To think that religous education should be complusory for EVERYONE

[ReallyTired]

I think that everyone should learn about ALL the major relgions in the world, whether they are Christian, Muslim, Buddist, Hindu, or Athesist or agnostic.

However I think that religous education should be taught as "This is what Christians believe" rather than "This is what WE believe". Children should not be subjected to attempts to convert them to different relgions, but they need to understand and tolerate difference. Ie. Learn that there are times that we should agree to disagree.

A basic knowledge of the five world's major relgions helps children understand current affairs, history and avoid offending people from other cultures to themselves.

If parents want their children brought up as a Christian, Muslim, athesist or pagan then they can take their children to church/ Temple/ Mosque out of school hours.

I like the assemblies at the the special school I work at. They have no relgious songs, but the school has fun singing pop songs. Although the songs are non religous they have lyrics encouraging good behaviour.
All the children are included and gain from the experience.

But it's also just as important for DC to learn about the Greek, Roman and Norse religions in the context of literature, history and culture, and these should be taught about in exactly the same way as relgions that have substantial numbers of gullible mugs members at present. Because they have the same relevance to a good education and there's no reason to make a difference between them and contemporary monotheistic religions, after all.

LazyLinePainterJane, thanks

I am rushing around now, but will catch up later and find out what I did wrong

Ah but Anna is there any evidence whatsoever that this theory works in practise? Surely it is equally likely that constantly pointing out differences between children will divide them? Especially once they realise that according to 'their' religion, only their co-religionists will go to heaven, and the other little children will face eternal damnation. Not awfully inclusive, that.

It works in my life

YANBU. I used to love RE. Everyone should understand the basics at least and be tolerant of other faiths.

What works for you especially? Knowing other people's little cherubs are headed for the fiery pits of hell? My mind is boggling at how this is supposed to promote the jolly fellow-feeling we are all after. I think we should leave the little mites alone, and let them play with their friends, without pestering them about difference constantly.

grey river, a very large majority of the people on this planet believe in a God. those who do not are in the minority.
belief in a supreme being is not my personal hangup, but a belief shared by something like five billion of the worlds six billion humans, possibly more. they may disagree on the nature of God, but they dont dispute it.
so kindly lay off the swearing and name calling.

stitch are you reading a different thread to me?

I fail to see any post by greyriverside on this thread that contains swearing and/or name calling.

I think Stitch is referring to when Greyriverside said:

"Fluffyanimal, I had no plans to teach kids that religion is silly. Just to ignore it. There is no need for lessons teaching that goblins don't exist or pixies so why would I want to teach that god doesn't? I just don't want you going around telling vulnerable children that he does until such time as you have proof.

Reality isn't a personal option or based on belief. Reality is still there even if you close your eyes and put your fingers in your ears. "

It is rude and insulting and I was going to tell her so until I saw Stitch had beaten me to it.

stitch, I think you must have your wires crossed somehow.

However regardeless of what has been said the argument of "five billion people think this so it's validated" is spurious at best.

Stich, I'm not completely sure you are right. As of 2000, approximately 33% of the worlds' population "idenitified with Christianity (this presumably includes those who give the matter no thought at all but find it a convenient tag), 20% with Islam,

PLUS, to say that because all these religions believe in their god they can be lumped together because they all believe in a god is a pathetic argument. Seeing as most of these religions would not accept the teachings and views of others, and claim that they were untrue, as far as each religion is concerned..they are the only religion. You can't lump them together as one entity, ie as far as the 1.5-2 billion Christians are concerned, there are only 1.5-2 billion religious followers in the world.

These people are all holding a belief in something different. So saying "you're not allowed to offend my sensibilities in any way because billions of people believe in something" is as good as saying "don't take the piss out of my belief in the evolutionary superiority and great intelligence of the flying teapots of Slough"......

No, sorry Athene but that is neither rude nor insulting.

How on earth is that insulting....?

