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.)

Dodgy theology there, Seeker.

But I don't think anyone would object their child striving to be good. Am I missing something.

I also don't see your point about carrying out a non-Christian religious act - burning grain or whatever. I don't think it would be likely for a child to have homework of breaking bread and eating fish together, so the comaparison fails.

Agree Ruty

yes but EST children are required to pray to God and thank God for creating the world.
which is a religious act.

I don't have any problem with my children striving to be good.
I have a problem with my children being told to be good because God has told them to, because Jesus died for them and because otherwise they will go to hell.
there is a huge difference, surely you can move away from your own personal faith to understand the difference?

Schools provide an opportunity for prayer - that's not the same as actually forcing a child to pray.

may provide an opportunity...although I think that goes beyond their statutory obligations.

that is very disingenous EST
are you suggesting that if a four year old is told by the headteacher - OK children close your eyes, bow your heads and let us pray to god to say thanks for.....
that is "an opportunity to pray"!

I think it is better to explore why the bible says we should be good, rather that just getting upset by it. Be good, otherwise people get hurt.

Jesus was very clear on the fact that it isn't about being good or you'll go to hell. It is about being good for good's sake. Obviously Hell has become a useful instrument of power throughout the ages, but this is not what Christ taught. [as an aside]

It depends what is in the child's heart. If they are not genuinely talking to God, then it is not a prayer.

I don't know why people get upset by the notion of Hell.

Hell is a permanent separation from God. If you don't believe in God, then what's the big deal. If you have a relationship with God, then Hell is nothing to worry about.

be good otherwise people will get hurt is the message of humanism not Christianity.
the Bible says nothing of the kind, it says be good because God says so. Follow these rules and you will go to heaven.

I work in a Catholic school, mmj, and I have never come across the kind of things that have been mentioned.

The focus in prayers have always been about positive things.

Nope, HC, sorry. will have to come back with quotes to prove case later because have to go out.

mmj, have you read the thread? yes children get told these things
the point is, EST was saying the message of Christianity is positive and benign and no-one oculd possiboly object to children being told it.
I disagree, because that is the message of Christianity, that was what I was told at school (not a church school).
and not everyone has a choice about whether to send their child to a faith school.

I'm not saying that no one could possibly object to Christian values - but I don't understand why they object. I guess that is the topic of the thread!

well maybe it should be an argument about whay Christianity is not represented as Christ intended - because everyone here has a hell of a lot of misconceptions about Christianity - which is obviously the fault of the church.

[dh now yelling at me to get off bloody computer]

Same here!

It's been a fun couple of hours

I would be upset if someone told my dd that Homosexualtity was wrong

I am not from this country and when I first came here and got to know a bit more about the schools I found it worrying that non-christian schools used prayers and the like in things like assemblies. In my country religion is not allowed to be taught anywhere else but the R.E. classes and that's where I think it should be, especially in schools that are non-church schools. I think that if I were a hindu, sikh, muslim, bhuddist, atheist, jewish,... I would not be very happy that my children need to join in christian prayer during assemblies,... In my view it is almost like forcing them to join in with a religion that is not theirs. I'm sure christians wouldn't be happy if it was the other way around.

EST are you seriously expecting small children to make the kind of leap that says "oh it doesn't matter about going to Hell, it is just a separation from God, and I am not sure if I believe in him so that's fine"
totally unrealistic, imo