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?

YANBU and I wouldn't like it. Learning about religion in a general sense, yes. Coming home every day talking about God and Jesus.... no. I also don't get why, as with pp, anyone that's an atheist would send their child to a Roman Catholic school, are there no alternatives?

Unfortunately the UK is an unusual place in that it allows religious indoctrination in schools. Some schools a lot, some a little, but legally they must all do some.

Few other EU countries do this. Separation of church and state, and stuff.

The only thing you can do is raise awareness, campaign, find groups who are campaigning for change and so on.

Or go private. I think secular private schools don't bother, as they have better things to do with their time than bang on about Jesus when there's learning to be done.

YANBU, however no doubt they'll be read, fairy tales, which are probably less far fetched

Apple I quite merrily told my child they were learning stories. "Oh, those are interesting things that OTHER PEOPLE believe but we don't." There's no need to pussyfoot around it.

"No, God did not make me, or you. Those are just stories."
"No, God is not watching you. Those are just stories."

The quid pro quo for going to a state school

But it shouldn't be. Free education should not be an opportunity to teach religion as fact, that's why you have places of worship. Of course other children talk about their beliefs, questions will be asked, but there should be no need for it to be part of the structured day.

As for 'cancelling Christmas', the Christians have hijacked the name, but do not own the idea of public holidays and giving of gifts. Same with Easter, there are myths and fables older than the Jesus story (and far more connected to the eggs/new beginnings symbology). Christianity should not get a monopoly on faith in state schools on the fact it appropriated other cultures thousands of years ago.

Thank goodness for Edmund on this thread!

Just to add, we have an atheist Christmas. All the food and drink and decorations etc but we call it Saturnalia. In Roman Times Saturnalia was a festival of light, of fun, and sex. It occurred in December, and the Christians used to celebrate alongside them. Over time, the Roman religion died away and the Christians took the holiday as a Time for celebrating Jesus' birth. There is some evidence in the Bible that Jesus was born in the spring. I think the Romans pinched Saturnalia from pagan traditions, so it goes way back. This suits my nature living pagan very well. Apart from the sex part, she's too young.

Edmund. It shouldn't be but it is. There are historical reasons how we got to this point. It's going take a heck of a lot of work to change it. By all means, start that work, but sitting back and whining about something you should already know about isn't going to do anything.

I love these threads.

My Bingo card has been ticked - we've had Easter, Christmas, Christian country, the Queen, it's the law, indoctrination.

Religion is a private affair. If you want your children to praise God, any God, sing songs and pray, then do it at home. Or at Church.

It's not that difficult an idea.

Learn about religions at school.

MrsDoylesladder, my child isn't at school yet but you can believe me that I'll be 'fighting the good fight' against unnecessary religious teachings when the time comes. It's very difficult to fight against such an organisation like the church though, it has far too much power and control in this country (and the world). Though, thankfully it's seems to be lessening over time.

Religion will probably not be disbanded during my lifetime sadly. For goodness knows what reason, supposedly intelligent people still believe myths and fables as fact. That will take a lot to phase out. A good start would be separating church and school, can but dream.

In the non-religious schools I have taught in (years as a supply teacher, so a lot!), only a very small handful have sung religious songs in assembly. They have been songs related to positive behaviours that the school can then link to Christian values. The RE lessons have then run accordingly; a focus on moral issues and the study of the beliefs and practises of the different religion. In my eyes, that is exactly as it should be. Unfortunately, I have spotted the odd renegade teacher talking about Christianity using 'we', which I don't think should be allowed.

Just because it's part of British schools, that doesn't mean you have to like it. I send my son to a CofE primary school because it is our village school. In any case, almost all the primaries round here are CofE and hardly any of the families at ds' school are churchgoers. I am not going to deprive my dc of an education in the village school with their friends from the village just because the school is nominally Christian (I suspect even the Head wishes it wasn't).

As for Christmas, Easter etc, they are part of our culture. It's perfectly normal for cultural traditions to continue to be celebrated long after people stop believing in the deities behind them. Choosing to participate in and enjoy a festival (whether in your own country or when visiting another country with a different religion) does not make you hypocritical for not wanting people to try and convert you to that religion.

