Mocking Christianity

[Ihatepcos]

I am so sick of people thinking it's okay to ridicule Catholicism and Christianity. This is especially apparent on Mumsnet. Every time there's a thread about religion I can't even read the replies because they're so awful.

The same doesn't seem to apply to the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu faiths etc.

If you don't believe in God that is your choice. But purposely mocking someone's faith and calling it a load of bullshit (and worse) is just not acceptable. So many people turn to faith to help them through extremely tough times in life and you are mocking the only thing that is keeping them going.

It's very clear that the rules are being quietly ignored by very many schools, but that is all the more reason to just get on and scrap them. They have no place in today's UK.

"Why do I have to do prayers at school?"

"Actually, you don't."

"Do you believe in God?"

"No. Much to your Nan's dismay."

"So will you get me out of prayers at school?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"It's just not important enough to avoid."

"What if I'm indot...indog.."

"Indoctrinated?"

"Yes."

"Then it'll become important to you to attend."

"Were you indoctrinated?"

"They gave it a damn good shot."

"Why don't you believe in God then?"

"Ah...see...that's a good reason for you to attend. To figure that out for yourself."

I don’t know across the U.K. but in our local area all the ones in walking distance of our house (all outstanding) do a prayer or a reading in assembly & invite in local churches to speak. Based on published statistics about 75% of parents at the school we picked are agnostic or atheist so it’s not because it’s particularly wanted. We moved here to avoid an actual church school, which all ones around our old house were

@whatkatydid2013 our local secondary had mostly secular assemblies, but when they did have someone religious in, it was always from the same horrific fundamentalist Christian group. They had a speaker from that group in RE too when DD1 was in Yr10, but because questioning and debate were part of the session that never happened again - I don't think they harvested any souls there.

I’m not sure it’s worth getting stressed about church schools. I went to a catholic convent school, a few hundred years ago they would have burned me at the stake for my view points, most people I know from school have long lost their faith.

quite handy to have a good grounding in Christianity/the bible though

I’m not sure I see why to be honest. Assuming you are not religious then what is helpful about having a grounding in the bible/Christianity? I can genuinely think of no professional or personal situation where I’ve suddenly thought gosh it would be so much easier to navigate this with a religious education.

@OMG12 I'm assuming that your point on the usefulness of a Biblical grounding is for cultural rather than moral/ethical reasons, i.e. so that people understand references made in documentation and conversation? Because that can be taught in RE/Ethics, which is a useful humanities subjects. No religious gatherings necessary to achieve that.

Yes absolutely the point. I should think the amount of kids converted by a religious school is vanishingly small, well out numbered by the amount out off. But am seeing a religion widely intergrated, rather than in one lesson I think has wider lessons about other societies

@OMG12 my DD1 was lucky enough to do a proper RE/Ethics GCSE and had a brilliant teacher. She got so much out of it, and it also helped in her Ancient History degree later on. Well taught it instils critical thinking skills, debating ability, mutual respect and tolerance as well as a broad general knowledge base. It's just a shame it isn't taught like that in most places - DD2 didn't get that experience at all because the teacher had moved on and in fact didn't do the GCSE at all but did Drama instead (which was actually also really valuable in a different way).

The reason I'm no longer Catholic is 11 years of Catholic school. The reason I'm still a Christian is that somewhere along the line, I discovered that the version of Christianity I was exposed to at primary school was not the only one that exists.

Yes. Even organized religion itself, is not the only kind of Christianity that exists.

@SerendipityJane

I’m curious.
if you or a loved one had a medical problem and the only person who specialised in this area was a Christian would you refuse treatment?

what if they were Jewish or Muslim or Jehovah’s Witness?

what if they were orthodox or just culturally Christian?

Do we ignore the contributions Christians have made in other areas?
When you talk about removing people I’m confused. I don’t agree with faith schools and think we should secularise education and that all those currently in faith schools should be provided fr by the state (as others are). Would you have me ‘removed’ if I was working in a school ?