Still rushing around, but just popping my head in.

Stitch, can you please confirm that you find me not believing in gods (note the plural) to be obscene? or were you refering to something else?

AtheneNoctua, which bit upset you? you pasted too much and I can't tell.

back soon

oh and btw I am a he (not that it matters)

take the post of 15.19 and instead of God, put in homosexuality.
how does that read?

regardless of which god, all those religions believe in a God, and that is the one whose existence greyriver is insulting. to lump the suprememe being that most people believe in along with hobgoblins and pixies is incredibly insulting and obscene.
the fact that the various organised religions are at each others throats, is not pertinent. they, with the exception of buddhism, believe in a suprememe being.

whilst greyriver is of course entitled to her views, perhaps she could phrase them with more sensitivity?
how about # i dont believe in the existence of God, and dont belive that children should be taught about him#
same thoughts, without the derogatory tone.

I think it was the part about equating the existance of God to that of Goblins and pixies. Was that really necessary to make your point?

Crikey, if that comment by GreyRiverSide is offensive to you as a believer, I think you need to don a hardhat.

And I say that as a firm believer. Really, comparing belief in a deity to belief in in goblins and pixies is really not even approaching offensive.

The closest atheists have got to offensive on the thread is the suggestion that theists 'groom', which has something of an unpleasant overtone.

But seriously, just thinking we talk and believe utter rubbish is just a strong opinion, surely? Why be offended by it?

I may well be wrong, but the Buddhists I have known (not many to be honest) have told me that their religion does not involve a God or God-like being and they don't worship anyone in that sense.

On Wiki Buddhism is described as a "spiritual philosophy".

So if Buddhism is included in the list of religions, many other beliefs which don't centre around a "god" figure should be included as well, in which case the list gets rather long indeed. Many people believe in capitalism for example, and practice every day.

On the other hand, if Buddhism is excluded from the list of religions because of the "no god" factor, that knocks 6% of the world's population from the religious list, which brings the numbers down even further.

How very, very silly to make a comparison with homosexuality. Criticising and underminingwhat people ARE and cannot help (their gender, race, sexuality, disability) is extremely unpleasant and cruel, not that that stops the major religions from doing it. Criticising beliefs and ideas (religious, political, philosophical, scientific) is what thinking people should do.

People genuinely believed and some still do that pixies, fairies and so on exist. I don't think any less of them than I do of those who believe in zeus, christ or allah.

Stitch and Athene on the other hand by their own rules have insulted those believers by dismissing them and and claiming the comparison is insulting.

The evidence for allah, christ, zeus, angels, fairies, pixies, demons, ghouls and vampires is all equal.

"to lump the suprememe being that most people believe in along with hobgoblins and pixies is incredibly insulting and obscene"

well, personally I find it obscene that anyone would believe in anything as ridiculous as a) pixies b) hobgoblins and c) god in any form.

This is my opinion. I find yours obscene, you find mine obscene. If you can't take it then really, your views can't stand much can they?

And as for the substituting homosexuality statement, that is just bizarre. Homosexuality is not a lifestyle choice. Religion is.

Your reaction also demonstrates that as others have said you can't lump together all religions. You are not all on the same side at all. You all think yours is right and everyone else is making theirs up.

You've dismissed fairies and goblins etc. What about allah? did he create the universe or do you think he is a silly made up story.

And Kay is absolutely correct. If you believe in what you do, those should be strong enough to withstand someone likening god to pixies (and not even The Pixies(!)). I belief that cannot withstand even the smallest criticism or mockery is not much of one.

Don't forget a much more advanced alien race. Many people believe in that.

I also have a friend who thinks we are all the subject of an experiment by a giant supercomputer.

I don't think these views are any less valid than other more widespread beliefs.

I'm not trying to insult anyone, I genuinely don't see the difference. And yet people who believe in these things are ridiculed, or worse, considered rather unhinged.