To wonder how much longer school will do nativity plays?

[GreatestShowUnicorn]

As there is no biblical scripture to show Jesus was born at the time of the winter solstice. Surely it’s just teaching creationism or that the world is flat?

I'm an atheist and was perfectly content with my daughter taking part in the nativity play. Christmas is such a culturally important festival in the U.K. it's vital to understand the Christmas story. When she's older I'll be telling her about how the Christians ripped off earlier pagan midwinter rituals. For now, she's 4 and the nativity story is fine.

Thing is Islam has absolutely no affect on my life. Christianity does though. Not in a good way either. So while I do believe that all religion is nonsense, I don't have reason in my daily life to be annoyed with any other religion
In what way “not in a good way”....as opposed to, for instance those islamic terror attacks in Britain in recent years?

BartholinsSister

Why are people so disrespectful about Christianity?

Because it's made up nonsense.
HTH.

I am assuming you think the Muslim faith, the Jewish faith, Hinduism and so on are also concocted rubbish? Or are you not willing to stick your neck out when it comes to those? And if not, why not? In the interests of fairness, you should do so instead of picking on Christianity.

If course Islam, Hinduism and all other religions are nonsense. But I quite like the nativity. It is just a story. They could just as well be doing Jack and the Beanstalk, but the nativity feels Christmassy.

Loads of holes in the story, but so has Jacks Beamstalk.

I thought it was dying out as not many people are still believing jesus has anything to with christmas.

This is not the reason, I think. The reason is perhaps that the UK is a multicultural group of countries and it has to be shown that no one religion can take priority over any other.

And if not, why not? In the interests of fairness, you should do so instead of picking on Christianity.
I agree, all you’ll get is, “I think the same about all religions”
Really? why not say it then.

Never saw one - our primary school didn't do a nativity - it was more multi faith/no faith. It was always great fun.

Walkingdeadfangirl
I’d have thought so but no the myth is still alive and well and even in my local non religious school is being played out in nursery very traditionally and as fact.

Do people schools really tell children the nativity isn’t true? Here it is very much given as true.

Wooman is saying everything I want to, but she is choosing better words than I would.

Faith schools teach it as the truth. Other schools do not

We teach it as "Christians believe that ....." in the same way we teach all religions. Even the vicar who came in for the Christmas assembly this week said "I believe and other christians believe that xxxx this happened."

In England most schools do have a broadly Christian ethos, even if not a faith school.

Do many schools actually put on a nativity play anymore?

IME lots of schools still do nativities stories and plays.

I think the main reason British atheists are more likely to be dismissive of Christianity is exposure to it. I went to typical state primary and secondary schools (that weren't nominally religious), where we were presented Christianity as fact in primary school and had to do the collective worship stuff in secondary. Christianity still has a big impact on our laws (Sunday trading, assisted suicide being illegal).

Whilst I'm sure I'd find other belief systems to be nonsense too, I know comparatively little about them and they've not had any impact on my life.

Do people schools really tell children the nativity isn’t true?

We teach it as a Christian story.
We are a very multicultural school with children coming from a wider range of backgrounds. We still do a nativity play in EYFS and Year 1.

This is not the reason, I think. The reason is perhaps that the UK is a multicultural group of countries and it has to be shown that no one religion can take priority over any other.

Christianity is still the predominant religion in the UK and so nativity plays should not stop just because there are other practicing religions here as well. There should be respect for all religions and cultures that exist along side each other but I wouldn't expect to go and live in another country and they stop their religious festivals just because I'm a Christian.

I think the OP just wanted to start the annual Christmas Christian bashing thread which has become a bit of a yawn. I am comforted that the majority of pp have been supportive of Christianity and nativity plays. You don't have to believe in Christianity OP but children enjoy the nativity play and it is harmless. I remember as a child finding it magical and positive and created a feeling of warmth and goodness.

Faith schools teach it as the truth. Other schools do not
That's a recent change though, surely? I'm mid 30s and didn't go to faith school but was taught Christianity as fact.

You'll want us to stop doing everything soon. It's a show. Like when you go and see Charlie and chocolate factory. People do not fly in elevators (sadly!)

Well said Wooman

I don't believe in faith schools or any kind of religion. I believe in achieving a secular society where religion plays no stronger part in society than any other belief. I'm an aetheist, but beleive that Jesus Christ was probabaly a real person who has important messages for society. As such, I think its reasonable to stage the nativity play in schools, as long as the context is right.

Neither myself or DS are believers, we don't go to church unless it's for a wedding or funeral. Nativity plays are part of the rite of passage at infant school, the tea towel wearing shepherds & Mary holding baby Jesus the wrong way up, as far as we are concerned it's just a story like father Christmas & Rudolph.

But even christians don't believe that 'jesus' was literally born at Christmas. So what does 'jesus' have to do with the roman winter solstice?

Best I can imagine is that young parents like cute little kids dressed up, cooing over a baby and they are really reliving the birth of their own precious first born.

I wonder if other religions teach their religions saying stuff like "this is what some of us believe". I highly doubt it, it will be taught as fact. For some reason this is seen as acceptable, but not for Christians, I wonder why that is. It's very odd.

GirlsBlouse

Christianity is still the predominant religion in the UK and so nativity plays should not stop just because there are other practicing religions here as well...

Yes, I know and I completely agree with you. However, not giving precedence to the predominant religion is the way things are done in the UK. 🙄

I agree with you Katekat. I think it is very sad

I thought non-religion was more dominant now. Sure I read I was in Wales at least.

I suspect if there had been a history of Jews, Hindus or Muslims forcing their beliefs on all and sundry throughout the past 1,000+ years (with some horrific consequences) they would be treated a little differently.

Oh the irony. You do realise that most of the Middle East is Islamic because of the Islamic conquests (i.e. mass murder, rape, colonisation by the sword?).