YANBU OP

Society seems to be going backwards and entering a new 'Dark Ages' period as we speak

Witchhunts - Cancel Culture
Witchcraft and Magic - Believing people can turn into something they are not
Human sacrifices to appease the 'gods' in nature - Climate Change and Veganism fanatics
Destruction of the nuclear family and everything that it entails

I could go on

Religion in general (not only Christianity) is seen as a threat by those who want to disrupt (and destroy) society and the world we live in today

'Atheists' that go on about their lack of belief in anything as if it were a badge of honour are contemptible

And Religion is absolutely a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. There is is no lesser vs. higher protections in spite of what some on this thread want to make you believe. They all have an equal standing

@thehorsehasnowbolted

thing is I thought that ‘organised’ religion came in to get rid of the pagan ideas and practices.

that society recognised that some things were going on that based on dodgy beliefs that allowed the more powerful to prey on the least powerful (sacrifice, potions, charms, superstitions, etc).

they recognised the human need to make sense of tragedy and the chaos of life and had to remove the specific stuff people had started to believe in with something more abstract that you could hang broad truths on - something that recognised both the agency of the individual and the lack of power individuals have to the big forces in life ( both natural and social). Much of the criticism - ‘the opium of the people’ stuff is interpretation and valid in its own right but simply reflects how religion is used by states not anything about the individuals relationship with the world from their position of choice.

that society recognised that some things were going on that based on dodgy beliefs that allowed the more powerful to prey on the least powerful (sacrifice, potions, charms, superstitions, etc).

This is still happening today, taking different shapes and forms. A new 'religion' pushed by so called 'atheists'

Yes, my feeling is that wherever there is a vacuum something will come along and fill it (like astrology, Fgm etc). Religion should serve against those things taking root in society

Well firstly, the “Dark Ages” now more commonly called the Early Middle Ages weren’t backward 🤦‍♀️ have you ever read a history book?

Are you thinking of the period of the Reformation and English Renaissance? I’m not sure the nuclear family was in decline then?

Arguably human sacrifices yes- in the pursuit of weeding out heresies/political gain.

Maybe also with the Albegensian crusades of the later Middle Ages (although I’d term this genocide rather than human sacrifice much to the agreement to historians.

Not sure what any of that has to do with vegans.

Although, interestingly there was quite a solid link between vegetarianism and quite a few of the members of the Hermetic Golden Dawn (apart from Crowley of course who ate babies😂 - but he didn’t stay long)

But you’re right about magic- and it’s making some books bloody expensive -most annoying!!!! Interestingly one of the biggest rises in magic can be seen amongst atheists! 🤷‍♀️

Go one then… what “new religion” science? Wokism? Magic? Celebrity? Knowledge?

That's the best thing I've read in ages on here. I needed a laugh. Thanks

@thehorsehasnowbolted you forgot to mention charity sandwiches in your list of modern evilness.

All religion cannot be proven, it is, logically, a lie. The point of faith is belief despite lack of proof if you're upset that others consider that bullshit, that distrust corrupt institutions (in their experience) that perpetuate those stories then you're upset about the inherent nature of faith. Those who don't have it, don't. That's their opinion. Your opinion is yours. Of course people are scathing about belief without evidence. You want patting on the head and people nodding along, when they don't actually agree or believe.

www-independent-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/science/atheists-more-intelligent-than-religious-people-faith-instinct-cleverness-a7742766.html?amp=&amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16775747090906&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fscience%2Fatheists-more-intelligent-than-religious-people-faith-instinct-cleverness-a7742766.html

The OP is upset about openly mocking and disrespect.

I don't think anyone is talking about patting on the head or nodding when they don't believe.

Well, of course they would spout this nonesense based on dubious 'research' funded by those with a vested interest. The media are part of the problem (it's not only HR it seems)