Atheists desecrate country church

[peasporridge]

The perpetrators drew vulgar graffiti on the wall of the church an also wrote "God is a lie".
They also desecrated about 40 gravestones.

This is particularly distressing because a wedding is scheduled today (Easter Saturday)

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sickening-blasphemous-cowardly-church-gravestones-140717226.html

https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2025/04/police-investigating-after-st-james-church-and-over-40-graves-defaced-ahead-of-good-friday/

This clearly demonstrates that Christianity is under threat.from the secular lobby.

I understand there has been an upsurge in Chinese Christian Churches due to people leaving Hong Kong for UK. Some Chinese Christians like a service in their own language, others prefer English.

I don't even know what a "fada" is.

And I have no intention of getting into an argument about the name of a place. We had quite enough in NI with the "Town with Two Names" nonsense.

@CurlewKate Christians often use “well, you can opt out” without considering that this can mean a child having to miss assembly, and therefore a significant element of the school day. In a state funded non denominational school.

"A significant element of the school day"

How can it be "significant" when apparently, they are being taught stuff you don't want them to learn ? At schools I know about, certain children who were "opted out" of this sat together and had a person of their own faith come in to teach them. Or they were supervised by a mainstream teacher while they used material provided by their own parents.
Parents do have agency in this.

I know you don’t want to discuss the names any further, but just to let you know that a fada is the accent used in the Irish language. It changes the pronunciation and, importantly, the meaning of a word.

So, for example
briste = broken but bríste = trousers,
fear = a man, féar = grass.

I was talking about assembly. Not RE lessons.

OK

Lancashire Police have now stated a man has been charged.

I was talking about assembly.

Jewish pupils had the Rabbi come in to teach them, for example.

Assemblies are also used for school wide essential announcements. I can't believe you don't know that.

But for me, the issue with assemblies is that the legislation states that they must include compulsory element of broadly Christian worship. The words 'compulsory ' and 'worship' should never occur in the same sentence as an instruction to do anything.

Good, I hope they ask him about the atheist conspiracy.

I think Christianity is under threat in modern day Britain. I am a Christian, RC, currently lapsed.
I am supportive of people of all religions and respect every faith - Judaism, Hinduism , Muslim, Shinto, Buddhism etc - but I do see, especially on here that the insults used against Christianity seem to be almost acceptable whereas it would be deemed hate and criticised if somebody on Mn insulted Buddha or Mohammed etc. All belief systems should be respected including Christianity - and those of Atheists and Agnostics too - but Christianity seems to have slid to the bottom of the list and it seems fair game to insult and belittle.
The vandalism was probably done by mindless yobs with no beliefs other than to desecrsate and destroy.

Given his age that would be more likely than the "bored teenager" angle.

Or he could have taken instructions from aliens.

So representatives from different religions came in to teach pupils during every 15 minute daily assembly? Are you sure? Did they tell the kids about year 5 winning their football match as well?

Now you are being ridiculous.

I don't know what point you're trying to make but it isn't coming across very well

Well. they'll certainly ask him if he operated alone or with friends (imaginary or otherwise)

@peasepridge-youactually said that a rabbi came in during assembly. You must have misspoken.

I did not say that a Rabbi came into assembly to teach anyone.

I said a Rabbi came in to teach pupils who did not want to partake of assembly

Let me put it more simply:

Those children who did not want (or whose parents did not want them) to be in assembly, left assembly (after the mainstream notices had been given and before any religious matters were discussed.)
They sat in an empty classroom and were supervised by a teacher. Sometimes (about once a week) a religious leader of their own faith came in to teach them.
Those that didn't want to engage with this particular spiritual leader, used noise cancelling headphones and/or they were given prepared work by their parents

How much simpler it would be if schools didn’t have to include this worship in state school assemblies.

Maybe, maybe not.

The fact of the matter is that it is the law.

If you have a beef with that, then take steps to change the law.

@TalipesmumYep. No one would have to miss out on anything. Nobody would have to be marked out as different. A teacher wouldn’t have to waste time. But there’s no such thing as Christian privilege.

Given that this whole thread is basically just trying to spread a bizarre conspiracy theory about "secularists" I'm not sure how you can argue all faiths and non are respected.

But we are all different aren't we?

We are told we are in a multicultural society and we just have to "suck it up".

If you aren't happy with the free educational system provided in this country you are free to "home school " you know. 🙄

To be clear, I don’t think children should be actually practising religion of any kind, or being taught that any religion is true in school. “Teaching about” is fine, and very different to “doing”

I agree. Religion should remain in the domain of family, home and church. Teaching about religion is useful - RE was one of DC1's favourite GCSEs, it also included ethics and philosophy and taught them a lot about critical thinking. But if you want your child taught at school that your faith is the only true one, that should sit within the domain of private education. There should be no state funding for religious schools of any denomination.

Well, like anyone else, you're entitled to have your opinions on anything and everything.

As I have said before if you don't like the educational system in this country then either remove your child or get together with some like-minded folks and set about changing it.

That's it.