To really hate it when atheists take the piss out of those who believe in God?

[sharkirasharkira]

I have several FB friends who are obvious atheists, and often share things about science and/or about the concept of God being stupid -basically saying that anyone who believes in God is an idiot, a child (with an 'imaginary friend') or someone who has no idea about science and the universe.

I get that not everyone has faith in a higher being/religion etc but why the childish name calling and the necessity to take the piss out of those who do? It just really irritates me! Belief in God and an appriciation of science are not mutually exclusive. I find it quite offensive that people who don't know my personal beliefs are essentially saying that if I believe in God I must be an idiot or a child who believes in magical sky fairies, because theres no possible way I can believe in evolution (for example) and be an agnostic.

Aibu to think that people should just let others believe what they want to believe without mocking them for it, even if they don't agree with it?

I agree that promotion of Christianity shouldn't be happening in non-denominational school. If the school is following the correct curriculum and guidelines, opt outs shouldn't be needed.

Have you read the guidelines? They strongly encourage that (compulsory) religious observance should reflect Christianity.

I find this thread very interesting.
The title "To really hate it when atheists take the piss out of those who believe in God? "

Has just served to highlight christian privilege and consolidated my views on the issue.

So thanks OP.

I am not a practicing CofE christian and I do feel that if a parent doest want their child to be taught about christianity and God then they shouldn't enrol their child at a CofE school. IMHO.

So tell me where I should have sent my son. Several faith schools taking he majority of intake from out of nominal catchment/borough means that our school catchments are totally warped. My choices were local CofE or CofE 40 minutes away.

I was talking about my particular school which is a VA school (whatever that means) and does receive funding from the local CofE parish.

It receives none of its running costs and less than 10% of capital. Perhaps faith places should be proportional to funding?

See we do have non-denominational schools which religion is only spoke about during religious and moral education Non-denominational schools are still religious they just dont specify a particular 'denomination' of religion.

Even if if was legal to set up a secular school it probably wouldn't be allowed to discriminate in favour of 'non-theists' (even if that were logistically possible). So christian school privilege would still be prevalent in schools. The only solution is to ban faith schools altogether.

Because here it would mean you have opted in to a school with a religious ethos. It doesn't make it right, nor do I agree with it.

No. You’re still ignoring facts. Religious observance in non-denominational schools in Scotland required. Parents haven’t opted into anything except the school system. And you’re immediately asking them to opt out.

Have you actually looked at the RME curriculum? Do you think it’s fair and fever-handed?

*even-handed

julie- non denominational refers to an unspecified christian bias. Only.
*Non-denominational schools are still christian they just dont specify a particular 'denomination' of christianity.

I was talking about my particular school which is a VA school (whatever that means) and does receive funding from the local CofE parish. I stand by my opinion that if you are someone that does not agree with the christian ethos being a fundamental part of a Childs education then this is something that should be taken into consideration BEFORE enrolling your child at that school.

the point is that these schools shouldn't exist, if we want to live in a country where no religion has privilege over another (or none). In some areas, the only local school is CofE.

In any case, the introduction of church schools into this thread was meant to illustrate, at least in this country, the religious have beliefs that directly affect other people. Hopefully that makes clear why atheists don't feel like this is a country where people can have their beliefs and not have them affect others.

Jassy, I totally agree in your circumstances that it is wholly unfair to ONLY have the voice of a CofE school.
I was referring to my situation, where there are other options, the 2 non denominational schools are undersubscribed so there are alternative options. It seems in my area that parent want there child to go to this school as it is one of the best academically, so they go to church to get a place and then complain about the religious aspect.
I chose to put my child in that school and luckily got a place ( like I said its the best in the area in terms of academic standard, extra curricular clubs and such like) so I don't complain about the churchy side of it.
This is just my opinion and I respect that your situation is totally different and I apologise for not understanding that some catchments don't have a choice.

So it's OK that you have a choice of 3 schools, but other parents only have a choice of 2? You think that's fair?

It's enshrined in law that every single school has an act of worship every day. Yes, lots of schools ignore that.

But...it's enshrined in law. That is a problem.

No one is advocating that religion be "banned" from schools. I, for one, would be perfectly fine with schools running opt-in prayer sessions or Bible study groups.

