To get annoyed when dd(6) learns about Christianity?

[MooPointCowsOpinion]

She is at a non-religious, normal state primary. She is the type of kid who remembers everything she's told and parrots it back, so I hear about her entire day every day at school. Almost every day she tells me they sang this song about Jesus, learnt that story about Jesus, learnt this lesson about Christianity. Every assembly they sing a Christian song.

I am an atheist. I don't want her to learn just about Christianity, all religions are important in a 'this is what some people believe' kind of way but I feel like they're indoctrinating her into Christianity by pushing it so much. I try to counter it by teaching her other religious beliefs and telling her my beliefs, but I know the steady drip drip of information could plant a seed that could lead to what I would consider radicalisation.

I've brought it up with her teacher, she's sympathetic and has given us the option to opt-out but I'd hate for her to feel singled out and to miss important things in assemblies.

Does/did it bother you? AIBU to be annoyed?

I find it annoying too. And no, I don't object to DS being taught it but rather the way it is taught. It's not taught as 'this is what some people believe' along with other religions like Islam or Judaism but rather 'this is what is true and this is how you go to heaven or hell'.
And FWIW, I think the majority of people celebrate Easter and Christmas do so as a cultural holiday rather than a religious one and I have no objection to that.
On the upside, it does mean that DS and I have had some good discussions about what people believe and how we know what is real and what isn't. You can have some pretty awesome philosophical discussions with a 6yo! He's decided he believes in God, even though he knows I don't. He also belives in Santa. I think he'll probably change his mind about both as he gets older
But seriously, I don't like it, especially telling little ones hell as a real thing (scary) but it is a good opportunity to start a dialogue.

If you want an atheist school then you need to move to a country where there is a separation of Church and State, like USA. Remember Henry VIII and his 6 wives? Well ditching wife nr 1 was refused by the pope so he broke from Rome and declared himself head of the church of england. Thats when church and state became one.

They should certainly learn about all religions but I don't see why they should be singing christian songs every day or doing any religious activities at all (unless it's part of a religious studies lesson where they're just acting it out).

It does delend on the school

Our secondary school doesn't do it and also doesn't have re as a compulsory subject

But by the time your children are there its probably too late

Depends

Ffs

redexpat US schools have the pledge of allegiance, though, which I'm told some parents find equally problematic.

My DD came home one day when she was about 5 saying our god was called Allah She has since moved on to Christianity - DH is atheist and I don't know what I believe in. I've offered to take her to a service to see if she likes it but she declined. I'm not bothered because I know she's learning about lots of different religions, her school is very multicultural and what I really aspire for her is that she makes her own choice she regarding religion.

But I don't think YABU to be annoyed, personally I think a more rounded and varied approach to religions is the way to go and would probably be annoyed if it was very focused on just one (whichever one that might be).

By the way Easter and Christmas were non Christian holidays once so I'm not sure how that argument holds up.

You have the choice to opt out but have said you won't in case she misses other stuff.

How long ago though?

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/for_christmas/_new_year/pagan_christmas/37276.stm

Here we go, another Christian bashing thread. The whole country is founded on Christianity, dont see the problem. How will it damage her.

Rufus you're right, where the fuck did the easter bunny come from?!

Although tbf, either 'the greatest story ever told' or 'Jesus of nazareth' every Good Friday/Easter Sunday do tend to give the game away.

Sounds normal to me. I think as long as she grows to understand that although Christianity is the largest religion in this country, there are other faiths which a significant number of people have in this country, and there are those of no faith or agnostics, this is fine.

I feel the same way. I wish that schools & religion were entirely separate. So few people in my generation go to church or are religious; it's very much the minority nowadays.

If you do not want to exercise your right to opt her out, then you are stuck with it.

In which case, as this school's ethos clearly does not suit that which you want to foster in your family, then the only other option is to apply to other schools.

It doesn't matter if you are annoyed, Jesus loves you anyway

I am a Christian and my faith is massively important to me and I hope that my DD grows to have her own faith too.

But I think it is silly and wrong to make Christianity a compulsory part of all state schools. it puts non-believing teachers in an uncomfortable position and it reduces parents choices. Faith must be freely chosen or it is not faith at all.

In terms of 'what about paganism?' - the church created the first schools for poor children and have played a huge role in state education.

I don't agree with non religious schools doing religious assemblies but it does annoy me when people get so het up about such a non issue and with no understanding of the history of cultural context. British traditions largely come from Christianity, you cannot argue with that. Gladly, our culture is evolving all the time but that does eradicate history.

I think you can easily sort this out at home by talking about what some people believe and that lots of people don't believe that story and believe other stories instead, or don't believe in a story like that at all. Keep repeating it every time she mentions a god or gods and Jesus etc. If you're atheists, and she asks if those stories are true you can say that you don't think they're true but other people believe the stories.

I think it's slightly unusual for a state school that isn't a CoE school (or other Christian denomination) to be quite so literal in its implementation of the daily act of worship requirement. Many many schools pay a minimal lip service to this requirement or do nothing at all. I've worked in secondary schools where nothing at all is done in reality.

State schools should by law have a christian ethos (unless they are a non christian faith school).

Parents have the right to withdraw their child. You can choose to exercise that right.

Im not convinced songs in assemblies radicalise people.

Out of interest if you think sing songs in assembly radicalises children am I right in thinking you dont celebrate Christmas or Easter? Or are they ok Christian festivals to celebrate as long as you dotn discuss religion? (I know most non religious people celebrate them in some way but they also dont consider sing songs to be indoctrination).

Go on then, list the British traditions that all have their root in Christianity.
I'm intrigued.

Wavy
Here we go, another Christian bashing thread. The whole country is founded on Christianity, dont see the problem.

Bollocks,

It depends. I think children need to be taught about religions but parents need to be clear about acts of worship in schools (which is what the OP is worried about). I think you are a bit unreasonable to be surprised to be honest. I think you are allowed to withdraw your children from the worship part of things (you can in Scotland anyway).

The Christian traditions in education that people hark back to are great. Girls taught to be proud home makers and boys really only educated to their station in society. I think we should have higher aspirations to be honest. Some might have complaints that its "right on" for girls to be taught science but others look to the future, not the past.

put

My children dont watch terrestrial telly

We just put 'hop' on the telly

Or rise of the guardians