To want the Gideons to get the #### out of my child's school

[PatriarchyPersonified]

As I have made clear on threads on here in the past, I am an atheist (I'm actually a strong anti-theist) and I believe in the secularisation of society. (i.e religion can be there for people who want it but it should be irrelevant to anybodies day to day life unless they want to make it relevant.)

I believe that children should be taught about religions in school, as part of a comprehensive RE syllabus, and particularly about Christianity, as I believe from a cultural and historical perspective, it is impossible to fully understand the history and culture of the UK without reference to the bible. I would feel the same way about the Qu'ran if I lived in an Arab country btw.

What I am not happy about is that my oldest DC (12) has just had the bloody Gideon Society hosting an assembly in their school and dishing out Bibles! School is not the place for this. There is a reason why religious groups always target schools and prisons, its where the easy targets are.

Just out of interest what would count as actual credible evidence for God, the Buddha the Tao or indeed any religious belief?

I want to meet him.

If you're going to expect people to worship you, you should at least have the decency to come down and say 'hi'.

It would only take a second he's omnipotent isn't he? Come round for a cup of tea, say hi. Turn some water in to wine. Job done. I'll go to church.

I'd like to ask him why he was always performing miracles but now never bothers and why hasn't spoken up about all the babies dying where the mothers can't afford to feed them but can't have birth control either cause that would be a sin.

Ok so saying that happened why would that "prove" he/she was god?

It is NOT forced on us

Faith schools that are tax-funded being selective on faith grounds

JW knocking on doors

Local churches sending mail outs of bibles

People standing in the streets holding forth.

I beg to differ

I support separating church and state including schools etc. From the point of view that faith and beliefs should be guided by the God and Bible or whatever the equivalent is for other faiths rather than government policies. And vice versa. I wouldn't be happy if laws were based on what Bible says. It's better to keep them separated. But I also think it's important that schools teach children the basics of different faiths, to give them an understanding of what they are about and main differences, similarities and their place in a society. I don't see how that is harmful to anyone.

I want to meet him. See, I don't see god as a "him", I see the source as being within everything and outside of everything. Within us and outside of us. You're part of it. This is the thing, it's so simple it's missed or dismissed.

You're part of it. This is the thing, it's so simple it's missed or dismissed

That does appear as very arrogant.

I'm not that bothered.

And? Why should that mean I shouldn't be? Why is it goady to want proof of something being shared at schools?

That does appear as very arrogant. Could you please expand on that point.

@Vitalogy

Well it appears that you're saying - if I have read it correctly - your beliefs of a "higher being" override anyone who doesn't believe because they've just missed it?

Apologies if I haven't understood your point as you intended

Ok so saying that happened why would that "prove" he/she was god?

If a mystical being appeared to every person at the same time and sat and had a cup of tea with them, it might not be god, but I'd think they were probably a person worth knowing.

I'm an athiest but fuck it I'm prepared to say I'm wrong if that happens. Also if he decided to tell all the priests to knock the "no contraception" thing on the head.

“bertrand who are you actually telling to "teach your own children how to worship your own God"

Anyone who wants to.

@JacquesHammer

your beliefs of a "higher being" override anyone who doesn't believe because they've just missed it? oh no, not at all, we're all the one consciousness within.

I wonder how Christians would feel if an atheist organisation went into their child's school handing out pamphlets and trying to persuade their child that god doesn't exist. I'm sure many wouldn't be pleased.

I wouldn't object. I'd be pleased to discuss it with my children when they're old enough. However i wouldnt want them using language like "sky fairies" as it's disrespectful.

jaqueshammer
All those things you listed about Christianity being "forced" on us.....no they aren't. The things you listed would not impact in the slightest way on the majority of people's lives. They really aren't a big deal.

@borderline11

They do impact when you’re harassed in your own home. Or can’t get a school place.

Don’t be disingenuous

We are tolerant to all religions, which is as it should be.

As long as Christianity retains its special top spot in the privilege rankings.

It is NOT forced on us

Except through the education system.

No doubt someone will be along shortly to peddle idiocies about ‘choice’ to attend faith schools, and the fallacy that all non-faith schools are secular, and we’ll have to have that tedious conversation again.

I try to be very respectful of people who believe things I don’t. However the stunning lack of respect those who enjoy religious privilege in this country show for those who don’t share their beliefs makes it extremely difficult.

Particularly galling when it’s the (flawed) Census figures that are rolled out to justify proselytism in schools and public life, rather than the number of people who practise a faith regularly or who even believe in any gods (around a third).

The things you listed would not impact in the slightest way on the majority of people's lives.

Super! Can you find me a local secular school please? Or at least one I can get into that isn’t a faith school? We’ve so many round here that the local catchments are totally messed up with out-of-catchment children. So local kids struggle to get any school places, and even more to get into non-faith schools.

Who comes to your house, i used to get the odd visit off Jehovas witness, but it didn't bother me. The only harassment i get these days is cold callers asking me if i've had an accident. A bit of a nuisance but nothing to get steamed up about. Really when you think of the awful lives some people have in other countries it seems very trivial in comparison. In a nice way, be thankful for what you have.

@borderline11 oh give over with the competitive misery bollocks. I live in a no cold calling area and work from home. It’s ridiculously disruptive having JWs calling (which they do regularly, despite me contacting them to not).

It is the height of rudeness to try and convert someone in their own home.

And the local church; clearly buying data from somewhere and addressing publications? Which will clearly be against the GDPR come May.

In a nice way, be thankful for what you have.

That comes across as terribly patronising. ‘Be grateful you’re not being beaten, and happily accept that you’re second-rate.’

Thanks all the same, but I’ll keep campaigning for a level playing field for everyone. Just because it’s not as bad as it could be, or as it used to be, doesn’t make it good.

Perhaps a christian could explain why talking about sky faeries is mocking you? If I had an omnipotent invisible friend who was giving me immortality and a nice house in utopia and someone called him a sky fairy, I would feel sorry for them and everything they were missing out on.

It seems that deep down inside christians dont really believe there actually is a god granting them immortality in utopia and feel mocked because they dont like everyone pointing out their delusion.

Because what you perceive to be a sky fairy is an entity we call God. Would you find it disrespectful if you called your child Bob and a large group of people took to calling him Tinky Winky?