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Original poster

Teaching atheism to primary kids...

94 replies

sparklewater · 05/11/2015 19:09

Posting here for traffic. Have somehow ended up agreeing to talk to DD's school tomorrow, as they're having a prayer for world peace week - learning about different religions and the refugee situation.

I popped along to one to see what was going on as have no religion and got nobbled. They want me to explain that not everyone believes, but that we still help others because of x, y, z.

Any advice on how to do this without coming across as negative about religion?

OP posts:
Ironfloor · 05/11/2015 20:04

Ok, I consider myself atheist as I don't believe in an almighty God. I, however, do believe in nature, or law of nature. So I believe that what goes around comes around I.e. Karma. I just don't think there is an almighty God who decides that. It's just law of nature. Therefore, I treat others as I want to be treated myself, so that one day I reap what I sow.

Does that make sense?

randomcatname · 05/11/2015 20:07

You don't have to be negative about religion. All you have to do is talk about what you believe and how you choose to live your life. I think it will be amazingly valuable for the children. I'm amazed the school is this open-minded, it hasn't been my experience at all. Good luck!

Original poster
sparklewater · 05/11/2015 20:18

Loads to look at and think about here, thank you all!

Is everyone from reception to yr 6. I don't want to decline the invite as I'm concerned about the religious leanings of the school and if they want someone to represent non-believers then I welcome that. And if I don't do it, no-one else will, so...

I don't want to be negative at all, but the religious talks have all said they do good things because their faith says etc. I was struggling to phrase the moral approach without insinuating that religious people don't have morals!

Humanism looks like it's the way forward - for me, anyway. I can point out that everyone has their own perspective on not believing as well!

OP posts:
Original poster
sparklewater · 05/11/2015 20:24

TheKnack

The kids have been making prayer or wish boxes all week. Believers are encouraged to write a prayer, non-believers are encouraged to write a wish. They seem to have thought about it all quite carefully Smile

OP posts:
PlymouthMaid1 · 05/11/2015 20:26

When I taught in Primary schools I was often asked 'do I believe in God?' I usually replied along the lines of 'No, I don't but many people do.' I have always thought that the Ten Commandments were good general rules for life and I don't think you have to believe in the Sky Fairy to lead a decent life with 'Christian' principles. This sort of thing can be discussed with kids old enough to understand. I think it is great that you have been asked to talk about it as Religious education is just that.... understanding about religion (or lack of) not being instructed into a particular faith.

Original poster
sparklewater · 05/11/2015 20:27

I wish there was a like button for a lot of these posts. Thank you!

OP posts:
WombatStewForTea · 05/11/2015 20:33

Try explaining it using the UN convention of children's rights. There are 50 odd rights that all children have. One of them is the tight to practise whatever religion/cultures/traditions they want so long as it does not harm others. There's lots of other rights about equality and helping people and all about doing it because children have the right to grow up happy and healthy and these things are simply morally good things no religion involved!

Mehitabel6 · 05/11/2015 20:41

I think it is like a party political broadcast - I want to know what the party is doing and not what the other parties are not doing. Therefore I think you should stick to what you think and leave what you don't think out of it.

exexpat · 05/11/2015 20:41

There are some useful resources here and possibly here and here.

FurryDogMother · 05/11/2015 20:42

Tell them about the Golden Rule - do as you would be done by - getting them to think about treating others the way they'd like to be treated, and without judgement.

specialsubject · 05/11/2015 21:19

do as you would be done by. Exactly.

we will never all agree. Some believe, some don't. That's fine.

what is NOT fine is to decide that you cannot be a good person without belief. (or with it) Two independent things.

Pico2 · 05/11/2015 21:31

I wouldn't talk about what others believe - because it is really easy to get it wrong. For example above 'Some people are Christians and believe in a God and some people are Muslims and believe in a different God'. Is that right? Or do they have different beliefs abou the same God? I don't know, so I wouldn't want to say that.

I'd go with a humanist perspective. But that is because I identify as a humanist.

VoyageOfDad · 05/11/2015 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mehitabel6 · 05/11/2015 21:55

That is exactly what I mean. A great opportunity to say what you think- don't squander it by saying what you don't think. Also treat children as intelligent.

Mehitabel6 · 05/11/2015 21:56

I call it lose lose.

almondpudding · 05/11/2015 22:07

I would say that like many people, I don't pray to thank God for things or ask him to help people like a superhero, because I don't believe in God.

But I do believe that everyone should feel loved and cared for, that they should have rights to a home, to live without violence, to not be harmed. And I would ask them if they can think of someone who loves them to thank, and to think of a way that they, the child, could help other people, no matter how small.

Because as an atheist I believe the only superheroes are us.

Onthepigsback · 05/11/2015 22:19

Just don't tell them that to you God is like Santa. A nice idea but doesn't exist.

I think that would piss parents off more than you yelling them you don't believe God exists!

VoyageOfDad · 05/11/2015 22:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mehitabel6 · 05/11/2015 22:39

Much better VoyageOfDad Smile

Original poster
sparklewater · 05/11/2015 22:45

I'm going to enjoy this I think. Was feeling a bit nervous of putting my foot in it before!

Thank you all for being so helpful. I'm pleased the school is being so inclusive and want to encourage it as much as I can. This will help!

OP posts:
Hillfarmer · 05/11/2015 23:02

I think the school has confused atheism with a belief system. The whole point is that it is not one, it is an absence of belief. Sticking it in a room with a whole load of religions is equating it to a religion.

There are people who talk about atheist fundamentalism, as if you can have more of nothing. You can't. It's nothing!

I would avoid, really. It's only going to cause confusion.

ChiefInspectorBarnaby · 05/11/2015 23:07

I'm not sure why an atheist needs all these helpful links and websites. Surely someone who know what they're talking about doesn't need this level of last minute help.

SmillasSenseOfSnow · 05/11/2015 23:20

I'm not sure why an atheist needs all these helpful links and websites. Surely someone who know what they're talking about doesn't need this level of last minute help.

I think that issue is linked to this:

I think the school has confused atheism with a belief system. The whole point is that it is not one, it is an absence of belief.

Why expect an atheist to know how to summarise atheism when all she might have in common with any other random atheist is that she doesn't believe in something?

I think it's a very good point.

I also find it rather bizarre that the school are somehow connecting prayer, world peace and refugees. It's like one of those 'guess the link' games.

Kewcumber · 05/11/2015 23:25

You don;t need to "know what you're talking about" to not beleive in god Confused You can just not believe becuase you don't - you don;t have to pass a test to get in.

Kewcumber · 05/11/2015 23:27

I explain my value system to DS as being about choices.

I believe that if more people make good choices than bad then the world will be a better place for everyone to live in. It matters little to me what those choices are informed by, it's just as simple as good choice better than bad choice. Bad choice informed by god (ISIS) is not better than a good choice informed by personal conscience.

I wouldn't be brave enough to say this at shcool but I like the saying that a humanist is someone who does the right thing even when there's no-one watching