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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect state primary's to accept/talk about Atheism?

119 replies

onebadmother · 26/10/2007 21:10

my DS's teacher expressed surprise/anxiety (?) that he was very firm about God not existing when they were on a Nature Walk and talking about where all this Nature stuff comes from..

Happen to know that teacher is a 7th day Adventist..

a why were they discussing where nature came from?

b wouldn't she expect any 5 yo to be firm about his/her family's 'beliefs' - ie a Muslim/Christian child would not be expected to be 'maybe'ish about Allah/Jesus.

C Every possible religion's special days are 'celebrated' - why??? Why can't they just be explained?

d Who's telling the children that there's another option, and that some people believe God does not exist, and they're called Atheists. Atheists believe its amazing enough that Humans exist at all...and that we're not completely sure where the world came from but it's possible that .. blah blah.

This happened a couple of weeks ago, but I just can't shake it off. Did a really lame but simultaneously aggressive 'Well we as a family happen to think that belief in God is not the default position..' but sounded like a stupid prig, and wished I'd just said I'm sorry, I'm going to take this further, you are not respecting my son's spiritual beliefs and I'M GOING TO GET YOU FIRED YOU CRAZY CULTIST!!!!

Ok, calm now.

OP posts:
roisin · 26/10/2007 23:15

We (dh and I) are Christians. DS1 was a convinced atheist from age 5 to about 8 ... I understand he is agnostic now (10). We are fine with this, and have always taught him to reason logically and form his own opinions.

His school is a community school, but with a strong Christian setting, and they coped with fine with his beliefs.

seeker · 26/10/2007 23:15

I sent this to our Head last year and haven't had a response. I must rattle his cage a bit this week.

Original poster
onebadmother · 26/10/2007 23:18

pmsl almost certainly black. Sure your mother wanted to say WAS black but allowed her inner rationalist to accept very very very small possibility he was the only White North African Jew in 0 AD.

Eddie Murphy reference so desperately unsophisticated that I wish I'd never, never mentioned it. He just says, in one of his bad 80's comedies so dull I can't remember the title, that is one bad mutha.

OP posts:
TheEvilDediderata · 26/10/2007 23:22

You are the master of the anti-climax

Anyhow, lovely women, I'm away to my secular bed (although I have a copy of Ouspensky, who interprets the New Testament in such a way that it would blow the most committed atheist just a little out of their pants).

policywonk · 26/10/2007 23:22

Harpsi - you're right. I am a bit craven where chuch schools are concerned - my attitude is: I won't send my kids to you, and you can get on with teaching whatever you like. Which is a bit rubbish really.

OBM - yes, my mother does like to construct an impregnable argument.

I'm sensing dissatisfaction with your name (I'm intuitive like that). MN life is too short to use a posting name that doesn't please you. Take the plunge and change! I have previously offered 'ChemicallyPureCockMonkey' to JeremyVile, who rejected it, so you can have that one if you like

RosaTransylvania · 26/10/2007 23:23

DD1 came out as an atheist two years ago when she was eight. It is not universally understood by the adults in our community. One person even said to her in meaningful tones when we went to a friend's baby's christening 'oh, you're the little atheist' snigger snigger
I distinctly remember the teachers at my (Catholic) secondary school telling me that my atheism was 'just a phase' and it annoys me that people still have this attitude.
It's not a phase, it's a valid philosophical viewpoint. You feckers.

Original poster
onebadmother · 26/10/2007 23:26

Seeker, that's really useful to have, thanks a lot.

My beef is with the fact that nobody mentions you don't have to believe in God at all, though..

and though I really admire the humanists (to me totally obvious) position that you can still be moral without being religious, it always feels as though they're fighting a rearguard action..

OP posts:
Original poster
onebadmother · 26/10/2007 23:29

wonk - may I call you wonk? - I appreciate your offer.
However, sometimes we don't choose our names, they choose us.
I am, actually, in RL, one bad mother.

