...to think that religion wouldn’t be so prevalent if parents and schools didn’t indoctrinate children?

[WhatALoadOfOldBollocks]

Just that really. I was brought up in a religiously neutral environment (at home at least), which allowed me to make my own mind up, yet so often children are raised according to the beliefs of their parents, which is fair enough if the teachings are taught as theories rather than facts. I have often wondered how many people, if raised in religiously neutral environments, would choose faith over science for want of a better phrase. My theory is that more would reject than adopt faith if not indoctrinated from an early age, but that's just my musings.

[Louw1988]

And they have assembly but do not refer to God or religion in them at all

[LifeIsGoodish]

As for the vulnerability to cults, my comment was about being active and literate in a faith or a position of atheism. Ignorance leaves you vulnerable, not atheism.

I don't think the source was a CoE organisation, though it was a cult-rescue group.

[pearlylum]

louw1988, that isn't true.

State non faith schools are not secular, they are non denominational.
There are no secular state schools in the UK. All state schools have to deliver collective christian worship by law.

[pearlylum]

Louw1988 a happy accident.
Our local non faith state primary has a born again christian as head. Many of his staff are christian as a result.
The law allows heads to deliver as much religion as they like.

[LifeIsGoodish]

All state schools that are not VA by a non-Christian religious organisation have to have a daily act of worship "of a broadly Christian nature". You can do this without any mention of God, Jesus, Bible. Many schools manage to do this.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

But not all schools do deliver collective worship.

[SouperSal]

I explained they had gone to the sky to look after the stars, clouds and moon etc..

Why? That's as much of a lie as being on a cloud in heaven!

[SouperSal]

And they have assembly but do not refer to God or religion in them at all

How do you know?

Actually the vast majority of schools in England have religious services, and it's still absolutely the law to in Wales. (I'm working on the HT of DD's school - things are changing slowly.)

If you want your kids to practice a religion, take them yourself. No need for it to happen in schools.

[Louw1988]

SouperSal I told them about the stars clouds etc.. Because my brother commited suicude and I wanted them to feel like he was watching over them now in some way. I believe he is but I'm far from religious!
And sorry I was wrong in the assembly statement, they do mention religious festivals - all of them equally but do not have prays or hymns or focus on one religion which is exactly why I chose them. I want my children to learn about it so they can respect others views but I do not want them being told any religious is fact

[scaryteacher]

Actually the vast majority of schools in England have religious services Nope, they don't. They have assemblies where I heard an awful lot of Paulo Coelho read out as the HoY found him inspirational. The schools in which I taught didn't have religious services. RE was taught as an academic discipline and from my point of view, as giving the students some degree of religious literacy which they would need when they crossed the Tamar, and went to university, as they would encounter creeds and cultures that we just don't get in Cornwall.

[Louw1988]

Nope, they don't. They have assemblies where I heard an awful lot of Paulo Coelho read out as the HoY found him inspirational. The schools in which I taught didn't have religious services. RE was taught as an academic discipline and from my point of view, as giving the students some degree of religious literacy which they would need when they crossed the Tamar, and went to university, as they would encounter creeds and cultures that we just don't get in Cornwall.

This is how I think schools should be. I think it's important they learn so they can respect others beliefs but it should be taught as beliefs only - my dd's teacher clearly us religious herself and I think it's wrong she tells them it's fact

[SouperSal]

This is how I think schools should be. I think it's important they learn so they can respect others beliefs but it should be taught as beliefs only - my dd's teacher clearly us religious herself and I think it's wrong she tells them it's fact

I completely agree.

[AuroraBora]

I think most important is that you teach your children to learn and question everything they do learn. Teach them to not always take something or someone at face value and that is ok to change your mind about what you believe.

At age 7 I probably believed in all of the bible stories told to us at school, but not in a religious way, more in a "this happened a very long time ago" way. I probably would have expressed disbelief at say Noah's ark because I would have been bright enough to realise that a world wide flood isn't really feasible.

As I got older I realised that the god that the vicar spoke about in assembly didn't align with what I believed, and then as I became more aware of the rest of the world and all the problems we have, and who I was as a person, I realised I am definitely not a Christian and in general I don't think organised religion is for me. Particularly those that promote heaven and hell.

I hope to let my DC learn in the same way.

[scaryteacher]

The two things for RE are learning about religion and learning from religion. The first is easy, it's the what, where and why of religious belief. The second is harder, so we talk about the numinous ('things that make you go 'ooh'' as per the MaccyD advert), about what faith means to people, looking at Desmond Tutu and Mother Teresa for example, and how it shows itself. You can talk about dedication, devotion (I won't channel Dire Straits for the rest of that), religious experience etc, but as someone who is firmly on the fence about God, how can I push a belief that I don't have?

I like teaching Buddhism the most as it seems to me to be a philosophy that we can all relate to in one form or another.

Teaching the ethical stuff like abortion and euthanasia is also interesting as you can relate it to current debates and how we legislate on these issues.

[WhatALoadOfOldBollocks]

"I think most important is that you teach your children to learn and question everything they do learn."
Yes yes yes, absolutely this. I think it's vital children are taught critical thinking as it's such an important life skill. Just consider how much better things could be if people didn't believe everything they read in the mainstream media for example!

[Stepmotherofdragons]

I grew up within the c of e religion. In fact surrounded by it, church holidays, youth groups , Christian youth holidays. I more or less grew up in a theological college. I have had the most comprehensive Christian upbringing a child could have. I still can't find jesus in my heart and trust me I tried so hard to find him.

I knew many people with families who were totally non religious who became heavily involved with the church, my dad being one of them.

I am now an agnostic/atheist depending on what day you get me on. I want to believe, people with true faith emit such happiness, I am envious of that. However my rational mind keeps getting in the way, science and logic win for me every time.

Even the most religious of upbringings doesn't guarantee a holy child by any means and the most unbelieving parents can have totally devout children.

[sashh]

I don't think it's any less correct to say god doesn't exist, than does.
ch god are you talking about? I have a statue of Ganesh in my home.

go to church a couple of times a year for mithering Sunday, Easter and Christmas but that's about it.

LOL I know it is a typo, but mithering Sunday fits so well with 'god botherer'.