To think nobody is offended and people are stupid

[sooperdooper]

Sorry, FB one but I've just seen two different people share a nativity scene on FB with a message saying 'apparently FB doesn't like this picture because some people are offended - TOUGH, Pls share'

Aggghhhhh nobody is offended you morons it's utter nonsense, might just delete them I never speak to them anyway but this crap wheedles out the idiots

I would be interested to know exactly how many of this 59% of the population genuinely believe in and have a real understanding of Christianity, and how many just say they are Christian because its what they and their parents have classified themselves as for as long as they can remember.

Doesn't research suggest that by 2050 Christianity will be on the decrease in the UK?

"And I am saying you ought to at least try to get over it as researchers have predicted that the status quo will remain in 2050."

Really? Which researchers are these? Even if you accept the census figures, the number of Christians dropped by about 10% between 2001 and 2011.

Yes of course it will be. But we will still be a Christian country.

And your relentless whining in 2015 will have had no effect whatsoever

Really? Cos my 4 year old rarely even gives an accurate report of who she played with, or what part she has in the play. Much less theological questions of belief.

On a side point, there is no such thing as a non faith school in England (where I am). The law requires acts of collective worship of a broadly Christian nature.

You could argue that the school were complying more closely with the law of the land on that day than the zillion other assemblies on honesty and courage.

I don't agree with Roger. Of course I don't. But we don't have separation of church and state in this country. So if that's what you want to achieve for your child, you need to remove them from relevant activities. Not complain after the event that the visiting vicar didn't drum home adequately that it might all be made up.

"would be interested to know exactly how many of this 59% of the population genuinely believe in and have a real understanding of Christianity, and how many just say they are Christian because its what they and their parents have classified themselves as for as long as they can remember"

Further surveys with more balanced questions since the census indicate that people who actively identify as Christians number about 48%

Sorry to disappoint.

Is this a school entirely composed of 4 year olds?

I doubt it. There's a couple on this thread though.

Moaningatthegates I think that a religious person sharing their beliefs with a room full of school children should make it clear that it is their belief and not state at any time that it is a true story for the precise reason that parents wont be compelled to pull their children from the visit. Wont that just lead to further issues? How can a school tell parents to send their children along to every faith visit and expect them to be happy that the Christian leaders will tell their (possibly non Christian) children that its the absolute truth. This will just exclude non Christians further which is a shame. Regardless of how many % of people identify as Christian in this country.

You would complain after the event, how would you know beforehand what the vicar was going to say?

Nefertiti - Muslims did not "Nick Jesus from the Bible" and Jesus is revered in Islam as a messenger of God. Not sure if your comment was tongue in cheek mind

As for nativity, my sister (we are Muslim) played the part of Mary in her school Nativity play and my parents couldn't have been happier!

I cannot stand "happy holidays" more Americanised tripe, it's Merry/Happy Christmas and long may it be in the UK

Our primary school is about 40% Muslim and all the Muslim parents were there today enjoying their kids performing the school nativity and singing Christmas carols as much as the non Muslim parents. No one was offended. Not even me and I find a lot to be pissed off about with organised religion.

Decisions - Again, my point is that the parents concerned have no idea what the vicar did or didn't say. They haven't bothered to find out before getting angry.

You would complain after the event, how would you know beforehand what the vicar was going to say?
If you object to collective worship of a broadly Christian nature, you take them out beforehand. Other parents do quite happily.

I'm not Christian by the way.

Is this a school entirely composed of 4 year olds?

Jesus. Are you troll hunting by snide? My younger child is four. The two parents complaining are also in reception (one of them might be 5, I know the other is 4). My elder one is six, but I haven't asked her if she was in the assembly.

"Decisions - Again, my point is that the parents concerned have no idea what the vicar did or didn't say. They haven't bothered to find out before getting angry"
And as I said, they were wrong. But, moving away from them, i feel very strongly that anyone who talks to children about matters of faith should say that this is what they believe. Or this is what people of their faith believe. Not that this is true.

Yes. I agree with that.

Unless it is a church or other religious service not part of school. I am happy with vicars saying it is true from their own pulpit on a Sunday

Moaningatthegates. I have personally been on a visit to a church with school children (so not part of collective worship) and have sat through a story which started with the words 'I'm going to tell you a true story'. I did not expect this to happen, I just assumed it was a visit to a place of worship to learn about other peoples beliefs. Therefore I would not have thought to withdraw anyone from the visit.

I have also seen a Christian group visit school to do a little play and again they told the children that its a true story.

I just think this is wrong. I have no problem at all with visits to and from religious groups though.

Well quite. But that wasn't what I was complaining about.

I was complaining about getting irate and offended on no info. And I was saying g that the school has to provide collective worship, so if you don't like collective worship then take your child out.

I would not be keen on that on a trip or a play. But that's not what happened and not the story I was telling.

My DH works in an office with a lot of Muslims. They had 'wear your Christmas jumper' day yesterday and are doing all the other fun stuff. Re the FB statuses, some people seem to want to get upset and don't check sources, some people make a career out of outrage. It'd be hilarious if it wasn't so laden with racist undertones.

Indeed Kr1stina, I have respect for peoples' right to belief, not their beliefs themselves. Years ago I worked for a company with 17 Muslims, 3 Christians, one Buddhist and me. We all got on perfectly well and Eid was celebrated with an alcohol fuelled party as was Xmas. We didn't celebrate Hannukah or Diwali as we had no Jews or Hindus working with us, but if we had I'm pretty sure Sid, our Muslim boss would've happily have got the beers in and joined in himself.

Well again, quite. Many children sit there. But you obviously don't object to him doing that. If you object to the collective worship you:

• remove the child;
• Petition your MP and what have you.

There is very little point keeping them in collective worship and then kicking off that they were involved in collective worship.

I have no idea of vicars assume that most white children are Christian but the school I visited with was in a very multicultural city and there were children from a huge variety of nationalities.

I also think its unfair to say just pull your children out if you don't agree with collective worship. no one wants their child to be the odd one out or different. I would much rather have an assembly about being kind, thoughtful, respectful and so on. I don't see why religion needs to be brought into it when the room is full of people with different beliefs. Even if the main religion in the Uk is Christianity.

Because it's the law.

The solution there is to change the law.