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.

@borderline11 reposting “which one” wasn’t nagging for an answer. I didn’t need to think one up. I was - and bear with me, because I know it’s controversial - away from my phone for 10 mins on a Saturday afternoon.

For avoidance of doubt i’m going for a long bath now so hope you have no more pressing points.

As for knocking on the door, the very purpose is to convert. That’s why they do it. That’s fairly common knowledge.

I dont believe people are knocking on your door regularly in order to convert you. But if it makes for a stronger case, carry on.

"Christian ethos". What's that, then? "Love me or else"?

I watched a documentary recently where they secretly filmed in Saudi Arabia, school children being taught to "kill all Christians", now that's a religion i have no respect for. Oh but what's that you say, we can only criticise Christianity.

What part of this are you two struggling with? The notion of equality? Because that's what this boils down to.

Our government, via schools and other public services, should not be playing favourites with religion. It's immoral and intrusive.

Most of us are not Christian. This is no longer a "Christian nation" - thankfully. We are a diverse bunch with lots of different worldviews and opinions.

The government, and everything it provides via public money, should be completely and entirely impartial because this is the only possible way it can be genuinely equitable.

What is your problem with this, exactly, other than narcissistic selfishness? "Waaaaah...I want my god in my publically funded school and fuck everyone else"?

The OP might not be outraged, but I certainly am.

And, frankly, comparing religious proselytizing on our doorsteps to selling double-glazing, is to miss the point completely. Secularists and atheists do not knock on doors to try and tell people their beliefs are bullshit. Guess why? Because that would be rude, pointless and arrogant. But when a religious person does it, we just have to put up with it? Here's a shocking thought...how about you keep your "personal and private" beliefs "personal and private" instead of taking it upon yourselves, without right or invitation, to inflict them on the rest of us.

I think it meant there was some Christian teaching and I have been at events where the local vicar has spoken. Also commemorative day was in a church

I'm not sure if this still is the case. The school came from a church originally as education was set up by churches for the poor

Borderline

Do you think your religion is actually more respectable than Islam? It isn't. Christian history is littered with people killing on behalf of your god, and you know it.

Thanks to the enlightenment and the work of secularists, the more batshit & dangerous aspects of it have been sidelined...allowing all of you to witter on about "Christian ethos" as if there is something super special about it.

"Christian ethos" will never be taught in schools...if it was, we'd be raising a generation of psychopaths, just like certain pockets of the Islamic world is attempting to do.

Exactly Janey we get unwelcome callers all the time, usually energy suppliers, You don't even need to answer the door. A quick glimpse out the window is all that's necessary. All this outrage about religious folk calling round to convert people? ......Like, how often and if and when they do come, please, just calm down and say "no thanks" and they'll go away. No need for the outrage.

Janey

Oh, grow up. I am perfectly calm. But your tedious and feeble attempt at patronising me rather than offering any real counter-points is noted.

Janey

Sharing information = spreading the good word = evangelising.

What the hell else do you think the Gideon's & JW's are trying to do? They want to convert people. Don't be so obtuse...unless you can't help it.

tabby fortunately we've moved on from the dark ages. Not so Islamic extremists.Out of 23 wars currently being fought in the world, 21 are Islamic based. That's fact. Btw Christian schools are not teaching the kids to "kill", that's fact too, so in that respect, yes i do think Christianity is better.

Anyway, going out now so bowing out. But carry on with your "Christian bashing"

Has that worked in France?

France is still (just) majority Christian, based on everything I’ve read.

'Sigh'?! What, so asking if 'aibu to want the Gideon's to get #### out my DC school' doesn't sound slightly outraged?

Can I suggest taking your own advice and calming down a little? No need for all the ‘?!?!’

I read it as weary of the continued dominance of Christianity in schools and proselytising organisations being allowed into schools to talk to children.

The point being that we all read through our own lens, so it’s usually fairer and more even handed to use a poster’s own descriptions of their feelings (‘am not happy about’) rather than deciding on our own descriptions of what someone is feeling (outraged, afraid, other interpretations I’ve seen on this thread).

Yes, I clearly can't speak for the country but it happens rarely round here. Usually oaps in groups who knock once then move on.

Lucky you! I get the arrogant doorknockers on a fairly regular basis when I’m home. It makes me nostalgic for living in a flat with controlled entry. Never had anyone selling energy suppliers (but I don’t doubt those who report it happening are truthful).

NB: I don’t think all Christians are arrogant. I think anyone who goes door to door trying to convert people to their religion are arrogant. It’s boring and wastes my time - and my time at home is precious to me.

Would you find it disrespectful if you called your child Bob and a large group of people took to calling him Tinky Winky? Well I am really not sure if a work college turned up at 'bring a child to work day' with an silent, invisible, non corporeal son called Bob would elicit many people to join in and call him Bob. But I get the point that calling them Tinky Winky might tip you over the edge.

So would calling him your invisible space dad be more acceptable?

It would be like, for example, calling a radical feminist a hairy man hater, it may be true in some cases but surely you can see its not what you say it's the way you say it? More like calling them a hairy goblin hater because of course we can actually see men.

It's definitely mocking to suggest someone's God is as powerless and pathetic as a fairy no matter how much you might like fairies and think they're cute or how much you may believe it yourself to be imaginary Would it be better to call them invisible sky genies? As they are very powerful, able to grant wishes and not powerless or pathetic at all.

“I watched a documentary recently where they secretly filmed in Saudi Arabia, school children being taught to "kill all Christians", now that's a religion i have no respect for. Oh but what's that you say, we can only criticise Christianity.”

Really? Who says? Nobody has ever stopped me in my active career as an equal opportunities religion criticizer!

Christianity probably comes in for a bit more day to day criticism on here because Christianity has more day to day impact on outer lives in this country. Logical, no?

To me a Christian ethos would fall in with Jesus's teaching.

I agree there has been bloodshed in Christianity usually to do with politics and power but we have moved forward.

@Valentinesfart so you basically want to stand in the presence of God and be treated to a miraculous display of divine power? Then you'll buy it all?