Yes/no poll on religion in state schools.

[seeker]

Do you think state schools should be secular, but with RE lessons giving information about all the main world religions as part of the curriculum?

[daftpunk]

seeker...i'm catholic.

[gorionine]

Oh I missed the other one, where is it?(for seeker)

[dogonpoints]

yes

[HecatesTwopenceworth]

Yes

[daftpunk]

i think the system is fine as it, there are religious schools for parents who want them, and there are other schools.

you have to give parents choice.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

There's this one.

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

But there are no secular schools, daftpunk.

[UnquietDad]

And people don't have "choice", they have the illusion of as much choice as the government is prepared to let them think they have.

[ZephirineDrouhin]

lol UQD. Actually I don't think Tom/Colin Baker would come into it. I don't remember the Doctor ever being this Jesus-like figure until Russell T Davies came along and made it all quasi-religious.

[dogonpoints]

There shouldn't be publicly funded faith schools.. That's the main thing I disagree with.

[UnquietDad]

(which is odd as RTD is an atheist... let's not derail the thread, though!)

[Smithagain]

No, they should not be completely secular. Because human beings do have a spiritual side, and fostering that is, IMO, as much part of education as many other things that go on in schools.

But the religion should be inclusive and there should be no selection on religious grounds. And people should be able to opt out, as a matter of principle, without being made to feel odd.

And there should, ideally, be a choice of secular and religious schools available to everyone.

[ZephirineDrouhin]

Seeker the problem is that you haven't got enough options on your poll. You need one for "don't mind religion in schools as long as they all have fair admission policies".

[ZephirineDrouhin]

Don't think it's odd at all that RTD should be an atheist. Goes with the territory - look at Pullman.

[daftpunk]

oldladyknowsnothing;

why do you think that is..?

( and change your name woman, you know loads and i bet you're not that old)

[UnquietDad]

The answer, daftpunk, is more to do with politics than religion - it's because churches are politically and economically powerful, out of all proportion to their actual strength in numbers.

[daftpunk]

UQD..i agree with alot of what you say, my DH isn't religious at all, but he's gone along with it all because of me...i'm the one who's catholic, so he's let me bring our dc up as catholic.

i go to church every sunday i have to listen to some of the most sexist nonsense, you wouldn't believe it...alot of it i take no notice of.

[dogonpoints]

There are no secular schools because historically churches were very powerful and religion played a huge part in most people's lives, whether they wanted it to or not.

[daftpunk]

oh and deffo agree religion is political...no question.

[Fennel]

Then Seeker would have to define "fair admissions procedures" on her poll.

And have a box for "teaching philosophy of religion rather than "about the major world religions" (I'd like that to be called "also agree with Fennel" ).

[abra1d]

' it's because churches are politically and economically powerful, out of all proportion to their actual strength in numbers. '

Most Catholic primary schools and churches were originally funded by parishioners who were labourers earning very little.

They couldn't vote in Britain. They had few rights. They valued education and built their own schools (and churches).

[AramintaCane]

I would prefer straight philosophy to philosopy of religion.

[GreensleevesFlouncedLikeAKnob]

[Doobydoo]

Yes to OP.
dS1 10 HAD RE today and they are being taught Creationism.He is interested in Evolution but didn't say as he didn't want to draw attention to himself[negative]...think this is partly to do with being called a Retard last term

[Smithagain]

What variety of school Dooby? These stories do amaze me. We don't even teach Creationism in church round this neck of the woods!