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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bible from school

409 replies

user7755 · 14/12/2015 17:51

DS goes to a standard secondary (not a religious school), he came home last week with a bible.

I remember we got them when we were kids but I had forgotten thought we had moved on since then

DS doesn't believe in God, his choice and nothing to do with us. But I'm just really shocked and irritated at this act, presumably an attempt to spread the word and indoctrinate kids into organised religion.

I am very, very anti organised religion right now, following a historical abuse case involving our family which has just been through the court and involved a vicar, so very aware that I'm probably oversensitive.

Is it me? AIBU?

OP posts:
KERALA1 · 14/12/2015 18:25

Every reception child was presented with a bible at school school complete with really graphic gory crucifixion pictures. Community not church school turned out bibles funded by a far right evangelical group. A few parents complained us included and school stopped doing it. Didn't seem right to us.

SparklyLeprechaun · 14/12/2015 18:25

Just think of it as any other book. My atheist parents had several Bibles in various editions in the house and encouraged me to read it when I was young. I'm still an atheist.

Sadik · 14/12/2015 18:25

I think fine to offer it, but not fine to insist that every child takes one (as happened at both DD's primary and secondary schools).

When I was at school, the bibles were offered, and it was 'go to that side of the room if you want one, the other side if you don't', which I think is much better. Having said that I think in that particular instance the school would have been besieged by angry devout Sikh parents had they taken any other line - whereas atheists tend to be less vocal.

VagueIdeas · 14/12/2015 18:26

I doubt very much that the Gideon Bible scheme has successfully indoctrinated ANYONE. But that's not the point. I object to the ideology of the thing.

Kaytee1987 · 14/12/2015 18:27

fidel1ne ok apologies for the spelling mistake Hmm my Muslim fil spells it like that but his English isnt 100%

Narp · 14/12/2015 18:28

Actually, I was being flippant. I did used to read the Bible as a young teen, and I had a beautiful M&S Book of Bible Stories. I think that being familiar with these Mythical stories, and the language of the Bible, is part of a child's education.

originalmavis · 14/12/2015 18:30

Could be useful if he's studying RE.

x2boys · 14/12/2015 18:30

GrinKaytee.

celtictoast · 14/12/2015 18:32

Totally agree with:

I think learning about religions is really, really important. Helps us understand other people better, and fear and hate them less, imo. It also helps us understand our own traditions.

we're lucky to live in a free country that makes learning about other religions possible.

fidel1ne · 14/12/2015 18:32

When I was at school, the bibles were offered, and it was 'go to that side of the room if you want one, the other side if you don't',

Yes, that's the only reasonable way to do it, isn't it?

OP do you know whether your DS accepted it? Maybe he doesn't want to say so to you?

Even if they somehow forced teens to take them, they can't force them to take them home or keep them. (There were abandoned copies littering side tables at school for weeks when we had our Gideons visit as teens.)

fidel1ne · 14/12/2015 18:34

If I copied my FIL's spellings Kaytee, I'd have no career AND get a tough time on here Wink

Kaytee1987 · 14/12/2015 18:36

I figured he probably knew more about it than me however the rest of his English spelling is apalling, just assumed it was an acceptable version. Maybe I will tell him he's spelling it wrong...

LittleBeautyBelle · 14/12/2015 18:41

First of all, you're his mother and it is your decision. If you feel you don't want it in the house or that it is harmful to your child, then give it away.

That said, I'm Catholic so the Bible and theology and my faith and yes, what you call organized religion, having the structure of Mass and so on, and the beauty that goes with it including all the inspired sacred music of Bach, Handel, Mozart, etc., the classic literature, all that is very important and meaningful to me and my family. I doubt that there isn't something somewhere in your life you deeply enjoy that isn't touched by Christianity somehow.

To fully understand Shakespeare and countless other classic authors of literature, music and poetry, and history itself, one has to be familiar with the Bible and Christianity not only from the perspective of your unbelief, but from the perspective of belief.

Lastly, having a Bible lying around is often a thing never opened, let alone read and taken in. It is not exactly light reading like a comic book. Don't worry too much about him reading it. My own curiosity led me to read about all religions and the Bible in its entirety but that is up to each person. Your son will grow up and get to choose what he reads or not.

cardibach · 14/12/2015 18:42

From experience, they normally offer the bibles as pupils leave assembly - if the young person doesn't want to take one there is no pressure. Are you sure your DS didn't take one in these circumstances?

