Muslim Prayers at C of E School

[buttercupblooms]

What are they teaching in our C of E Schools?

https://www.christiantoday.com/news/row-over-children-s-involvement-in-muslim-prayers-at-cofe-school

This can't be right, can it ??

It is not acceptable that some teacher decided it was a good idea to work ‘outside the lesson’s intended approach’ in order to present a religion, one that diminishes Christ, in this way. However, this is a Church of England school, so I am saddened, but not surprised. I would also not be surprised if the teacher has another agenda.

Saddened to read this but not in any way surprised.

Yeah we did this in RE when I was in year seven, way back in 1988. It wasn't a CofE school, but it's not new, by the looks of things. We were encourged to take in a tea towel or towel to kneel on. My parents wrote a note saying they didn't want me to take part as we were Christians and they didn't think it was appropriate. I had to sit and watch as the rest of the class did the movements. I don't remember it being a particularly big deal. Maybe it's part of how they introduce children to different religions.

Personally I think it's disrespectful all round.

To be asked to being in a towel or a tea-towel and pretend it's a Prayer Mat?

Are they going to go vegetarian for one day so they can see what it's like to be Hindu, Sikh, Buddist, Quaker ?

What would they do to teach about Catholicism ? Tell the kids to bring in a strand of plastic beads and pretend it's a Rosary?

Ridiculous.

Having read the response of the diocese I would want to know

• more detail from the teacher about what happened to reconcile the difference between the diocese and the child account
• is it a regular thing of the school or this teacher veering from the way religion is taught
• whether such actions would be offensive to Muslims

i would have expected the parent should have told the teacher what the child had said, teacher could have explained to the parents what happened in the lesson and possibly talked to the child or maybe the class to clarify. If the parent felt it was wrong or inappropriate then complaint.

Teachers won’t get things right all the time. If everything is escalated to a very big deal, with MPs and newspapers even more teachers will leave.

If it is regular at the school then yes maybe full complaint and possibly MP.

I do think it would be more appropriate for just the video or invite in people of different faiths and none to the school.
Im a practicing Catholic but went to a state comprehensive not a church school. Learning about all religions is important but it’s the way it’s done.

Totally unacceptable, but unsurprising.

Children are may be too young to encourage this. However, I will write that Christian adults can use prayer shawls or even prayer mats to pray to. I know an Anglican christian who prays with a prayer shawl.

The CoE is a cesspool of heresy and a mockery of the faith. They need to be viewed as defunct and not representative, in any way, of Christianity. I believe they are here to purposely lead believers and non-believers astray. I'm pretty sure Jesus had strong words for churches like these and what they could expect as a result of their deceit.

You make some pretty harsh allegations here. Let's unpick some of them -

Do you actually know what "heresy" means for start?

Why should C of E be viewed as "not representative of Christianity"?

Why do you think they purposely lead believers and none believers astray ?

And why do you think they are "deceitful"?

I'm not really interested in defending my views to someone who asks someone else if they know what 'heresy' means.

That tells me you don't know what it means, otherwise you would have responded. 😆

So basically that casts doubts on all the rest of your post which is really just a rant with no substance, isn't it ?

You're argumentative and aggressive.

You assume I don't know something because you want to act like you're superior in knowledge but all that I stated is the definition of heresy.

I'm not here to argue with fellow believers. That is not representative of what we do as Christians.

Have a great day

@P0cketP1g I'm not here to argue with fellow believers. That is not representative of what we do as Christians.

A "Christian" that slags off the State Religion, well I've never met one of those before !
I don't agree with the dogma of several branches of Christianity but I respect others' right to believe as they wish.
Doesn't your branch of "Christianity" teach tolerance ??

The meaning of HERESY is adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma

That sounds a bit like your opinion doesn't it?

I don't have a religion. I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Any church that does otherwise is a false church.

Christian Standard Bible - Matthew 12:30
Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.

I will pray for you and will not engage with you further.

Have a great day.

@P0cketP1g will not engage with you further.

Thank goodness for that !

To be fair, @buttercupblooms, others would have sympathy with @P0cketP1g's thoughts. GAFCON have split with CofE. CofE may be our 'State Religion', but as an institution, it seems to want to be all things to all people. In the so-doing it is supporting and endorsing the 'ways of the world', rather than Faithfully sticking to what we are instructed by God through His Word.

Church cannot be all things to all people as Jesus is clear over what is morally right and wrong. He is also clear that we must love the sinner whilst condemning the sin. I know some wonderful Anglicans, but as an institution I fear our 'State Religion' has lost its way. Hence, in part, the reason for the opening post.

If @P0cketP1g had explained their reasoning and not just launched into a vociferous tirade of negativity out of the blue, they might have had more sympathy from me.

One of the worst things the C of E did was to make Synod like the Houses of Parliament - and we all know how well that works (sarcasm).
Trying to increase 'bums on pews' by adopting 'popular' ideas didn't help either because it only caused a schism with the Global South who are more Traditionalist.

I could go on, but I won't.....

I think we have to be careful using the 'H' word without very good cause!

I would disagree with @P0cketP1g that the CoE is here to 'purposely lead believers and non-believers astray', which is a very strong remark. I do think a lot of the theology of the CoE is at odds with the Bible though, but I don't believe the CoE is doing this 'deliberately'. More like it's become more secularised over the years to accommodate people's 'modern' beliefs, and that's led to it sliding away from some Biblical teachings.

However P0cketP1g is correct that Jesus has strong words for churches that depart from the true teachings, read His letters to the 7 churches in Rev ch.2 and 3. He clearly tells them where they are doing well and where they've fallen short, and what needs to be done, and what happens if they don't. When Jesus returns, He returns in His role as Judge and there'll be no 'be kind' at that point. Just fair judgement. He is coming soon, so we all have to take stock of our behaviour and beliefs.