To email school AGAIN re religious assemblies

[pineapplepenthouse]

I have twins in year 4 both in different classes. I have expressed my feelings about not letting them be involved in religious assemblies or having anything to do with religion. My children are in different classes. Today for the third time my DDs has come home saying he has been included in the religious assembly.
I have strong feelings on this but other mums just say 'it's not a big deal' and 'it didn't do us any harm'.

AIBU?

[Dahlietta]

And that, as they say, is a wrap!

[Dahlietta]

Its even more offensive that Catholics hang a statue of someone being tortured to death by crucifixion around their neck. anyone who had hung a statue round their neck would have more to worry about than whether it offended anyone.

Wouldn't it be less offensive to use a statue of someone being waterboarded?

I presume that's supposed to be funny, but it doesn't even make any sense.
As crimsonrose said, the cross is a symbol of Christ's death on the cross, which is the defining moment of Christianity really.

[crimsonrose19]

Doesn't offend Christians at all, it's remembering that Christ died on the cross for us. Why should we forget. Are there any other religions symbols you find odd. Why don't you ridicule some oddity from Islam or Hindu, there's plenty to go at.

[Walkingdeadfangirl]

Its even more offensive that Catholics hang a statue of someone being tortured to death by crucifixion around their neck.

Wouldn't it be less offensive to use a statue of someone being waterboarded?

[BartholinsSister]

It's little wonder Jesus hasn't returned.

Dione

[crimsonrose19]

Bartholin the answer to what? Comparing to a rifle bullet?? It's probably the most ridiculous unintelligent thing I've ever read. Not worthy of an answer. Perhaps you could write to the pope and ask him.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

Maybe that's how BartholinsSister commemorates the death of the late, great Bill Hicks.

[BartholinsSister]

The answer, please ...

[Dahlietta]

Why is the cross not offensive to Christians?

Do you actually want the answer to that or are you just being facetious?

[BartholinsSister]

Why is the cross not offensive to Christians?
You wouldn't celebrate JFK's life by wearing a rifle pendant.

[crimsonrose19]

All religions attribute different symbols to their faith........ Minimising the symbolism of the cross to “just a piece of metal” is probably as offensive to a Christian as saying to a muslim that their hijab is “just a piece of cloth”. It’s uneccessary and offensive. As usual it seems it’s only ok to ridicule Christianity.

[SaturdayNext]

It's relevance to me and many others is that the empty cross is a symbol of the resurrection and some people do not like to be reminded of that

@lllizzie, I don't believe anyone cares a jot about being reminded that some people choose to attribute some sort of symbolism to a piece of metal. Jewellery choices like this literally don't impact on anyone else's life. This seems to be a manifestation of the curious wish of some christians to proclaim that they are being persecuted for their faith despite being in a country where the established Church enjoys high status and all sorts of privileges.

[Sheogorath]

@llizzie

Could you give us the specific verse that has the cure for arthritis?

[WhatisFreddoingnow]

@BartholinsSister

The story was that Sutekh killed Osiris and cut him apart, spreading the pieces through the land. Osiris's wife, the goddess of magic Isis, searched for the pieces and used her magic to bring him back to life. But he was missing a certain aspect, and she replaced it with clay or wood, they conceived Horus, and that was it. But Osiris had died, and had to stay dead. So he was given the position of the god of the underworld(a much nicer place than the Greek version).
Not quite a virgin birth.

I won't go into details as it details the discussion but there's more differences than similarities between Horus and Jesus.

When looked at critically, Zeitgeist (with it's loaded language) has a lot to answer for!

[TheSandman]

• Walkingdeadfangirl Mon 21-Jan-19 13:37:05
  
  Quite a red herring to say this is a Christian country. Is there even 1% of the population that are practising Christians?
  
  Given our history I think it would be completely sensible to have the army lead assemblies every week, where everyone has to pledge allegiance to queen, country and the armed forces before singing military songs from WW2.
  No one would object to that surely, its not going to affect the little children in any way what so ever.*
  
  
  Hmmm. Not sure that would go down to well in Scotland (which, in a vain attempt to pretend I am still On Topic here, is where the OP resides).
  
  As I understand it Elizabeth the Second is not 'Queen of Scotland' but rather the 'Queen of Scots'. She's only our queen because we invest our sovereignty in her - not the other way round as happens in England. The English are subjects of the Crown. Scots aren't. If we wanted someone else to be our queen it's our constitutional right to choose another.
  
  If we can be bothered.

[BartholinsSister]

One of the earliest nativity stories comes is that of Horus in Ancient Egypt, born just after the Winter solstice, miraculous conception, predicted by an angel, new stars, visited by kings etc.

