Why is religion forced on all children at school?

[Kateyoz]

We are not religious and so chose a state school not a faith school for our boys but they come home every day singing hymns they are taught in assembly - the school said we can withdraw them from assemblies but why should they be made to miss out? Shouldn't state schools teach all beliefs and not focus on one, or leave religion to the parents and keep it out of school? Feel like mine are being indoctrinated into a religion against our will

[JustRichmal]

I think the whole point of religion is that people are told it is the only way to get into Heaven when they die. If you say you hold the keys to immortality and can get people to believe you, you are in a very powerful position. I would rather children be told that no one knows what happens else you are leaving it to others to decide for you what is good or bad., right or wrong, and that can change with the whims of society or those at the top in society.

[Eolian]

Of course the children are not told " You must believe in god". Because clergy delivering assemblies seem to just assume that all the children DO believe in god. When they read out bible stories etc or say prayers, they don't say "Some people believe that Jesus ". Or "If you are a Christian, you could now bow your head and ask god to cure the world of all ills". It is presented as fact. "Jesus did this". Or as an instruction. "We will now bow our heads and pray".

I am not bothered by this for my own children (in their C of E village school, surrounded by other villages with C of E schools) because my children are robustly atheist and highly sceptical. But it does piss me off that Christian acts of worship are still required in state schools in a country where, whatever the census may misleadingly say, the vast majority of people are not even vaguely practising Christians.

[itlypocerka]

We are not a secular nation. There are Christian activities in our culture all over the place. Tens of Millions of Britons have managed to grown up singing hymns in assemblies and performing in nativity plays and having the local vicar talk to them for 10 minutes about being thankful to god at harvest time, and yet become adults who are either atheist or not-religious-never-in-church-but-tick-CofE-on-forms. So if it is indoctrination it is so ineffective as to be laughable and no cause for concern.

[BertrandRussell]

"So if it is indoctrination it is so ineffective as to be laughable and no cause for concern."

That's not the point.

[JustRichmal]

Then why have it?

[BertrandRussell]

Because Christian privilege.

[Eolian]

So we should continue to have Christian acts of worship in schools because it's only ineffective indoctrination, doesn't do any real harm and is therefore 'no cause for concern'? That's a great basis on which to choose what to teach children in schools.

We ARE a secular nation. Of course there are still places of worship and some people (only ones over the age of 70 where I live) who still go to them. But just because people tick a box because they feel culturally Christian and like singing carols once a year, that isn't a good enough reason to keep peddling Christian beliefs in state schools.

[BertrandRussell]

"Christian privilege?

What about the hundreds of thousands of Christians that are being persecuted, imprisoned and murdered around the world for their faith?"

Not usually in the Home Counties.............

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

So because some Christians are being persecuted my daughter should be taught the bible as though it's factually correct.

I hope that doesn't come across as my dismissing the very real persecution of some Christians. I'm really not - it just has nothing to do with worship in uk schools.

It's really outdated. There's this presumption that all kids are religious and that that religion is Christianity.

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

Christianity isn't about religion at all

Ok, I'm a bit baffled now. I kind of thought Chritianity is a religion.

[niminypiminy]

Certainly Christianity isn't about what most people think religion is - it isn't a list of rules, and it isn't about being good so you can get to heaven. It isn't primarily about being moral. All three of these things are simply wrong.

Mind you, these widespread misconceptions show just how badly Christian beliefs are taught by the church (which actually knows what it believes - contrary to the widespread misconception), let alone by primary school teachers most of whom have very little specialist knowledge or training about RE.

If you really believe that it's important for children to learn about religion, then that means they should be taught by people who actually know and understand the core beliefs of that religion. Unfortunately, at least at primary level (where most collective worship takes place - the requirement is widely disregarded at secondary level), the only a child might encounter who actually knows what Christianity is all about is a clergy person, in the context of a CW assembly.

But as I said above, the subjects for CW assemblies are set by the schools and are most commonly about 'values' - which normally don't include the concepts at the heart of Christianity: hope, love, grace and mercy.

[JustRichmal]

So, Lumpylumperson, are you arguing, acts of Christian worship should be taken out of school for not being Christian?

[LeRoom]

I frequently see rudeness and sneering at Christians though

I don't condone rudeness or sneering but I do object to the beliefs of a minority being placed over those of others and taught as fact to children as a matter of course.

There is no place for religion in a state-funded school, other than as an academic subject, where it can be studied on a par with other belief systems.

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

lumpy are you sure Christainty isn't a religion. I always thought a religion was the worship or belief in a god/gods/higher power.

How is Chritainty not a religion? Really not getting this at all.

[LeRoom]

The Queen is also the Duke of Normandy (informally). How is your Guernésiais coming along, Dixie ?

[BertrandRussell]

"towards Christians that we see in other nations. There is, however, frequent bullying, sneering, judgements and rudeness."
Really? Well I suppose sometimes people get frustrated by Christians' expectation of special treatment...............

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

no requirement to do anything religiously

Other than believe in God? Still sounds like a religion to me.

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

And if there really is no requirement to do anything in the name of Christainity, stopping worship in schools should be no big deal?