To think it is time to secularise all state-funded education?

[fideline]

Just that really.

The British social attitudes survey is quite interesting. If you go to the Religion section, there's quite a few pages of data and discussion.

I'm curious about the "vast majority" of people on the census being Christians. I'm not doubting the figure, but it really doesn't tally with my life, am I living in some parallel universe?

People like my friend who insisted on putting 'Christian' on the census because she is baptised and argued with me that although I'm atheist I should put RC because I was baptised RC.

She is no alone, many people tick the box because they have a tree at Christmas.

Also only one person fills in the census form, had I been at my parents' that night I would be counted as RC.

The census is a prime example of 'ask a leading question, get a misleading answer' I'm afraid.

I know someone whose oldest son got in but the younger brother didn't because he hadn't been baptised before 6 months,

Yes they brought that rule in at a lot of RC schools when Eastern Europeans immigration took off. It is an English/Irish (not sure about Wales and Scotland) custom to baptise as early as possible. My brother was born 30th November and baptised before Xmas.

In many Eastern European countries it is tradition to baptise at 1 year.

Also many Eastern European immigrants want their children baptised 'at home' where grand parents / friends / family can attend. It's not easy to get a passport, arrange flights, arrange church / baptism etc in 6 months.

Not that RC schools are racist. No not at all.

so, some of you are saying you are better placed to say what a person's faith is , than the person themselves!! How unspeakably arrogant!!

how is thisn census question 'leading'
What is your religion?
(and then a list of boxes)
No religion
Christian
Buddhist
Jewish
Hindu
Sikh
Muslim
Other

Please remember you have the right to withdraw your child from religious education and worship.The fact that most people don't proves they are happy with the status quo

No, some of us understand how questionnaires work. And if you read the links (I presume you haven't) you will see that the census results are very different indeed to the results of other surveys. There is strong evidence that people identify themselves as "culturally" Christian while actually not having a faith.

And the are many reasons for not withdrawing my child from worship. I did not withdraw mine because I wanted them to take part fully in the life of the school and I had no desire that my feelings should make them conspicuous in a way that one of them at least would have hated. That does not mean that I agree with worship in schools.

YANBU. Religion should not be involved in education at all. If they want to donate money to schools that's fine, but they should have no control over a school whatsoever.

that they haven't exercised their right to withdraw them

Some people think leaving their children in the occasional act of worship is a lesser evil than singling them out to miss it.

And some people's children get a long way through school before the parents realise that there is any actual worship at all - the "secular school" assumption.

And what are the Christian values people are afraid will be foisted on their child?
Respect?
compassion?
love for one another?
forgiveness?
service?

Pixie

Respect?
compassion?
love for one another?
forgiveness?
service?

You are aware that these values are not exclusive to Christianity aren't you?

I think Jesus would approve of that wouldn't an exclusive Christian club...exclude all those nasty children whose parents had failed to take them to church....they don't need God do they? That bit always amazes me you'd think Christian Schools would be open to everyone especially non Christians, you'd think they'd be keen to get the kids young but they'd rather build high walls and keep the sinners out!

pixie - have you even looked at the other survey data, which asks better focussed questions? I'm not making any assumptions, I'm looking at what people say in those. You really can't say anything about a persons faith on the basis that they ticked a box marked Christian except that they don't have some other faith.

Please remember you have the right to withdraw your child from religious education and worship.The fact that most people don't proves they are happy with the status quo

It doesn't do any such thing arrogant assumption. I (and nearly everyone I've heard express a view) am happy with RE (though it's not broad enough). If you've read the thread you should understand that this is perfectly compatible with wanting secular schools. On the question of worship - no, I didn't withdraw my child. Because it is unfair on children to single them out and exclude them from part of school life. I wasn't at all happy about it when she was in primary, where they did the creator-god hymns and prayer routine but sometimes one has to choose the less bad option.

Bugger should have proof read that!

I agree.
If you want a religious education pay for it