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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:
Aeroflotgirl · 15/12/2015 15:07

Yabvu, he is a teenager, old enough to make his own decisions, he could if he wanted to, leave it at school, or throw it in the bin. There are bigger things to wory about.

Original poster
user7755 · 15/12/2015 15:31

Just to say again, I have no concerns over whether he wants it / doesn't want it / throws it in the bin / reads it cover to cover / becomes a priest / athiest / devil worshipper. He has a bible in his room which he can read if he wants, we have been to church in the past, we have been to temples, he has visited a mosque with school and we have learned about other religions together. He can make his own mind up when he wants to.

My issue is that a group of people are allowed to come into schools and spread the word of their belief system when other groups are not allowed to do the same thing. My belief is that even though we are still nominally a Christian country, it is an increasingly diverse population and that what happens in non-faith schools ought to reflect this. I don't think that handing out bibles has any place in schools in this day and age.

OP posts:
ItchyArmpits · 15/12/2015 15:35

My issue is that a group of people are allowed to come into schools and spread the word of their belief system when other groups are not allowed to do the same thing.

Which groups have been rejected?

Original poster
user7755 · 15/12/2015 15:46

Fair point, that's an assumption on my part in terms of this school. But I know that in a previous school where I was a school governor (primary though, in fairness) they did not allow any advertising aimed at kids / disseminate any advertising materials.

There was someone upthread saying that she had tried to donate BHA books which had been accepted but not given out and weren't even put in the library.

I was hoping that a teacher or head teacher might be able to advise on this but I don't think anyone's been on so far?

OP posts:
LurkingHusband · 15/12/2015 15:49

A Bible (King James version is sublime ) is also a good source of everyday quotes in English. LHs law is if you hear something that's obviously a quote, between Shakespeare and the Bible you've a 50/50 chance of getting it right.

Alternatively, I have a vague memory that soldiers used to use Bibles for improvised cigarette papers - it's the thin paper (Holy Smoke Batman !)

Original poster
user7755 · 15/12/2015 15:59

Ha Ha! Very good, Lurking!

OP posts:
captainfarrell · 15/12/2015 16:24

Even state secondary schools teach from a Christian slant because this is a Christian country. Until that changes, if you find that intolerable, go and live elsewhere. If I lived in Pakistan, I would accept the predominant religion of that country and expect my children's education to be based around it, so why would it be any different here?

LurkingHusband · 15/12/2015 16:26

If I lived in Pakistan, I would accept the predominant religion of that country and expect my sons children's education to be based around it, so why would it be any different here?

Fixed that for you.

captainfarrell · 15/12/2015 16:27

? lurking

BertrandRussell · 15/12/2015 16:36

Captainfarrell, do you think that it is right that Christians have 33% more tax payer funded schools to choose from than non Christians?

DianaTrent · 15/12/2015 16:37

It's not much of an argument to say that if people don't like the way things are done in a country they should shut up or bugger off, even if they were born there. Should all women who weren't happy with not having the vote have been good quiet little girls or left to set up an alternative female only state on an uninhabited island?

BertrandRussell · 15/12/2015 16:38

And less than 50% of the population self identify as Christian anyway!

itsmine · 15/12/2015 16:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LurkingHusband · 15/12/2015 16:44

captainfarrell

I was highlighting the fact that if you "accept the predominant religion" in as much as it has a bearing on culture then you would have to accept that your daughters would be treated as second class citizens. This may (or may not) be what Islam teaches. But as history shows, Christianity has been used to oppress women for centuries too.

Even in the UK - within our lifetimes - we've only just started ordaining women into the CofE.

BertrandRussell · 15/12/2015 16:46

"Bert in answer to your previous question I think it is fair that there are both faith and non faith state schools available. 2/3 non faith and 1/3 faith seems acceptable"

You are not answering the question. The point is that Christians have access to 100% of schools, non Christians to potentially 66%. Do you consider that to equitable?

captainfarrell · 15/12/2015 17:01

I was using Pakistan as an example of a non Christian based country. I wasn't referring to the inequalities for the sexes in that country. Of course if I chose to live there, I would be choosing to accept their way of life. That was my point.

Yes Bert I do think that's fair. it's a Christian country until it's changed.

BertrandRussell · 15/12/2015 17:06

Wow. I really didn't think anyone would actually have the nerve to say they thought it was fair. Nobody else ever has. Respect.

LurkingHusband · 15/12/2015 17:07

The point is that Christians have access to 100% of schools

One idly wonders what exactly defines a "Christian" from a non-Christian ? Assuming the principle of self-identification, then I'm sure I'm a Christian. I don't believe in God and all that mumbo-jumbo, but I feel like a Christian.

Or is it someone elses job to decide who is a Christian or not ?

Just wonderin' ...

captainfarrell · 15/12/2015 17:09

Being Christened is the usual route lurking

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 15/12/2015 17:10

Becoming a secular state would not somehow erase hundreds of years of history Confused Why would separation of church and state be a bad thing?

LurkingHusband · 15/12/2015 17:10

Being Christened is the usual route lurking

I win ! I was christened (had no choice). I never knew it was that easy !

itsmine · 15/12/2015 17:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

captainfarrell · 15/12/2015 17:13

You don't believe though lurking....

thebestfurchinchilla · 15/12/2015 17:14

That's right itsmine and then if the only faith school is in special measures, what choice is that?

BertrandRussell · 15/12/2015 17:18

"Again if people choose to send dc to faith schools they have 1/3 choice, non faith have 2/3's to choose. Provision for all. "

I do wonder if you are being disingenuous here, or if you genuinely don't understand. Christians have the choice to apply to 100% of schools and have an equal chance of getting into a non faith school as a non Christian. Non Christians do no have the choice to attend a faith school. The only way this could be fair is if Christians were only allowed to apply to faith schools..