To think these parents are hypocrites (another faith shool thread sorry)

[dilemma456]

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I don't think we've done this one, have we?

YANBU. They're hypocrites, and in the wrong. But the system is also in the wrong, and rewards hypocrisy, so of course people are going to do this.

Are they hypocritical: yes.

Are they happy to be hypocrites if it gets their children into a better school: probably.

Yes, they're hypocrites.
But what is worse that a system exists which makes them think they have to be.

What's wrong is the system allowing church schools to allocate places as they wish.

Apart from anything, it completely negates the Christian concept of Grace. Which is hypocritical in itself.

But we've done this to death soooo many times.

Attending church to get a school place is not good. But frankly I can't bring myself to blame anyone who does do it. (I wouldn't, though)

In my book nothing wrong with this at all.

If a school existed in my area and was the best and I could get my child in by taking them along to something that I didn't fundamentally disagree with, then I would do it too.

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I did it, no regrets, I'll do whatever it takes to give my children a good education. Yes it's hypocritical. I have no shame.

On the other hand, you may have misinterpreted what she said, she may have meant that toddlers were not particularily welcome in that church, had all sorts of reasons and was being a bit selfdepreciating ironical as English people can be about these matters. She may have worshipped God in her own way out of church, but the hoops we jump through are such that only church attendance as opposed to belief, private prayer, count.
I certainly felt that relief when my child got into his faith school. I could freely choose to go to church (which I CONTINUED to do) rather than feel I was being judged and watched for my attendance.

Anyway, people can be so PC about their admitted motives, sometimes we think things and never say them. She may genuinely have said that as a throwaway aren't we all silly to do these things way, beat ourselves up way.

I disagree actually, one does not have to attend church to believe in God or be religious what annoys me is saying to one set of parents who may have as much belief as another set, you are the better Christian because you attend church.
They are playing the game yes but that doesn't mean they are bad people or any less worthy of the place.

Exactly Sorrento, and it goes against Christian values to reward people for church attendence. Christians believe that only God can reward them for what they do, they don't get to reward themselves with priority places at school for their children.

I don't know how anyone can justify the system when it clearly negates Christian values.

Sorrento, I don't think this policy is necessarily saying that attenders are better Christians than non-attenders. However, the Church does believe in itself as an institution as well as a religion, and therefore, they are looking for people who will turn up and support the life of the church.

In our area, there is no school advantage to attending church, and it's quite difficult to keep youth groups, choir etc. going because the fluctuations in numbers of young people being around is so great. It would help tremendously if there were a steady stream of 8-10yos shoring up their school place by turning up week after week (and incidentally gaining from the social, musical and spiritual life the church can provide them in that time).

But committed Christians would attend church. That's like saying he's a card carrying Labour member but he just doesn't bother voting, it wouldn't make sense.

I agree that they are doing it to give their children a decent education and that doesn't make them evil.

x-posts with mrsgboring.

I agree with you 100 per cent, Op.
You know, I was just thinking about the exact same thing when I read the other faith school thread on here. There are aloads of people in our area vying for places in the C of E chool because it's so good.
Parents are tripping over themselves to get to church and Mums are tripping over themselves to run creches or toddler group to get the requisiste "points". (Yes, you accumulate points to get your child into the school). Then once their children get in, they drop off like flies.
It's hypocritcal, arse-licky and wrong, wrong, wrong.

There are all sorts of reasons that lots of committed Christians can't attend church. If you are a single parent, for example, it is bloody hard to take small children to church (I know because I have tried to do it as my DH is away for work a lot).

There are churches which do not welcome lots of small children/babies not old enough to attend Sunday School on their own.

The idea that you should be rewarded for attendance (and it IS rewarding people, the Church knows full well they are getting people in the pews by dangling the chance of a school place - you accumulate "points" fgs) is utterly wrong and goes against the Christian principle of Grace.

Must stop ranting about this subject now. Is otherwise likely to become the third time I have got into a big row about this on here.

I take my three children (aged five and under) to church on my own as my husband is not Catholic. It isn't fun but it is doable - if your local church does not welcome children (and mine has a decidedly ambivalent attitude), then you can generally find one that does if that is hugely important to you.

I would certainly be happy to argue that there is not much point having faith schools but, as long as they are there, then there are going to be certain measures of commitment to get into the best ones and the easiest one to quantify is church attendance and having had children christened. I honestly don't know what other basis they can go on.

YANBU -I disagree with any system that rewards hypocrisy.