".

But it's true though innit?

People religion-hop with merry abandon, picking bits they like and dispensing with the rest. I think many people consider shopping their religion. Or being all things "eco" (much of which also revolved around shopping).

Gentleness · 06/12/2011 22:23

Hmm - if she says ALL the teachers said it then I'd try to explore a bit more into the circumstances. It certainly sounds like an odd thing and I can't think of many circumstances where all the teachers would have contact with her talking about this kind of thing. Maybe it is a song in assembly, or a story or something. I am a Christian and I'd be worried about my child hearing this as I don't believe in a "devil". I'd have to find out how it came about she heard it...

Original poster
CrumbsOnTheFloor · 06/12/2011 22:23

Religion hop? Where did you get that from?

OP posts:
TeamDamon · 06/12/2011 22:24

MarianneM - well, you mentioned him in your post when you misquoted the OP. You doubting that the school told her DD that if she didn't believe in God, she was siding with the devil is ironically right because they told her no such thing.

OP: you'll just have to do what most sensible parents do when faced with issues like this - tell your DD that many people believe many things (some of which are less plausible than others) and that she needs to make her own mind up about faith as she explores it further.

Mum1369 · 06/12/2011 22:25

Crikey, we don't want any free thinking individuals do we?

Jux · 06/12/2011 22:27

The same thing - but not so bad - happened to my dd at age 6. It was a crap school too but the only one nearby. It was only one teacher, in fact a TA, but kids don't really discriminate at that age, they're all adults in authority. She told dd that as she hadn't been christened then she couldn't be a proper part of the class.... DD was a bit upset but believed us when we told her this was nonsense.

Anyway, dd soon got over it, and is now Wiccan but also follows the ancient Egyptian gods/goddesses. She has gone through a phase of Christianity in the meantime.

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