AIBU to be surprised how few people know all UK state schools include compulsory Christian worship?

[TheMightyMojoceratops]

The law in England and Wales states that ALL state schools "shall on each school day take part in an act of collective worship... wholly or mainly of a Christian character". All UK state schools have to do this: at least 51% of collective worship - often embedded in assemblies - has to be Christian. And this is worship, as distinct from education.

Yet I quite often see threads on here where people are surprised to find their children are coming home saying things like "we said thanks to God today", or "it makes me sad God died for me"... Christian worship is a legal requirement in school, even if it's one I disagree with. Most people I talk to seem unaware of this and express surprise when it's explained to them.

AIBU to be surprised that more parents aren't aware of this?

Rusty - but would it really be so complex as the antidisestablishmentarianists make out (I was waiting for that, one letter longer ).

I can see no reason why the queen couldn't still be head of the church of england, if that's what she and the CofE wanted - she's the figurehead of all sorts of institutions. Bishops of course shouldn't have automatic seats in the Lords, but would be as able to be appointed (or preferably elected) as anyone else, based on merit (as it stands, the best bishops don't necessarily get a place, theres some defined precedence to it). What else is there to unpick?

I think these antidisestablishmentarianistical postings are getting off topic...

There's nothing wrong with it on a day to day basis. It doesn't convert millions of kids to christianity. It's outdated but people are only starting to object because they are learning more about other religions rather than Christianity. I'm sure there was a time when everybody just meekly got on with whatever was set in place but times have changed and people are becoming indignant with having decisions made for them.

Unless you're particularly averse to Christianity and not just annoyed that nobody asked you about it, then there's no reason for things to change in schools. They're bound to phase it out at some point anyway and in the meantime it's not hurting anyone. No kid walks out of school terrified that God is going to hunt them down if they squash an ant.

They're bound to phase it out at some point anyway
why do you think that?

"Unless you're particularly averse to Christianity"

I am adverse to untruths being fed to really young impressionable children be it scientology or Christianity.

Sallyingforth that is a great word...is it real? If not,it should be! :)

Antidisestablishmentarianism was always said to be the longest word in English. This being mn I am sure someone knows better.

thegreylady I think you're right! Haven't seen antidisestablismentiarianistical before though lol!

You've not seen it before because it's not a genuine word. The 'istical' is a wholly unnecessary addition.

It seems like a logical adjective to me.

The adjective would be antidisestablishmentarian.

crikey - no, TBH, it wasn't clear. Seeing as you just addressed 'Christians'. And now you are saying they're being 'quiet' about the issue ... erm, why is it their responsibility and not yours to make a fuss?

My comment began with :"I cannot understand the attitude of some people on this thread".

I'm a humanist - I am making a fuss .

FFS.

This all comes down to personal freedom for everyone.

I don't like religion, I think it's harmful and divisive - particularly when we start separating children along faith lines. But I completely support the right of every person of faith to worship whatever & whoever they like in whatever way makes sense to them.

The only way we can achieve this is to have a secular government that has no religion and does not play favourites.

Islam, Hinduism, Judaism & Christianity (and all the others) should have equality in the eyes of the law & state - one should not be favoured over any other.

By maintaining this nonsense of enforced worship of Yahweh in schools & Bishops sitting in the Lords by right, then we are giving Christianity a privilege it doesn't deserve and most certainly hasn't earned.

Yes, historically we were a Christian country. We aren't any longer. We are an exceptionally diverse group and public life needs to reflect that properly. Why should Muslims & Hindus feel that they are being "tolerated" in a Christian nation?

Oh - and anyone who objects to atheists using the term "Christ"mas needs to stop using the term Thursday if they don't believe in the God Thor

Doesn't make it the actual adjective though, Sallyingforth...

Actually, that makes a perfect metaphor for this debate: what some people know is unnecessary and irrelevant is logical necessity for others...

All the days of the week are out.
Sun, moon , Tiw (or Tig, god of war) , woden, thor,freya (or Frigg), Saturn (a roman leftover).

Quite a few months are named after Gods too, aren't they?

Yes - theres two or three Roman gods and a couple of Emperors. We have a rich and diverse cultural heritage!

The C of E was created by Henry VIII from the Catholic Church who i believe created themselves a few hundreds years after Jesus lived & died.

There may be a God; but the versions of Christianity that the Protestants & Catholics worship was created in the Middle Ages.

So why do UK schoolchildren have to worship a Middle Ages version of God & Christianity that may bear little resemblance to the reality (whatever that is)?

Even Judaism, Islam & other religions have changed hugely over the centuries.

I think that education should be secular; religion is for home.

Agreed Latara. But I would say that the version of Christianity that's being pushed these days is even more recent than the Middle Ages version. Back then, it really was all hellfire & brimstone - people being burned as witches, babies being sent to purgatory etc.

The whole "let's love everybody & pretend no one is going to hell" is the Christianity that's left over after it's been filtered through secular values.

Looking at the history of Christianity in this nation, we should all be deeply relieved this isn't actually a Christian country anymore. They didn't call it the "Dark Ages" for nothing .