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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About Bibles being given out at school.

203 replies

BlingBang · 03/12/2013 22:12

Son has just told me that they have to line up and take a bible and say thank you - seems like some group is coming to the school to distribute them. AIBU to be surprised and think this is strange? My son doesn't believe in God and doesn't particularly want a bible or have to thank someone for it. Is this common practice then?

OP posts:
IneedAsockamnesty · 04/12/2013 00:27

Would you be as upset if it was a copy of the hobbit?

frogspoon · 04/12/2013 00:29

I have taught in several schools where this is common practice. One was a C of E school, so I have no objections as parents have chosen faith school and expect their child to learn about this faith (even if they are not Christian themselves- many aren't) However other school have been community schools, where I don't feel they should really have a place.

Also Gideons isn't even a proper bible, just a new testament.

Original poster
BlingBang · 04/12/2013 00:35

Ae you really comparing modern literary material such as The Hobbit to religious material that the children are being instructed to accept and be grateful for? Surely unless it is curriculum - this should be a choice?

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 04/12/2013 01:19

I know when I was at school in the 70s having a bible was compulsory (but I can't remember if we were given them or had to buy them), and it wasn't a religious school either.

I remember finding it a useful reference from time to time, particularly when I got a bit obsessed by Joseph and his amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and wanted to understand all the references in the lyrics.

It certainly didn't stop me being a committed atheist.

ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmmmmmmm · 04/12/2013 01:27

7? Your son is seven, and "doesn't believe in God". Hmm

Newsflash....he doesn't "believe " anything. Because he is not emotionally or intellectually mature enough to do so.

They do a good line in parroting their parents opinions, though, kids. Wink

ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmmmmmmm · 04/12/2013 01:31

IN year 7 Blush

sandfrog · 04/12/2013 01:57

It's just a free book. You don't have to believe the Bible to read it, any more than you have to like or agree with any other book. They're not forcing anyone to read it, are they?

Caitlin17 · 04/12/2013 02:07

ThingsthatmakeyougohmmI have a very clear memory of sitting in a classroom listening to weekly religious radio programme aimed at children and aged 9 thinking "I don't believe in God."

At that time schools did a fair amount of RE, and weekly assemblies with prayers. My family were vaguely Catholic although I didn't go to a Catholic school.
No one told me not to believe. I just never did.

Caitlin17 · 04/12/2013 02:14

I'm also of the view there's nothing particularly wrong about giving out a bible.

I don't think it will actually make the slightest difference.

My impression is whilst there may be people who " get religion" later in life, it's either something you're born with or you're not. When people talk about their faith or their relationship with God I really have no idea what they're talking about. What I have read of the bible made it no clearer.

CiderwithBuda · 04/12/2013 05:02

They are being given a bible. Not made to swear allegiance to a faith. It's a book. They don't have to read it. They don't have to do anything except say thank you.

DS was given one last year. I didn't realise most schools do it. We are not religious although DS is at a CofE school. They attend Chapel every week etc. He hates it. Finds it boring. Doesn't affect him otherwise though and I think it's an important part of his life education in a way. They also study RE. They are doing Buddhism at the moment.

If you are nt religious fine. But the world is made up of people of different beliefs and religions. It's useful to know a bit about religion as it's such a big part of world affairs I think.

I was brought up Catholic in Ireland and our school was hugely religious. I'm not now so it doesn't mean that if a child is exposed to a religion they are doomed forever! Grin

Misspixietrix · 04/12/2013 06:02

I wouldn't be too worried. Like someone else said they are handy to have in but speak to the school if its bugging you. It might be worth something in a few hundred years. There was an article in the paper the other day about an old tattered Book of Psalms that sold for £8.8million! Shock.

gobbletygob · 04/12/2013 06:27

I would be upset, to us the Bible is the Old Testament and that's not even included, apparently.

If it's given out in schools, they should wait til sixth form. Or make it optional.

Expecting everyone to line up and say thank you for the Bible of the dominant religion, just makes others feel more different and unequal

Especially when the school merely instructed the kids to be polite, and didn't bother to point out that this is an interesting document, but not everyone believes it.

Difficult at an age when kids want to belong and not be different.

