Daughter made to write 'I believe in god' in school

[chickensaladagain]

Dd was in an ethics, philosophy & religion

She had to write a number of statements then say whether they were fact opinion or belief

One of the sentences was 'I believe in god'

She objected as it wasn't true but was told to stop making a fuss

We are a family of atheists -I don't pull my dcs out of any assemblies etc because I think it's important culturally for them to understand religion but surely having to write 'I believe in god' isn't appropriate?

This is not a church school btw

[LynetteScavo]

We are a Catholic family.My DC go to Catholic schools.

If DS1 were told to write "I believe there is no God" as an exercise I would have no problem with it.

Mind you, I might be a little upset if he were told to write "I don't believe in Father Christmas"

[Sirzy]

In the case of such a task then yes it would because you are not saying you believe it you are using it as a statement to help understand a different (but very important) concept.

[SantanaLopez]

They aren't being asked to write down their own beliefs.

[worldcitizen]

Would it be ok for a Christian child to write 'I don't believe in Jesus' ?

^^^Yes, yes absolutely okay!!!!!

It's not an exercise about what you ought to believe.

chicken I am truly trying not to be rude now. Is the mind so clouded and overcome by emotion when it comes to issues of religious belief?

[SirRaymondClench]

I have no issue if she decides to believe in god in whatever form

I think you would. Again how old is your DD?
Sounds to me like you've projected your atheist views onto her.

[HavantGuard]

Yes, it would be fine. The statement could have been 'there is no god but Allah'. All that was needed was to copy it down and label it as belief.

[KatyPutTheCuttleOn]

I don't have a problem with it. Children learn about different religions and beliefs and they will write about them, they aren't being asked to believe them. She was having to state whether it was fact or opinion etc and that's fine.

[Kewcumber]

Anyone who thinks mentioning belief in God in an exercise to see if pupils can tell the difference between fact opinions and beliefs is "too emotive" probably shouldn't be taking a course with the word "religion" in the title.

[DuelingFanjo]

I am an atheist and was pretty strongly argumentative about religion as a child but even I thnk your DD was making a massive fuss which just made her look like she was arguing for the point of it. Which is fine because maybe she failed to understand the excercise but you are dong her a massive disservice by failing to explain to her the point of the excercise and how she got it wrong.

[K8Middleton]

I only writing things down made them true...

I look like a younger version of Heidi Klum

I can speak five languages fluently

I believe I am very wealthy

[DioneTheDiabolist]

I would have no problem with my DC having to write either I believe in god or I do not believe in god as part of an exercise in class.

You are making a mountain out of a non-existent molehill OP.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

Does your DD find it hard work reading books that are written in the first person? Does she get confused between the opinions and beliefs of the narrator and her own opinions and beliefs?
If she had to write "Reader, I married him" in an English lesson, would she feel that she was being asked to lie about her martial status?
Honestly - she is being asked to copy down a statement which is written in the first person, not asked to write about her own belief. In this situation I wouldn't have a problem a Christian child writing "I don't believe in Jesus".

[Sirzy]

k8

[Growlithe]

EsTut but your argument about not drawing God had a certain logic behind it, although we could all have a stab at drawing Father Christmas without believing in him I suppose.

But OP, don't you and your DD see this exercise had nothing to do with whether she believes in God or not. This was just checking her understanding of opinion vs fact vs belief, which is a very valid and important thing to understand.

Actually, I'd have thought as an atheist you would have actually been delighted to see the word 'belief' next to this sentence, as it actually backs up her stance IYSWIM.

[HavantGuard]

Atheism is about reason and logic. Your reaction is what I would expect from a religious zealot. It seems very emotional.

[MrsOakenshield]

well, you obviously haven't read any of my posts as mine don't say any of the things that you claim ALL the posts are saying - you're obviously cherry picking what you read.

Your example would be perfectly fine for a Christian child to write down. I say again - do you think that merely writing the words down alters a person's belief? If your daughter's belief is as strong as that then it can't.

The only thing the teacher did 'wrong' was not explain to your daughter that writing a 'belief' statement down does not mean she now has that belief. You, of course, could perfectly easily explain that to her, could you not? You would be doing her a lot of favours with this class if you did so.

[chickensaladagain]

K8

It is my opinion that having to write that sentence was not appropriate

I was wanting to discuss that which is why I posted on this board rather than on AIBU

I also feel that I have been attacked on this thread rather than it being a reasonable discussion so excuse me for being defensive

My expectations of the religion part of the class would be learning about religions which I absolutely support

I fully support discussions around ethics and philosophy but at the same time I can understand why my dd is aggrieved about today's class

My initial post had a question mark inviting discussion but I do feel that I have been rather jumped on

[breatheslowly]

Actually I think "I believe in God" is not a belief - it is a fact. "There is a God" is a belief, but factually you can have a belief in God irrespective of whether one exists. In the same way that "My DD believes in Santa" is a fact.

[Floggingmolly]

Do you usually enable her prima doña antics like this?

[TakingThePea]

I believe in God IS a belief, it's not a fact or an opinion it's a belief.

It may not be HER belief but it is A belief

Was your daughter upset because she thinks the sentence implies that SHE believes in God because of the use of "I"? If so I think she is being too sensitive about it. The teacher setting the work will know it was a general sentence.

[TheFallenNinja]

Would her reaction have been different had it been given to her printed on a sheet to work from?

[Sirzy]

I also feel that I have been attacked on this thread rather than it being a reasonable discussion so excuse me for being defensive

Have you consider that is because you have failed to take on board the comments that nearly everyone is making? you seem unwilling to apply any logic at all to the situation.

You are the one who made a mountain out of a molehill, its no wonder your daughter reacted in the same way!

[Growlithe]

breatheslowly unfortunately for the thread oh yes you are right, it is a fact isn't it.