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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:
miserableandinpain · 14/03/2017 21:46

As a muslim i think yanbu. Its a very personal thing and i dont think they should be made to pray at all unless it is a religion they follow. I think it would have been more appropriate to watch someone else do it so they can see what its like. I can imagine many parents not being hapoy about it what with the media etc nowadays. I think its a bit strange they were made to do it. For me its a normal activity but may have been a bit strange for those not used to it.

Vermillioncomfyshoes · 14/03/2017 21:49

Why do you need to take part in supernatural rituals to respect people that believe in the supernatural? I do not get why forcing normalization of supernatural belief on children who do not have the ability to resist is a good thing?

Spot on.

miserableandinpain · 14/03/2017 21:49

To add to my comment. I think it is valuable for the kids to learn about all religions in order to show a bit of reseoct to others beliefs. My kids will be allowed to participate in any religious school trips that are not our own religion as they need to learn that not everyone follows the same belief and that thats ok. But they dont need to reinact things.

Anon1234567890 · 14/03/2017 21:54

I would love to no if the atheists out there still celebrate Christmas

Christmas has nothing to do with religion, and no one I know thinks otherwise. Its the name we call the holiday after the first term of school. Any name eg Saturnalia, Newtonmas, Winter festival works just as well.

I am more spiritual than religious

I understand that to mean: "I believe in religion just not organised religion" So where do you get the truth of your 'spirituality' from?

PotteryLottery · 14/03/2017 21:56

I'm happy for my child to reenact how any faith worships in order to learn.

P.S I'm a Muslim who grew up singing hymns in primary school and speaking in church services Smile

ChrisYoungFuckingRocks · 14/03/2017 21:58

The thing is, and I've always thought this - most religions worship one almighty being. They may have different 'lesser' gods, but they have one 'big' God. They may call Him by different names, but surely there can only be ONE almighty God, no matter what you call Him.

So every religion basically worships the same God, but they all fight over who's God is bigger and better.

One of the reasons I am now a Pagan.

SayNoToCarrots · 14/03/2017 22:01

Where are these Non-religious state schools who make their students say the Lord's Prayer in assembly? I have been to and taught in a fair few schools, and the only ones that had prayers in assembly were religious.

ShakingAndShocked · 14/03/2017 22:05

To those naysaying with a trite 'Ooooo, I don't believe this happened' I would say 2 things:

Firstly, there is a very nifty REPORT button you can use? And it's purpose, as I understand it, is for you to air your (very own) view that OP may be bollocks. You're welcome Wink

Secondly, I can absolutely believe this happened and echo the PP vis the nature of RE in primary schools - as in, it's not taught by an 'RE' teacher and can wildly miss the spot.

I'll add a third actually - what is the point of having an opt-out if shit like this gets done without parents having the opportunity to exercise that opt-out? I'm happy for my kids to learn about all religions (even though a very firm atheist, I'd be a fool to ignore the fact that billions of people practice religion of some kind) but I'd go fucking ape at DC being made to play act it out. Actually, just realised, if I was religious I suspect I'd go even more fucking ape that 'my' religion was being 'acted out'.

Practising religion has no part in education IMHO - learning about them yep; practising them, hell no.

Anon1234567890 · 14/03/2017 22:06

My kids will be allowed to participate in any religious school trips that are not our own religion as they need to learn that not everyone follows the same belief and that that is ok

I get that parents who already believe in the supernatural might be ok with their children being involved in supernatural activity with a different 'deity'.

But imagine rational parents being told their DC are not just being taught in school that some people believe in creationism, they are also being forced to take part in rituals to worship a creationist deity. Science and creationism are 2 sides of the same coin Confused, teach the controversy. Trumps America.

Its insane.

ChippieBeanAndHorro · 14/03/2017 22:10

I'll add a third actually - what is the point of having an opt-out if shit like this gets done without parents having the opportunity to exercise that opt-out? I'm happy for my kids to learn about all religions (even though a very firm atheist, I'd be a fool to ignore the fact that billions of people practice religion of some kind) but I'd go fucking ape at DC being made to play act it out. Actually, just realised, if I was religious I suspect I'd go even more fucking ape that 'my' religion was being 'acted out'.

Yup. that's probably the main issue here.