But to put parents & children into the position of having to opt-OUT of an important part of the school day, like assembly, in order to avoid being preached to, or having to pretend to talk to a being they don't believe in, is shockingly unfair.

And you can't advance the argument that assemblies aren't about preaching..when very often, they are. When the local vicar shows up to babble about Noah's Ark or whatever - that's preaching.

America has the opposite proble. Their constitution guarantess secular education but atheists have a hell of a job keeping religion out.

Dropit I am very happy for you that your area provides enough choice for everyone. But it's not all about you, and many of us are not that fortunate. In any case, you are missing the point by a country mile which is that no one should have to scrabble around finding state funded education that won't be influenced by the personal beliefs of the staff &/or governors.

Namechanger What is it that you don't agree with and don't think is right? Faith schools? Sorry, but I thought you were all for them?

This is just my opinion and I respect that your situation is totally different and I apologise for not understanding that some catchments don't have a choice.

Thanks. It is very shit, and very common, and threads like this are full of people talking about ‘choice’.

That’s the problem. Faith schools in the state sector only increase choice for a minority, and put a majority at a disadvantage.

I don't particularly have a probloem with a school having an assembly part of which is singing a few hymns; it is the overly religious state schools that are more of an issue particularly now half of the people in the UK don't believe in any God.

DropItLikeASquat

I was referring to my situation, where there are other options, the 2 non denominational schools are undersubscribed so there are alternative options.

So there is a choice of a christian school, a christian school or a christian school? Where is the choice for the majority who are not christians? Bloody discrimination.

It's not always only a few hymns. Sometimes it's praying and preaching. Mostly down to the head teacher, I suspect.

But the fact that there is a range out there from the odd "Morning Has Broken" right up to "The Earth is 6,000 years old" shows the problem.

Remove it completely. Problem solved.

As someone in America said...don't pray in our schools and we won't think in your churches.

Have you read the guidelines? They strongly encourage that (compulsory) religious observance should reflect Christianity.

*No. You’re still ignoring facts. Religious observance in non-denominational schools in Scotland required. Parents haven’t opted into anything except the school system. And you’re immediately asking them to opt out.

Have you actually looked at the RME curriculum? Do you think it’s fair and fever-handed?*

I have looked at the curriculum experiences and outcomes for RME, and the guidelines for religious observance and RME in a non-denominational school.
There isn't a big emphasis on religious observance, a lot seems to be in discretion of headteacher. Which we have already discussed and I expressed my disagreement with. The Scottish Government also encourages the change of name to 'time for reflection' within schools who do chose to partake in RO. The schools handbook should also contain information about expected RO.
I agree that the RME curriculum focuses on Christianity more than any other religion.

Namechanger What is it that you don't agree with and don't think is right? Faith schools? Sorry, but I thought you were all for them?

Why do you assume I'm all for them?
I don't dislike faith schools, my DD attends one and I wouldn't change it, it is a great little school. However I accept that change needs to happen.
I don't disagree with the introduction of secular schools, I like to hope it would help bigotry and sectarianism acts. Which I would want for my child, who already faces some based purely on which school tie she wears.

Namechangerbob. That is awful, and would never happen here.
If parents chose for their child to be opted out here, the school must make suitable arrangements for the child to participate in a worthwhile alternative activity. In no circumstances should a pupil be disadvantaged as a result of withdrawing.

Where i am its actually against the rules surronding religion in schools to provide opt out students with an worthwhile activity, its the churchs way of trying to force parents to keep their kid in. Its literally colouring only. Reading, work from class, homework is all deemed no as the students attending the religious activity dont get that same time to do work and may put them behind. The school can get in trouble if parents or the church running the class complain
Its absolute bullsh*t

the school must make suitable arrangements for the child to participate in a worthwhile alternative activity

No school 'ever' has provided suitable arrangements that are an alternative to religious observance. That is part of the problem.

If they actually did a lot of kids would use them, which is why they dont.

julie I agree. In my kids case it just was not possible.
I have already " opted out" of religion in schcol as much as the state will allow.
So in addition to that I am supposed to further opt out by pulling my kids from certain parts of the school day?
Short of home education there is no place my kids can go to avoid religious indoctrination while attending school.

"Children are so brainwashed that church attendance is plummeting fast."

Oh my sides. I had to read that twice to be sure you'd written what you'd written.