to not allow my child to do a reading in church?

[GooseyLoosey]

Dh and I are atheists. The dcs attend the local school which is C of E (although wholly state funded). There are no alternative non-C of E schools locally.

The school tends towards being very religious and there is a special Easter service in church for the school this week. Ds (5) has been given a reading to do at this service. It includes many "Praise God" and "God is good" type statements.

I don't wish to over react but getting ds to actively participate in an act of worship may be a step too far for me. AIBU to object and to consider telling them to get someone else to do this?

Just has a good point. CoE just barely registers as a religion IME

nope wouldn't mind my dd doing a reading in a hindu temple. though I don't think hindu worship work on the same principles as christianity but i know that isn't what you are getting at.

I come from an indigenous culture with many gods but I can reconcile it with Christianity as can many many other people who follow both.

GMI think it has thrown up some very interesting points in general, which are being explored. That ok? or is reasoned debate around issues affecting us a bit too dull?

I agree with Georgimama.

I don't think there is a struggle here.

I think the only other issues are what other parents at the school may think (if you care about that) and if your son feels excluded by being withdrawn.

I agree with HopeForTheBest- just the being chosen and doing a good job is great for a child's self-esteem.

Thanks DG - if I am totally honest, would really prefer that he did not go to the church at all (and so would he, but only because he finds it cold and boring). However, you are right, I could not take this stance and still send him to the school so I just grin and bear it. The week they went and baptised a doll freaked me a bit though.

I think I will talk to his teacher and make a casual enquiry as to the context in which this reading takes place. Hopefully, that will make me feel better as it will be fairly low key. If it doesn't then I think I may do as you and others suggest and ask it there is something else he can say instead.

Perhaps I need to have a chat with him first as well and work out what he actually thinks about the words he is saying.

OK, I read the first 8 or so pages thewn skipped a bit so I hope someone hasn't alreday said this but...

Why are people jumping on the OP saying that she cannot possibly describe her son as an Athiest at 5 as he has had no chance to make his own decision but are quite happily describing their own children as Christians or Jews or Muslims etc.

Surely, these children haven't had the time to make up thier own minds either and can no more be christians etc that the Op's child can be an Athiest?!

Hope thanks for that, interesting perspectve.

FWIW it is opssible to adopt a value-centric approach to Christianity (and indeed most faiths if not all)..... just because you don't believe in God or the divinity of Jesus doesn't mean you don't share the values of tolerance, kindness, honesty etc etc. it's quite feasible to teach your children that Jesus was a Philosopher who made us think about the value of those traits but that some people take it further, or have different outlining the same values.

I feel a 'look at what we have in common' approach breeds more tolerance longterm than 'look how odd those people are' which is parallel to a view that seems to be popular on MN.

I know this is not quite the point, but has Georgiemama tried to find an atheist private school? Or even one that didn't subscribe to some sort of religious ethos? There certainly aren't any round here. So if I don't want my child involved in religious practices (nb not religious education per se)I don't have the 'simple' option of going private any more than GL does on financial grounds.

Roll on the separation of Church and State.

I've no problem with debate. I've made suggestions to the OP and also commented on the wider issues. But the OP's problem is frankly, easily solved.

You are the one who is trying to limit my contributions to the discussion. You are very hostile.

Of course, there would be no need for any hand-wringing, hypocrisy, "double life" and so on if religion were kept in churches and synagogues and mosques, and not brought into our education system. If we didn't have these superstition-schools it would not be necessary to invent them.

Oh, and by the way, my 12 year old just came top of the class for a long self-directed project on Islam (as she did earlier with one on Buddhism), and I am extraordinarily proud of her, as she is with herself...we are still atheists in our house though, but I'm really pleased she can research and understand things, be tolerant of other people's beliefs and is developing her critical faculties. She still hasn't shown any sign of "catching" religion, but learning about it is helping her education, I think.

In year 6 I remember her having to give a presentation about Sainsburys to the whole school, which I found hideously commercial and distasteful, but I was still chuffed

Star Wars is classic patriarchal white supremacist christianity FFS.

I think the concluding punchline was "Sainsburys...Taste the difference!"

< cringe >
< shudder >

Do you think you might be able to help out here?

As you were.

OK so I think I end up in the position where most people say that he should do it as the speaking will be good for him on a personal level but that I should talk to him about what he thinks it means?

I have found this discussion interesting so far, particularly because of the initial response that Sarah picked up on that there is something wrong/odd in telling a young child that God does not exist. I still don't get why as from my perspective this is as factual a statement as saying that gravity makes objects fall or snow is cold.

UQD

Worldwide religion is not just kept to places of worship. It is out there involved in war and peace and major world events. Religion still has to be taught in schools even if there is no worship in school, and a lot of these issues would still come up with children.

LG's child would still see a doll being baptised in religious education in a secular school.

No I've never tried to find an atheist private school for the simple reason that I'm not an atheist.

People are, as ever confusing the teaching about religion as a separate subject with teaching from a religious standpoint and assuming it is all true. Having faith schools makes as much sense as having Star Trek schools or Lord of the Rings schools or Manchester United schools.

SGB

That remark has caused me great distress! I will now have to worry that DS will grow up to be a white supremacist.

GL

I think you should do what you think is right! Most other people are not in your position.