I like this quotation:
“We must respect the other fellow's religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.”
― H.L. Mencken, Minority Report

I didn't pussyfoot around, but told our kids when a teacher was full of shit. It is possible to do this in a way that also teaches a child not to be rude or dismissive of other people.

Having said that, I think the mild and dreary form of Christianity which is espoused by British schools is a good inoculation against extremism. I say this as an American, who grew up in a state where Christmas can't even be mentioned in school, which doesn't seem to protect us against Christian extremism .

Great post, claraschu. I love that quotation. Dh and I are much the same about telling our dc if teachers are talking rubbish, but then we are both teachers ourselves.

Moo. I'm sorry you felt like that growing up, that's horrible. However, you can be sure that the state schools will not have that affect on your DD. They put in enough religious stuff to meet the guidelines, that's it. I grew up in a school like your DD's, but a bit more religious. Hymns, Lords Prayer (and the National Anthem) every morning at school, RE based on Christianity - I'm not even sure that we touched on other religions, I certainly don't remember doing so. I liked the tradition & the orderliness of it. I liked the stories enough to go to bible group one lunchtime a week & asked for my own bible for my birthday when I was 7. We moved overseas. I sang songs in their traditional language (even though it's not even spoken there), had a once a week lesson in the culture & learnt a few songs. I liked the tradition & the stories. Bible, what bible?! 😁

I'm telling you all of this, not to bore you witless, but just to reassure you that it's really not going to radicalise your DD. It's really not. I am atheist to my bone. However, I appreciate having been taught in a 'living it' way about the religion of my country.

If they are only teaching Christianity then actually YANBU. Everyone should learn a bit about religions, i don't mean everyone should have a religion, just that everyone should have some understanding of what other people believe and in that schools should be including religions that aren't Christianity and that some people are atheists or agnostic.

I am a Roman Catholic, my brother is a priest, church has always been a big part of our lives, however I sent DD to a non-denominational school in the hopes she'd learn a bit about other religions, because I went to Catholic school and realised i knew nothing about anyone elses beliefs, i actually chose her school partially because they boasted about having several different religious leaders come in to do assemblies. Turns out they meant the Salvation Army, an Anglican priest, a CofE vicar and a Methodist minister and here was me thinking different religious leaders would include something other than Christians.

It's the way the curriculum is written (or at least it is in Scotland) Christianity is taught as fact & 'other world religions' are taught as interesting fiction & some people believe. IMO RE should all be taught as some people believe and school should be secular.

We live in a Christian country.

Learning about Christianity is part of the education act.

Or go private. I think secular private schools don't bother, as they have better things to do with their time than bang on about Jesus when there's learning to be done.

You would think so wouldn't you? but no DD's prep school still bang on about religion at least twice a week, the head teacher tells me its because parents expect a certain level of tradition and hymn practice and prayers are traditional.

Learning about Christianity is part of the education act

So that means that children should have a compulsory act of collective worship of a mainly Christian nature daily?

Or...here's a thought, They can learn about Christianity in the same way they learn about Judaism, Hinduism, Islam etc.

Most non-aligned schools have assemblies that are "broadly Christian in nature" by talking about kindness, consideration etc. If they are getting the full-on God routine, then this is not right.

I agree OP, I don't like it either. My 5 year old ds has come home and is adamant that God is real (and lives in a cloud?) and Jesus is alive and when people die they go to heaven but you can also get there in a helicopter...
And a lot of 5 year olds also believe in Father Christmas but remarkably they make up their own minds later in life when their parents' brainwashing stops.....
This is a Christian country, get over yourself and be grateful for the freedom that comes with it.

This is a Christian country, get over yourself and be grateful for the freedom that comes with it

Why should schools have a Daily Act of Collective worship of a mainly Christian nature?

the vehement religion bashing on MN makes me really sad

there is no acceptance that there is even an iota of positivity with people having faith. Faith and religion can also be a force for good

and for bad, but there is also much good there. anyway - wasting my typing

I know ive said this before

But our senior school doesnt do this

If they have the wit to get out of it i dont see why other schools cant

It maybe a bit more difficult in the younger years