to think that some non-religious parents over-react just a teensy-weensy bit when their children are exposed to religion in the most benign form?

[SueBarooeeooeeooooo]

s'ok if I am. But threads complaining about this sort of thing are a regular MN feature, and I can't help thinking that some parents seem tremendously precious about it. We're Christians and it often comes up that not everyone believes the way we do, and I talk to my children about it and they wander off and scribble on the lounge walls again.

I've seen people complaining about Christian mums and tots groups, simple 'thankyou' prayers and christian charities. I am 100% ok with you bringing your children up atheist, theist, or chocolate-worshipping. Honestly, if I whipped myself up into a panic over every mention of different beliefs or none that my children encounter, I'd never get anything done.

(Please note, this is not a church schools whinge, I'm against selection on religious grounds.)

I'm sure your school can manage their assemblies and stay within the rules. Most Muslim values are the same as Christian ones.

...or you could tell her that the good news was that he came back to life 3 days later - something to celebrate

I too have similar 'values' to christians. but not similar beliefs.
But then again we're not talking about me, we're talking about my child, and the ethical necessity of sticking to facts when influencing his growing mind. not beliefs, facts.

tell me the t doesnt stand for teacher..

It does

good grief.

That's not a very nice thing to say.

OK, Explosive. As a teacher, do you think it's OK to teach children as fact a philosphical viewpoint which is diametrically opposed to the views of the child's parents? Would you be happy, for example, telling a Jewish child that Jesus rose from the dead after 3 days? Not that you personally believed that, but that it actually happened?

I would preface it by 'Christians believe...'

I certainly don't think individual teachers should be trying to drill their own personal beliefs into children. I am very surprised [and sad] to hear stories like TrinityRhino's and northern refugee's, I really thought teachers would behave with more sensitivity and tact around children with their own beliefs [and not just give snippets of potentially distressing info devoid of context and theologically unsound]. From this thread the 'schools should be secular' argument becomes more clear to me. I find it sad that children's spiritual lives may not be nurtured at school [probably aren't being now though] but perhaps what schools should focus on is the importance of compassion and caring for your neighbour as a school ethos, and work harder to bring music [and drama] into schools - good ways of enriching children's emotional and creative [spiritual] lives.

equally though I think RE teachers have a responsibility to represent all religions fairly and with respect to those who believe. I assume this happens but it is even more critical in a secular environment - to give children a real chance to make up their own minds.

Explosive - but would you also say "But lots of other people believe......."

Probably not - depends on the context. I'm not terribly well qualified to say what others believe.

no clearly atheism isn't a religion
but to represent all religions and not the alternative is to present a narrow minded and intolerant view.
it suggests that we must believe in something, it is just a question of choosing what to believe, what faith to have.
whereas there is a real alternative, which is to reject all religions and embrace reason instead of faith.
and that point of view is I suspect presented in school very very rarely

yes of course one should also present athiesm as a philosophical alternative. Just presenting them all without bias though. Very hard I'm sure.

"Of course the Christian faith is a positive model! It's a message of love and relationships. What is wrong with that? Do you not want your children to have loving attitudes to those around them?"
EST, I sincerely hope you are joking about that.

OK, Explosive. Your child comes home from schoo and says "I have to burn some grain in front of my picture of Ganesh this evening" or "It's Ramadan - I can't eat between sunrise and sunset" or " Mum - can you help me draw a pentacle? It's Beltane and I need to raise some spirits" What do you do?

Not at all!

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Matthew 22:36-40

Not at all!

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Matthew 22:36-40

I've never had a child do that, Seeker.

I's also like to point out, as many have pointed out here that Christianity has been 'responsible' for terrible crimes against humanity [yes people claiming to be Christian have] But states that have been secular and have embraced 'reason' have as just as bad a record. See some communist states for example, where human life became virtually worthless. So have to be careful there too.

That's my moint, Explosive. I have!

When my child comes home and says "If I'm not good I won't go to heaven" it is EXACTLY the same as my other examples.

My POINT , even!

"I learned today in assembly that I am essentially sinful and unless I accept Jesus into my heart I will go to hell."

well that is patently rubbish seeker, and that is the problem with teachers that have a rather tenuous grip and intellectually stunted understanding of their own adopted faith being able to spout this stuff as fact to children.