A Buddhist really wanting Christian answers

[Pandemonium]

I'm considering sending my ds to a Christian infant/primary school and am worrying endlessly about it. I'm a Buddhist but this school is the best one in my catchment area (amongst other poorer performing Christian schools) so my concerns are that I really do not understand the concept of God and what ds will be taught about 'Him'.

As a Buddhist I appreciate the teachings of Jesus, sometimes referred to as a Boddhistva by buddhists; but what is God? I really was brought up to understand in that God was an omniscient male who created the world, an external kind of spiritual presence who understood everyone's deepest souls.

Do Christians currently think the universe is overviewed by this supernatural figure and is this taught to children? Or do Christians believe that God exists as a force within themselves only? Does anyone believe in Heaven, really?

Ah, thankyou Pan - finally an answer to the important question

yes a pressing existential question, I know.

Yummers - you make a good point. However, because of the area I am in, all the schools nearest to me are CofE so I am sensibly trying to get my son a place at the nicest (meanwhile also applying to other heavily oversubscribed non-denominational schools outside my catchment).

I posed my questions because I am not up-to-date with Christian thoughts. For example, Buddhist teachings have many different schools of thought - some more relevant, in my view, to this modern world than others. Being true to your inner self is one aspect, using your wisdom is another. If it's a good education why not?

Jesus has much to teach us about our humanity and I am interested to know how well the church currently represents that teaching, particularly in primary school.

I have found the replies from Christians MNs profoundly interesting!

The best advice I can give you is to go on a Christianity Explored course.

www.christianityexplored.org/

This would give you an overview of what Christianity is. ( I will attempt to give a quick, and undoubtedly flawed explanation.

In the beginning God created the world, (everything, people animals and plants, all that we can and cannot see). He had a wonderful relationship with the first humans, (you've probably heard of them, Adam and Eve). What God created was perfect. There was no death, no disease, no decay. God created and it was good!
Adam and Eve had one rule, they were not allowed to eat from one of the trees in the garden. Yet they did, Eve was tempted by the serpent and Adam followed suit.
There was a consequence of this; by eating the fruit they had decided that they were in charge: (by disobeying a direct command from God). What they were really saying was that God was not in charge in His world.

cont.d
(though of course he was),what they were trying to do was make themselves king over God's creation.
God banished them from Eden; and he chose a group of people from whom a Saviour would come.
He gave them a set of rules called the Law, but they were unable to keep it.........
He sent prophets to warn them, to direct them and instruct them, but most of all to help them. Unforunately the people ignored God, and his messnegers. They still tried to be King in God's world. God warned that there would be judgement for those that ignored/diobeyed him, and reward for those that had Faith.
So.......many years passed..........

cont.d
Finally, God sent himself to save us: Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God.
Jesus taught, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is near". What he meant by this is that we should stop making much of ourselves and start to follow God. He taught that we are all sinners; as each has gone his own way. And that we need to change direction, (repent) and start to follow Jesus, (Christ). Many "religious", people found this teaching too hard, they liked their power and authority over the people and they killed Jesus. However this was necessary for us to be reconciled to God.
Jesus was crucified, and he rose again, thereby defeating death. (Ironically this was his most glorious moment)!!!!!!!
If we truly believe that he died a substitionary death for us, so that we might be reconciled to God then we a r a Christian.

(Now you have probably gone to sleep from my three hour poorly presented message)....

bad things happen because people sin. (When Adam and Eve sinned it had eternal consequences).........

anyway that probably hasn't helped but I would recomend Christianity Explored for answering all questions!!!!

Aha - but are Christians teachers following the teaching from Jesus really? my DH tells a wonderful story of his RC school when he was asked this question:
Teacher: What are you giving up for Lent?
DH (14yrs old): Catholicism.

Upon which his mother was brought to the school to witness DH soundly beaten by the Nun.

and

mmmmmmm......most "church" schools are NOT full of Christians, (either nominal or bible believing)!
I think you would essentially be signing up and agreeing to an education where Jesus will be mentioned. (There would, i doubt be an opt out clause on the school assembly).

So i suppose my answer is no; I would be very surprised if you found a "church" school (C.of E or Catholic) that was filled with people (teachers) who either understand or profess the Christian Faith. I would therefore perhaps not call them "Christian" teachers in the main, but teachers who happen to work in a school which is affiliated to a particular church. (And have had so say they are not opposed to the Christian Faith).......I must add here that this is not meant as a blanket statement, and I am sure there are some fine upstanding teachers who are actually Christian.

I'm a Governor of a CofE Junior school and it is very mixed - interestingly a lot of Muslim and Hindu parents chose the school because of it being a faith school even though not their faith, in preference to a secular education. The school tends to deal with the very multi-faith nature of the pupils by looking at the similarities between religions. It certainly doesn't try and convert anyone to Christianity and there is lots of room for discussion about the differences between what people believe.

The different festivals are discussed and celebrated too - sometimes a parent might come in to explain about certain religious festivals - such as Diwali - so the children can understand them too. You might find that the school would welcome a Buddhist to come in and talk about their faith to the children.

Obviously all schools are different, however I was involved in a recent assessment of the school by the Diocese (like an additional section of the Ofsted inspection but for CofE schools) and it was very much impressed on us that the school shouldn't be trying to turn children into Christians but rather provide an environment that was Christian in its ethos while still open and accepting to all faiths and none.

Happy to answer questions from a school governor POV (my dd was also at the school so mum too). I'm a liberal Christian ("high church" Anglican) myself.

Rachw1, are C of E schools nicer than non-denom, ie are the teachers kinder as a result of faith iyo? Or do they tend to be somewhat stricter? 'You must behave in such-and-such a way because we say so?' random demand.

My (non liberal, very attentively Christian) C of E infant school (eherm, in the 70's) used to wallop children if they got sums wrong for example. So not much spirit of sweet Jesus there then.

What's your overview (if you have one)?