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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Muslim prayers

426 replies

Amibeingtoosensitive · 14/03/2017 19:11

My DD (9) had R.E today
They were learning about Muslim prayers. All fine.
They then went on to get prayer mats and say a Muslim prayer, with their shoes off, on their knees as a group.

AIBU to feel uncomfortable about my DD being made to do a religious practice we do not believe in.

OP posts:
Littlechip · 14/03/2017 19:30

'Role playing' at any religion seems quite disrespectful to me. It seems to massively miss the point of what you're trying to teach them. Like it's all a performance rather than something people would genuinely believe in.

smilingsarahb · 14/03/2017 19:31

I think it's probably an attempt to make it more interesting for the children. i doubt it was forcing prayer or playing at it to mock it. Children learn through play. They are more likely to remember how a Muslim prays having tried it out than reading it on a board. There should be a local agreed syllabus for RE which you can look at. The one in my area covers a wide range of religious practices and the children 'celebrate' all sorts of religious festivals.

seagazer · 14/03/2017 19:32

Just wondering if muslim children play act other religions too.Its bloody ridiculous, teach them about religions if necessary, no need for the play acting.

AliciaMayEmory · 14/03/2017 19:32

If you don't believe I'm the particular religion, then the participation is merely role play and has no meaning other than going through the motions to understand how others engage in worship. It is not forcing the children to participate in religious practice. I am not religious, but if I go to a christian wedding I sing the hymns, just as if I were invited to a Hindu/Catholic/Jewish wedding I would participate in whatever practice they engage in. It doesn't mean I am actually participating in worship or engaging in the religion, I am just joining in the experience.

Jazzywazzydodah · 14/03/2017 19:34

I wonder why there is no talk of women priestess/gods/Mother Earth etc..

Nope it's ALWAYS men we teach our children to worship clearly gets on my tits

Saucery · 14/03/2017 19:36

They only teach mainstream religions, Jazzy, that's why.

Bestthingever · 14/03/2017 19:36

My dcs are Muslim and while I'm happy for them to fully participate in RE, I wouldn't be happy if they said Christian prayers, so YANBU,

Tonka4 · 14/03/2017 19:36

Jazzy you do realise that these men people worship are all fictional, right?

TinklyLittleLaugh · 14/03/2017 19:36

I think Hindus have goddesses don't they? And Romans and Greeks had goddesses.

PurpleDaisies · 14/03/2017 19:38

I wouldn't be happy about this. There's s difference between teaching children about a religion and actively encouraging them to take part in worshipping/praying.

Jazzywazzydodah · 14/03/2017 19:38

In fact I REALLY wish that schools would teach paganism so that kids could join the dots themselves and see why Christianity is such a farce! It's just fucking story telling Angry

hellokittymania · 14/03/2017 19:38

I think it's fine as a one off. The world is becoming so multicultural and globalized I think understanding other people and cultures are very important. It's the misunderstandings that calls so much chaos

Tonka4 · 14/03/2017 19:39

I'd rather they taught none of it and spend the time teaching children something useful such as a foreign language or science.

Jazzywazzydodah · 14/03/2017 19:40

tonka nooooooooo there not are they...

They should really call it fiction hour then shouldn't they? Maybe that's the way forward!

Limer · 14/03/2017 19:41

I support the idea of de-mysticising religions and showing children as early as possible that they're all a load of mumbo-jumbo.

Were the boys and girls separated while they did the play prayer?

Saucery · 14/03/2017 19:42

What is it, an hour a week at a non faith school? I'm sure they manage to have MFL and Science on the curriculum too.

Original poster
Amibeingtoosensitive · 14/03/2017 19:43

Were the boys and girls separated while they did the play prayer?

Apparently they were pretending it was Friday. When men and women pray together

OP posts:
verywellspoken · 14/03/2017 19:44

I can see why you'd be annoyed about this. We are Muslim and my child's teacher checks with me about anything to do with other religions. I would have expected the same to happen the other way round. Learning about something is different from doing/imitating it.

SuperTrumper · 14/03/2017 19:46

Did this actually happen OP??

Why in a classroom would they randomly have access to 20+ prayer mats??

pointstaken · 14/03/2017 19:47

YANBU

As a christian, I would also be very uncomfortable if children were role playing a christian mass. It's disrespectful, it makes a joke of other people believes, and it makes no sense if you do it purely for the acting. No you don't give holy communion to a non believer.

I had Muslim and Jewish friends attending a recent christian funeral with me. They came to show their respect to the deceased and their family. They did not cross themselves!

I would contact the school and complain. It's not right at all.

IvorHughJarrs · 14/03/2017 19:48

I read something about a court case in the USA brought by parents after this type of class (although I can't swear it wasn't fake news)

Personally I think they is a difference between teaching children about religions and making them participate in them

Original poster
Amibeingtoosensitive · 14/03/2017 19:48

Did this actually happen OP??

Yes.

OP posts:
Draylon · 14/03/2017 19:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SuperTrumper · 14/03/2017 19:51

So they actually had multiple prayer mats (or gym mats) spread out in a classroom? Or did they move to the school hall to do it?

Jazzywazzydodah · 14/03/2017 19:51

very I would put money on it that any Christian's dont get asked if they mind their child practicing other religions in school - they wouldn't be afforded that courtesy. Although I have JW in extended family and the school bends over backwards to make sure they are not offended Hmm