Vermillioncomfyshoes · 14/03/2017 22:13

My kids will be allowed to participate in any religious school trips that are not our own religion as they need to learn that not everyone follows the same belief

Or any belief at all!
It's difficult. I'm an atheist and so is DH. The school our children attended did not have a prayer driven assembly. They did have RE,
but it covered briefly all religions equally, with an emphasis that these were purely beliefs and not facts. My children, now adults, are atheist. And before anyone comments, we were not married in church and had humanist welcomes to the world.

I would have been more than irritated if they had been made to sit on a prayer mat and repeat Arabic words instead of proper lessons.
There were plenty of Muslims at the school anyway. I expect their parents would have been just as pissed off at the time wasting.
That's why it was decided to have a non-religious assembly in the first place!

SewMeARiver · 14/03/2017 22:21

Both saturnalia and easter involved worship of the deity, the god and the goddess of fertility. But yeah christmas is anything anyone wants it to be these days. Mostly a big fat commercial holiday for big business.

I'll add a third actually - what is the point of having an opt-out if shit like this gets done without parents having the opportunity to exercise that opt-out? I'm happy for my kids to learn about all religions (even though a very firm atheist, I'd be a fool to ignore the fact that billions of people practice religion of some kind) but I'd go fucking ape at DC being made to play act it out. Actually, just realised, if I was religious I suspect I'd go even more fucking ape that 'my' religion was being 'acted out'.

Yep. In a nutshell.

miserableandinpain · 14/03/2017 22:28

Anon are you suggesting i am not a rational parent...Hmm ?

DaffodilDarling · 14/03/2017 22:33

I'd be v v unhappy about children being forced to practice a religion in a state school, but I wouldn't care about them doing this, which I view more as play acting.

seagazer · 14/03/2017 22:36

I literally wanted to shoot myself in the head when I was at a catholic christening.
I'd feel the same way if i had to go to a muslim ceremony. Only joking, it's not acceptable to say that right? but it somehow is if it's about Catholics? Talk about double standards.

Pippa12 · 14/03/2017 22:49

Im went to a c of e secodary school which was extremely strict and religious.

We had a passover meal whilst learning about Judaism. We thought it was great and its stuck in my head for years. We also visited temples, mosques and synagogues, removing our shoes, covering our heads, saying different preyers.

Personally i see nothing wrong with the children acting this out, i think theyll understand it a little better. Islam is a beautiful and peaceful religion, children definitely need to hear about the muslim faith in its rightful positive light rather than the scaremongering through the media.

counterpoint · 14/03/2017 23:05

Sounds like child abuse to make a young girl observe this sexist religion.

Anon1234567890 · 14/03/2017 23:15

miserableandinpain
If you believe in the irrational and are a parent then yes, you are an irrational parent. Is that news?

Anon1234567890 · 14/03/2017 23:18

We thought it was great and its stuck in my head for years.
That's the problem, forcing things in young children's heads or 'indoctrinating' them is akin to child abuse.

Pippa12 · 14/03/2017 23:20

Rubbish, algebra stuck in my head to because we did a excercise in the hall? Child abuse??? Get real! Ive heard it all now Grin

Anon1234567890 · 14/03/2017 23:22

Child abuse??? Get real!
Tell that to the Catholic Church. FACT

Vermillioncomfyshoes · 14/03/2017 23:26

Rubbish, algebra stuck in my head to because we did a excercise in the hall?

Algebra is factual and accurate and true.

Presenting made up stuff as fact is wrong.

Jazzywazzydodah · 14/03/2017 23:39

seagazer I've never been to a Muslim ceremony but I have Catholics ones- lots as my family are Catholics. I've also sat in on a jehovas witness meeting and hated that too. If I had been to a Muslim or Jewish worshiping ceremony I'd prob dislike that too but like I've said I've never been so can't say.

Jazzywazzydodah · 14/03/2017 23:42

Don't get me started on the Catholic Church and it's treatment of women and children.

Tbf though - it is not isolated to that specific religion

miserableandinpain · 15/03/2017 00:41

Anon: when did you get to decide what is rational and irrational?

Did you not see my point that i agree they shouldnt be making the kids reinact a form of any rligious prayer. Or is whatever i am going to say be irational and i should crawl back i to my cave...?

Im not a fanatic. And i am surprised no one else saw your comment. Many people believe in a god or dont. That is a personal thing. It doesnt make someone any more rational than another

Having a religion brings me peace and hope. I apologise for that.

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