OP posts:
OverMyDeadBody · 26/10/2007 23:30

onebadmother I believe wholeheartedly in everything you and others have said on this thread and am too pissed to contribute in any meaningful way right now or I would, but agree

My ds has just started in a CofE school because it's the local schol in my catchment area and, godamit, he should be able to go to his local school, so I'm saving these comments up for any possible 'episodes' we may encounter on his scholastic journey

policywonk · 26/10/2007 23:30

No-one wants my poor rude name

Original poster
onebadmother · 26/10/2007 23:31

|Rosa, love 'coming out!'. DD1 sounds brave and true.

OP posts:
OverMyDeadBody · 26/10/2007 23:31

apart from the bit about you being a bad mother, I don't belive that, or did you mean bad as in good? like the yoof of today say, bad innit?

harpsicorpsecarrier · 26/10/2007 23:33

yes I am liking this idea of atheism being akin to homosexuality.
ecxcellent. I always wanted to be an oppressed minority.
onebadmother are you new? or name changed?

RosaTransylvania · 26/10/2007 23:33

Onebadmother - thank you, she is.
DD2 however, at age seven, is lined up to play Mary in the Sunday School nativity play this year!!!
I do not interfere with her beliefs either!

Original poster
onebadmother · 26/10/2007 23:34

TheEvil - I need to know more. Ouspensky, I demand to be blown out of my pants, right now!

OP posts:
Original poster
onebadmother · 26/10/2007 23:37

oh, you know, new-ish. No name change though, though perhaps slightly.. wary.. in the past. Now I don't give a f** though!

OP posts:
harpsicorpsecarrier · 26/10/2007 23:39

ah well welcome, you look right at home!
no need to be wary, we don't bite

Original poster
onebadmother · 26/10/2007 23:40

deadbody (that's not right,is it?)
Try again.
Overmy..
No, that's bad as in bad.

OP posts:
Original poster
onebadmother · 26/10/2007 23:43

harpsi
yes, you're so right, about the homosexuals of the spiritual world..

I should steam on in there with a persecuted minority stare and freak the hell out of them!

OP posts:
Yvaine · 26/10/2007 23:43

LOL at "organized religion"

OverMyDeadBody · 26/10/2007 23:46

yeah...bad I know.....something to do with Halloween...

No, there's no excuse

was someone offering another name a while back? I'll take it.

Oh never moind, I'll get my coat.

Original poster
onebadmother · 26/10/2007 23:51

No! Overmy! I meant 'bad' as in bad for onebadmother!

You have a great name!

OP posts:
elastamum · 26/10/2007 23:52

My kids dont believe in god and attend a christian school, I was bought up an athiest and have always said some people belive god made the world and some people dont believe there is a god, you just have to make up your own mind. I think it was the dinosaurs that did it for my eldest! He just got his report, all grades above average except RE, taught by the headmaster

Tortington · 27/10/2007 00:20

responding to the op:
i do believe in god, but i would be very upset had i been challenged in my belief system by an employee of a statuatory organisation.

i would write a letter and forward to the relevent authorities, reminding them that it is indeed MY place as a parent to encourage My childrens belief systems, and although this may be covered to some extent in the curriculum, that the end responsability lies with me.

I think schools are parenting these days and its very scarey actually, to think that they are raising our children, what they wear, what they eat, what they learn about society at large (citizenship) their sexual education, Religeous education, their excersise - their breakfast!! their lunch and the after school snack.

whilst the above should be covered tos ome extent within the school system it should also be covered at home. you mentioned "default position" and i think that MOST parents today know the schools do these things and default to them with these critical parenting issues.

our childrens value systems are being changed primarily at school and not at home. the state is bringing up children - telling them what to eat, drink, think - frightening.

OverMyDeadBody · 27/10/2007 00:45

Blimey, good post CUSTFERATU

I think all this stuff and everyone here writes it up so eloquently!

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