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Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

Atheists desecrate country church

351 replies

peasporridge · 19/04/2025 08:12

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
northwestgirl · 19/04/2025 23:16

peasporridge · 19/04/2025 09:22

"Christians are not victims of persecution in the UK."

I beg to differ.

Muslims are allowed to pray in the streets yet Christians get arrested.https://adfinternational.org/en-gb/news/silent-prayer-arrest-payout

so OP you have blown your cover
if you think that trying to prevent women accessing healthcare is exercising your freedom of religion this is what gives christianity a bad name. Fortunately those of us who aren't christians don't tar you all with the same brush and are horrified by this vandalism
don't pretend to be an oppressed minority when your religion is protected by law, your festivals are public holidays, your religious practice is mandated in state schools and your leaders sit as of right in the legislature

its a shame about the graffiti and I'm sorry for anyone personally affected

MaybeNotBob · 19/04/2025 23:18

Cheezus wept! The paranoia from the "Christians" on this thread is hilarious!

sashh · 20/04/2025 07:12

peasporridge · 19/04/2025 08:54

"God is a lie" is something an atheist would say.

To desecrate a church wall plus 40 gravestones without being seen would indicates it was more than one person. working at speed.

I've never said it and I don't ever recall hearing it.

It is however something a believer might say to discredit atheists.

Don't forget atheists don't believe in any gods, why would we choose to single out yours? What makes yours more special than Zeus or Woden?

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/04/2025 09:12

FenellaFeldman · 19/04/2025 12:31

"Thoroughly indoctrinated at school about God" ? @Talipesmum ?.
I suppose if you send your kids to Ampleforth or the Presentation Convent.
Regular state education? No.

Our 4 year old grandchild has been talking about Jesus and God for several weeks. His regular state school has been teaching the children that God is real.

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/04/2025 09:14
  • the family have been correcting him and telling him that some people believe that god is real and others don’t.
FenellaFeldman · 20/04/2025 09:18

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/04/2025 09:12

Our 4 year old grandchild has been talking about Jesus and God for several weeks. His regular state school has been teaching the children that God is real.

His regular state school? Really?
I have taught in regular state schools for a very, very long time and never come across this. They usually learn Comparative Religion.
I would certainly complain.

FenellaFeldman · 20/04/2025 09:19

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/04/2025 09:14

  • the family have been correcting him and telling him that some people believe that god is real and others don’t.

They need to go to the Headteacher. This doesn't sound right for a "regular state school".

peasporridge · 20/04/2025 09:26

FenellaFeldman · 20/04/2025 09:19

They need to go to the Headteacher. This doesn't sound right for a "regular state school".

It is compulsory for all state-funded schools in England to teach religious education (RE).
However, it is not part of the national curriculum, and parents have a legal right to withdraw their children for all or part of the lessons. Pupils can choose to withdraw themselves once they are 18 years old.

The answer is right there 🙄

OP posts:
FenellaFeldman · 20/04/2025 09:30

peasporridge · 20/04/2025 09:26

It is compulsory for all state-funded schools in England to teach religious education (RE).
However, it is not part of the national curriculum, and parents have a legal right to withdraw their children for all or part of the lessons. Pupils can choose to withdraw themselves once they are 18 years old.

The answer is right there 🙄

Edited

Quite. I'm finding it bizarre that some state schools are apparently under the illusion that they're duty bound to teach the Bible. Most peculiar. Every UK state school I've ever been in has a very generic assembly (be kind, look after the environment etc), and a study of world religions.

CurlewKate · 20/04/2025 09:57

All state schools have a statutory obligation to hold a daily act of collective worship, broadly Christian in nature. It’s often interpreted very broadly, but it’s there in legislation. And there is absolutely nothing to stop teachers saying God is real. Many primary schools have visits from Vicars and so on. The tacit consent understanding that Primary schools in particular are Christian places- otherwise why would you be told you can withdraw your child if you want to. You have to be at least nominally Christian to take a full part in the life of the school. It’s definitely opt out, not op in.

MrsEverest · 20/04/2025 09:57

peasporridge · 19/04/2025 08:58

@BangersAndGnash "Let’s all work together against criminals rather than stirring up factions against each other."

That's reasonable, yet we still get comments about Christianity being about "Sky fairies", "men dressing up in fancy dress" etc on these boards.

I sincerely hope that if I do an advanced search on your posts I find vastly greater outrage over the sexual abuse of children by Christian institutions than this mindless vandalism.

I am religious. I think religious people who do not understand the terrible harm that has been done by religion to many are absolutely insightless. Ones faith would have to be very weak indeed to be threatened by vandalism.

CurlewKate · 20/04/2025 09:58

Incidentally, I am actually in favor of RE as a compulsory subject. It usually involves a lot of discussion, ethics and philosophical loopy. Learning ABOUT religion is important. Learning to do religion is not.