I agree it's worth having for cultural reference, but they're not lining up to receive encylopedias or dictionaries. It's a public display. Uncomfortable if it's not your bible.

(and yes, I'm a coward so I've namechanged, this sort of thing still makes me feel uncomfortable)

Bunbaker · 04/12/2013 07:06

"Both of my children got them. I think it's outrageous."

What exactly is so outrageous about being given a bible? What are you afraid of? It is just a book that your child won't even read, not Jimmy Saville's autobiography. IMO the only thing that is outrageous about this is the monumental waste of money.

Snowbility · 04/12/2013 07:25

In term of conversion and brain washing handing a child a bible is going to be pretty ineffective, what 10 year old is going to sit down and have a good read - not many I'd imagine. Dh knows the bible inside out - was almost converted at the age of 16, I say almost because after having read and studied it extensively he realised it was something he could never get with and that's being polite!

In terms of attempting conversion the more accessible and persuasive crap they were fed in Reception and Year One was more worrying - after that they learned to have more confidence in their beliefs over the bible thumping teacher's. Had it been a children's bible though....I'd have been hopping mad - having seen the one mil gave me for them and ended up in the bin - recycled of course. Wink

Caitlin17 · 04/12/2013 08:12

I assume it's not compulsory to take it?

Rpeg · 04/12/2013 08:16

I doubt schools would refuse to have copies of the Koran being distributed

Really? I can just imagine the Daily Mail headlines...

The Gideons are an unpleasant, deeply sexist organisation. Don't know why so many people are so comfortable with them being allowed to proselytise in state schools.

SomethingkindaOod · 04/12/2013 08:29

DS was given one last year, he stopped believing in FC and God at the same time but as we live in quite a Christian area and I went to church for long enough to be able to discuss at least some of his questions with him he was able to make up his own mind and see it from both points of view. We have a couple of Bibles in the house alongside books on other religions and I'm currently looking for a copy of the Koran that doesn't cost too much and maybe explains things for non Muslims (if anybody could point me in that direction I will be very gratefulSmile).
He took a copy politely and left it in his bag for a while before remembering and it's in his bedroom now, unlike two of his classmates who ripped them up on the bus and threw the pages out of the window. I find that pretty nasty and would have been very pissed with DS if he'd done the same.
I've never seen the Gideons as trying to convert anybody, why not just view them as trying to educate people about Christianity. It's hard to not believe if you don't know what you don't believe in...

crescentmoon · 04/12/2013 08:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ll31 · 04/12/2013 08:54

Surely the saying thank you is good manners and does not equate to being grateful as such. Also surely if he feels he doesn't want it he can jyet say no thanks....

ll31 · 04/12/2013 08:54

Just say

curlew · 04/12/2013 09:21

""Both of my children got them. I think it's outrageous."

What exactly is so outrageous about being given a bible? What are you afraid of? It is just a book that your child won't even read, not Jimmy Saville's autobiography. IMO the only thing that is outrageous about this is the monumental waste of money."
I don't like the "normalization" of Christianity within state schools- that's not what school is for. If you want a religious education for your child either pay for it or provide it at home.

Oh, and my children are well educated about the bible actually- we're atheists, not barbarians!

missmarplestmarymead · 04/12/2013 09:30

OP. You say you went to a Catholic school and were given a Gideon Bible while attending it. Your recollection must be faulty. I can assure you that no Catholic school would give out Gideon bibles.

In your case, it might have served you better if someone had given you a book about basic manners and then you would now know that it is polite to say 'thank you for a gift whether you want it or not. Please do not pass on this lack of grace to a child.

IndridCold · 04/12/2013 09:37

Blimey, I bet the Gideons, and other Christian missionaries, wished it was that easy - just give someone a Bible and they will instantly believe.

IndridCold · 04/12/2013 09:38

TBH I would be more alarmed if people were going into schools saying it's alright to destroy books you don't agree with.

curlew · 04/12/2013 09:39

Can you just imagine the kerfuffle if Koran's were being distributed at school and children were expected to just accept the gift politely! I would expect mine to, actually, (as I said, we're atheists, not barbarians) but I can see the sad faced families on the front pages of the tabloids now, and the threads all over Mumsnet about how they'll be banning Christmas next!

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