BertrandRussell · 14/12/2015 18:43

So if it's all about learning about different faiths, why not give them a copy of the other holy books of Britain's faith communities?

People are so disingenuous about this sort of thing. Of course an educated person should have a reasonable knowledge of the Bible (and the other holy books) and probably own one. And of course it won't indoctrinate anyone. But handing one specific book out in schools at assembly with some ceremony. gives it a status and importance that reinforces the already strong Christian privilege that pervades our society.

Interestingly, the BHA sent a copy of The Young Atheist's Handbook to every secondary school in the country a couple of years ago. DS went to ask to read his school's copy, and they just gave it to him! No attempt to put it in the library or anything.

notquitehuman · 14/12/2015 18:50

I wouldn't object to my son getting a bible and I'm agnostic. It's a book that's had a bit influence on our culture, good or bad, and most kids will read some of it in RE lessons at some point. My uni even did a course about the bible as a work of literature which was really interesting.

I doubt any teenager would be swayed by a Gideon bible. I think me and my friends just looked up the rude bits then left them in the library.

Imustgodowntotheseaagain · 14/12/2015 18:52

I agree with belle - many sayings, idioms and works of literature derive from the Bible, and it's good to know the stories as a cultural grounding, in the same way that you might read tales of greek gods or Norse mythology (much of which found its way into Lord of the Rings)

Turning the other cheek, being a good samaritan, even Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat...and of course, the more you know of the Bible, the funnier Life of Brian becomes. "Now he's saying the flowers are scroungers!"

chantico · 14/12/2015 18:54

"why not give them a copy of the other holy books of Britain's faith communities?"

I was saying something up thread about this. It would require a donor. Does anyone know who provides other Books?

Original poster
user7755 · 14/12/2015 18:59

Wow, lots of responses. Sorry, was off making and eating dinner.

Just to be clear, if he decides he wants to believe in God, or become a Christian that is totally up to him, I was raised as a protestant and have a faith which is personal to me so I'm definitely not anti faith or anti him making a decision about his own faith. We also actively encourage him in finding out about and respecting different religions and belief systems. He has no idea what he accepted, he will have just gone along with whatever they were doing.

My family are very religious (the person who went to prison was a family member, he went to prison for abusing another family member as well as a number of other children), so I do know about how the bible reads / is interpreted in the protestant faith. I also know how it is used to control people, belittle people and how some Christians are so passionate about it that they try to bring people into that faith (missionaries for example but also other people) and it is this which sticks in my throat about organised religion.

If he doesn't want the bible, it will get binned, if he does, he can keep it. That isn't the issue, what I am annoyed about (and not explaining very well) it is the fact that they are trying to recruit people by spreading the word and that it is just blindly accepted as part of normal part of being at school. Personally I don't think it should be. To be fair I think that usually I would view it as mildly irritating, right now I'm happy to admit that I'm over reacting (but still bloody cross about it Wink.

OP posts:
OopsEEDaisyButtercup · 14/12/2015 19:02

YABU

Think of it as a history book & you'll get a feeling for why our country is democratic and follows basically Christian traditions & laws. If you are not a Christian, at least know where you & your country come from & why we are as we are. If you don't like the 10 commandments which form the basis of law in the UK, you can always emigrate.

originalmavis · 14/12/2015 19:02

Don't bin it! You can't bin a book! Give it to Oxfam if he wants.

Original poster
user7755 · 14/12/2015 19:03

Cardibach, he's year 7 - they were given out in assembly to everyone I think.

I agree that books from other faiths should be equally as available as a bible. From his version, they all just got given it (I don't think he even knows or cares what it is) but if the approach is take if you want, leave if you don't and it's the same for all religions fair play.

OP posts:
MsJamieFraser · 14/12/2015 19:04

YABU those are your feelings and opinions on religion! what is your ds's opinions and feelings of religion?

derxa · 14/12/2015 19:05

Quick! Throw it on a bonfire!!!

originalmavis · 14/12/2015 19:07

Nooooooo. You can't burn a book! You'll get the wee free after you (much crossing of arms, narrowing of eyes and pursing of lips).

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