FenellaFeldman · 20/04/2025 10:03

CurlewKate · 20/04/2025 09:58

Incidentally, I am actually in favor of RE as a compulsory subject. It usually involves a lot of discussion, ethics and philosophical loopy. Learning ABOUT religion is important. Learning to do religion is not.

Yep, 👍, that's why it happens in schools as you describe.

Talipesmum · 20/04/2025 10:11

FenellaFeldman · 20/04/2025 10:03

Yep, 👍, that's why it happens in schools as you describe.

Children learn about other religions and about Christianity. In all the state non c of e schools my kids have been to, and in the ones I went to, and in the ones my family members have taught in, they also pray in assemblies and sing songs about Jesus. Many have visiting “open the book” puppet shows from local churches. They learn about other religions in RE lessons, but the core running through so many of these schools is overtly Christian. I agree that there are some state schools who pull as far away from it as possible, and of course children can be opted out of attending assemblies etc. but it’s quite othering and most won’t.

At secondaries it appears to be much less pronounced.

Surely you’ve seen all the threads on here about Christianity in state schools? It’s hardly news. Very normal for kids to come back from school talking about the baby Jesus and to be introduced to Christianity as an assumed fact. Maybe as a Christian yourself you don’t spot it as easily as it feels “normal” to you. Maybe you have worked mostly in secondary schools. Maybe you worked in a school where the head worked hard to keep a good balance and to move as much away as possible from the required “broadly Christian nature”.

LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms · 20/04/2025 10:28

I see this thread is still in full flow.
So in the spirit of inclusivity I’m wishing everyone here a very Happy Easter. 🙏🏻💕

Christ is risen! 🙌🏻

AlmanbyRoadtrip · 20/04/2025 10:30

And a very Happy Easter to you too.

FenellaFeldman · 20/04/2025 10:43

@Talipesmum I think you have the wrong poster.
I'm not a Christian.
If you have a problem with religion in schools, then take action against it.

MaySea · 20/04/2025 11:04

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/04/2025 09:12

Our 4 year old grandchild has been talking about Jesus and God for several weeks. His regular state school has been teaching the children that God is real.

My children too in a non-denominational state school. I had to stop teaching them about both sides and concentrate on what I believe as they were completely brainwashed.

MaybeNotBob · 20/04/2025 11:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Shubbypubby · 20/04/2025 11:56

peasporridge · 19/04/2025 17:03

That's exactly what I said but got ridiculed for it !

I know and it’s ridiculous. There are youth clubs, forces cadet units, horse riding schools, stage schools, music lessons etc. I can’t think of a youth interest that isn’t catered for in South Ribble or Preston (albeit Preston does have some very deprived crime ridden areas).

MaybeNotBob · 20/04/2025 12:31

Really? You took offence against that?!

MyDarlingWhatIfYouFly · 20/04/2025 16:15

peasporridge · 19/04/2025 09:22

"Christians are not victims of persecution in the UK."

I beg to differ.

Muslims are allowed to pray in the streets yet Christians get arrested.https://adfinternational.org/en-gb/news/silent-prayer-arrest-payout

Oh come on, “praying” outside an abortion clinic???? We all know what she was doing there, she could have said a prayer somewhere else.

CurlewKate · 20/04/2025 16:34

I know and it’s ridiculous. There are youth clubs, forces cadet units, horse riding schools, stage schools, music lessons etc. I can’t think of a youth interest that isn’t catered for in South Ribble or Preston (albeit Preston does have some very deprived crime ridden areas).

All-except youth clubs and cadets super expensive. All needing an involved adult with spare time and probably a car.

Uricon2 · 20/04/2025 16:44

I found out today that in our rural area an hours horse ride is £85.

I'm making no assumptions about the background of the kids that did this, if it was kids, because I don't automatically assume that someone from a deprived background would do it and the privileged wouldn't. However, listing activities that are out of reach for all but those who have wealthy parents who are able to chaffeur them isn't particularly relevant and itcertainly doesn't mean that those who take part in them are somehow incapable of getting up to no good.

pointythings · 20/04/2025 16:50

peasporridge · 19/04/2025 10:04

@ArtemisiaTheArtist "The OP immediately blamed one group over all others, without evidence"

The obvious evidence was written on the church wall - next to the drawing of a giant willy.

The scrawl on the wall is not evidence that the attack came from a co-ordinated 'secular lobby'. I'm a secularist and I'm far too busy agitating for assisted dying, the removal of the clergy from the House of Lords, the maintaining and expansion of exclusion zones round abortion clinics and the removal of selection by faith in all UK schools. Big stuff that impacts everyone. Done politely, via debate and petition and the like.

This was a horrific act of vandalism, intended to hurt and upset, committed by some truly foul people who, whatever their faith or lack thereof, need to get into serious trouble for what they did. But that is all it is (and that is quite bad enough).