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?

Op this is the perfect time to teach to teach your DD the three bad reasons believe something is true, as outlined by Richard Dawkins in a letter to his (then) 10 year old daughter-

Explain to her that sometimes grow ups say things, and present them as truth to be believed without question, what can she rely on if all grown ups say something different? The answer, is evidence

So three bad reasons to believe something is true:
1.Tradition - 'this is what we have always believed/worshipped/said'. A made up story is no less false now than it was years ago when it was first conceived.

1. Authority- 'believe it because I'm your parent/teacher/priest, and I said so' pretty self explanatory.
2. Revelation 'I believe it because it just feels right' this sort if thinking clouds our judgement and can stop us rationally questioning things.

I don't mind my DD being taught about religion at all, especially by a pushy r.e teacher who is a believer and practices faith, because she will know to call these teachers out when they present something as fact.

So teach your daughter to ask questions like: "What evidence I there for that?" "Has that story/ theory being tested scientifically? And "How do we know that's the truth?"

She will soon see how it all falls apart and she will be able to protect herself from any overenthusiastic preachy teachers.

On the "singing songs" front, when my two were in Infants, they sang songs I remember from my own schooldays. "One More Step Along Road", "Autumn Days" etc. I must say that although I don't believe in an Abrahamic god, I found that quite charming.

you need to move to a country where there is a separation of Church and State, like USA

Oh Jesus Christ...

You think the usa is a good example of a separation of church and state?!

I wouldn't worry too much. You say you are an atheist, and I presume you also had your education in the UK.? If you did you will also have had this daily mention of Christianity and you seem to have grown up unradicalised?

Thanks for the links but to be fair Christianity has been around in the U.K. Since the 1st century so it's been here a long time.

Did you attend school in the U.K. moo? You grew up and made your own choices regarding belief. I'm sure your DD will do the same.
FWIW there are some pretty exciting stories in the Bible if told by a good teacher.

I wonder...Do you allow your child to take part in the Nativity play?

As long as she's being taught to form her own opinions you don't need to worry about her being exposed to propaganda. She'll grow up to see it for what it is and if anything be more critical in how religeon, culture and power intertwine.

Christianity has been around in the U.K. Since the 1st century so it's been here a long time.

See point 1. on my previous post...

Radicalisation?

I'm an atheist, my dc go to a church school. It's Jesus left right and centre. I don't mind, it's central to British history and literature. It also gives them critical thinking skills when we talk about religion at home.

See Mumzypopz I actually felt really guilty that I wasn't 'doing Christianity right' until about aged 14 when I started going to church every Sunday for 4 years. I felt so uncomfortable with myself as a teen and church was presented to me as a solution. I was told the bible tells me husbands are above wives and closer to god. I was told I shouldn't want to be alone with my boyfriend. I was told speaking in tongues was a real thing, and that god stopped the death of the minister's wife in a car accident. He must have loved her more than the people I knew who died.

Religion seems like a form of control to me.

State schools are Christian schools. The UK is a Christian country- the Queen is the head of the church! How can this be a surprise to you?

I'm an atheist, my husband agnostic. We went through Christian education (he had to go to chapel every day) but we grew up being able to analyse things ourselves and made our own choices. I plan on bringing up my children to think for themselves, but learning about Christianity (and other religions) isn't going to stop that.

If they decide to believe that's fine- it's their choice.

I am NONE RELIGIOUS.

I will ensure when my son goes to school, he is NOT taught about ANY religion.

I will be teaching him exactly what he needs to know & that's all religions are based on an imaginary friend, beliefs are all shite & that's my opinion on the matter!

moo

You sound like following a faith has caused you quite a lot of upset in your impressionable years. You are not alone, and you don't need to be worried about your DD, you can start instilling these things into her now so she doesnt need to feel helpless or confused.

Please feel free to pm me if you want to chat further

State schools are required to provide Religious Education so you will struggle to find a school that doesn't teach it. And this is a Christian country with Christianity being the religion of the majority so it's hardly surprising that Christianity is is taught, other religions are covered too so it's not as if the kids are being brainwashed in one religion.

You don't have to believe in a faith to learn about it. Let her learn and then she can make an educated decision about religion for herself.

If you really don't like it you can withdraw her from Religious activites and lessons teaching religion. But she will also be excluded from all kinds of fun activites. What about Christmas and Easter? Do you want her to know the meaning of these?

My best teacher was a lay preacher. His RE lessons stood out.

I wasn't radicalised but i appreciate the Beatitudes and know some of the historical context of the New Testament.

You have to asses different approaches to religious teaching and distinguish it from indoctrination.

Moopoint....That's fine, I'm a non believer too, I just wondered whether you allowed her to take part in the Nativity. I too wasn't comfortable with school telling my children things.... Especially when a teacher told the whole class if they werent confirm ed, they should be. But I never felt that serious about it to take them out of class and was quite happy for them to be involved in Nativity.

The meaning of Christmas and Easter in that they were/are pagan festivals?

The DC's state primary manages just fine with full approval from Ofsted without any religious indoctrination.

In assembly they have talks about things like friendship, helping others, community involvement and inspirational people and sing songs about seasons and emotions and school rules and stuff like that.

School assemblies don't have to be like mini church services.

All non denominational schools offers pastoral care learning and singing about god and jesus if ypu are scared your child is going to be brainwashed remove her from assembly and Re lessons which you are entitled to do. It always astounds me that parents dont realise Chrisianity is in uk schools

I don't particularly like it either but I'm working on the principle above, that we sang religious songs at school etc and it didn't stop me becoming an atheist.
My exposure to religion did plenty to put me off.

Every child can still participate in Easter & Xmas!

I don't celebrate either based on it being about religion, ffs! I know muslims who celebrate both! Yet it's not in their fucking bible or book or whatever.

Let's just remember, regardless of what "belief" this country was built on, people can choose not to follow it.

Don't try to make people feel like if they don't believe in god, then what's the point??

You have to asses different approaches to religious teaching and distinguish it from indoctrination.

^absolutely

By the way Easter and Christmas were non Christian holidays once

Well, no, there were non-Christian festivals which took place at the time at which Christmas and Easter now take place. Christmas and Easter have always been Christian holidays.