[TheSandman]

And yet all Primary schools put in a little play at Christmas entitled "The Nativity", which whether you like it or not is a Christian story about the birth of Jesus.


Not true - well partially true if you strip out all the context. Christmas is a pre-Christian winter solstice rebirth myth re-branded with a Christian gloss.

The birth of the Christ - Light of The World and all that - in the middle of winter, is a reworking of the Winter King story found in myth cycles found around the globe. (Sometimes in pagan European myth called the Sun King, or Year King) He's a consort of the Great Goddessrepresenting the earth's fertility in her local guise. (In Christaianity she's called 'Mary'). The rebirth or resurrection of her consort (representing the sun, sky, or quickening winds) not only brought light back to the world, turning the seasons from winter to spring, but also marked a time of new beginnings, cleansing the soul of sins and sicknesses accumulated in the previous year. Solstice celebrations of the ancient world included the Saturnalia , the Anglo-Saxon vigil of The Night of the Mother to renew the earth's fertility , the Yule feasts of the Norse honoring the One-Eyed God and the spirits of the dead , the Persian Mithric festival called The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.

The Christian Christmas, marking the birth of the Lord of Light is just the latest version. A couple of thousand years from now we'll call it something else - possibly the "Festival of We Need an Excuse for a Midwinter Piss-up".

[myrtleWilson]

@beanie3 so the OP's children's education capability and finding their place in the world will stand or fall by attending this irregular assembly (and not attending the Easter church event)? She is exercising her right to withdraw her children from religious worship not religious education

[Elfinablender]

Education--(huge gulf)----Worship

[Beanie3]

Look at the bigger picture here. It’s not really about your choice. Your children will grow up in a multi race, creed, colour world. When they are old enough to make their own choices at least they will be informed ones. No education is a waste.

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

crimson

I'm giving the benefit of the doubt crimson, because I don't think she can help herself (judgemental? moi? )

[crimsonrose19]

For a start, I don't believe that - I believe that God is all-loving and all- inclusive, and that eventually everyone will end up in heaven. It would take me too long to go into the details of my theology, and I don't want to get into complex apologetic arguments and explanations, but that is the gist.

I believe that too Schaden. Take no notice of llizzie , i think she’s being deliberately goady.

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

Now that schadenfreudePersonifide has said that I shall be damned in hell for the rest of eternity

Lizzie - I gave you the benefit of the doubt the first time - I thought you may have confused me (and at least one other) with someone else - but i have never, at any time said that you or anyone else will be damned in hell for all eternity!

For a start, I don't believe that - I believe that God is all-loving and all- inclusive, and that eventually everyone will end up in heaven. It would take me too long to go into the details of my theology, and I don't want to get into complex apologetic arguments and explanations, but that is the gist.

Also - even if I did believe it (which I don't), I don't think it's up to me to make judgements on God's behalf - there are people whose actions are obviously evil, there are people who are obviously good, but there are even more in between and how can I judge?

And finally - I'm afraid that it's people like yourself who give Christianity a bad name. I totally agreed with you that the Bible is as relevant today as it ever was, but I'm afraid that I can't understand many of your very convoluted arguments. That is probably me - but if I can't, the others will be lost, too.

Enjoy your life, and try to relax and enjoy your faith.

[haloumi]

As an atheist, I totally understand where you are coming from. Religion sticks it nose into EVERY aspect of life, and we should have a choice about our children being exposed to it. HOWEVER, there are also some great messages and interesting cultural issues that can be gleaned from understanding religion and it's fairy tales.

Bottom line, your school should take your wishes onboard and respect your views.... Official Letter and take it higher if needed.

[Allergictoironing]

Gods help us Ilizzie, your post has so many statements that show a basic lack of reading comprehension, and an incredibly insular view. I can't pick it apart bit by bit as that could take me all morning - and fill a couple of screens.

A few points though for you to consider. I agree that in general the Bible has only been available to be read by many for a few hundred years, that doesn't mean the world has changed SINCE IT WAS WRITTEN.

Yes there are various references to diseases and ailments in the Bible and how they were treated, and you also get that in many Greek and Roman texts; I don't know enough about the detail of the Arab, Indian or Chinese texts of the early Middle Ages & earlier to comment on those, but I do know much of our modern medicine is based on Arab texts. The Israelites did the same as all other races at the time and followed known best practice.

I really hope you wren't thinking when you wrote that the Bible BOTH OLD AND NEW is as relevant today as it ever was. There are massive chunks of the Old Testament which go against modern moral beliefs.