Surely this is teaching creationism? How can this be allowed?

[Redspottygranola]

Posted a thread a while ago asking for advice about taking my DS1(5) out of RE and worship as DH and I are atheist but we ended up with a strongly CofE school as we are not in catchment for any other school here and all of the local schools are oversubscribed.
The feedback I had was not to take him out this may have negative repercussions for him amongst his peers etc.
We had parents eve today and I got to look at his books. I was horrified by the RE book which had the following learning objective: I understand that God made everything in the world originally.
Not "some people believe..." Or "Christians believe..." But "I understand". His RE book had more of the same regarding the story of creation etc. It was all presented as factual. What's more a few weeks ago he told me it was a lie that people evolved from monkeys (yes I know it's apes really) because actually God made us and the world.
I am sending him to school to be educated fgs and this is what he is learning!
I spoke to the teacher about it and she said they teach Christianity and Judaism and that is it and she hadn't thought about the way the LO's are worded but she would speak to the RE department about it.
What can I do? Feel so so furious and helpless. Have another 2 DC to go through this and so I will have to deal with this school for 11 more years! Arg!!

Verbena where have I said it is?

this is what will happen at a c of e school - in all others the l/o would be the same but worded differently.

Just there purplesky..

Just because it's a c of e school, doesn't mean they should teach RE LOs as truth.

But worded differently... As everyone else has said in here .... Less 'this is' and more 'some people'

You could always move to a non-Christian country.

Or indeed you could stop being pathetic and concentrate on really important matters. Do you also tell your five year-old there is no Father Christmas? What are you so bloody afraid of? The terror some atheists walk around with is astonishing.

The terror some atheists walk around with is astonishing.

I'm not an atheist, however I don't know any who walk around in terror. I do know plenty of extremist Pentecostal christians who walk around with a deep seated psychological panic that children will go to hell one day if they are not brainwashed told about God and given a chance to accept Jesus believe. This often leads to them overstepping professional boundaries to brainwash tell the good news.

It is very likely happening in this scenario. It's quite a big red flag.

I think you should reconsider your 'im not an atheist' standpoint.

I think you should reconsider your 'im not an atheist' standpoint

I'm sure you do think that. It's the nature of evangelical religion.

However, My belief in a higher power does not need to subscribe to your belief system in order for me not to be an atheist.

What is my belief system? Do we know each other?

What is my belief system? Do we know each other?

Apparently. Since you know I'm an athiest and all despite me clearly stating I am not

Loveandhate
The terror some atheists walk around with is astonishing.

Could you explain?
As I've never met any atheists who walk around in "terror"

but I've met many Christians who are really scared that I will burn in hell for my non belief.
I know that I cannot, because there is no evidence that hell exists - it is a Christian construct.

Do people really believe that?

Believe which part mrz?

About burning in hell

mrz
Yes.
And it was a long and difficult discussion trying to explain to them that they had to let me face the risk and not try to convert me to believe.

I'm atheist and I've raised my eyebrows at some of the stuff my kids have come home (from their state, not CofE, just normal primary school) saying, like God made the world and whatnot. I just say 'well, that's what some people believe...'

We're helped by my MIL being Jewish, and my son's best friend being Hindu, as well as my Catholic family, so we have actual concrete examples of 'Grandma believes this and celebrates like this but we don't...' etc. I'm very interested in religion and I do think it's important to learn about what people believe but you are your son's main source of information while he's so little. So I do agree with your husband that you can influence your son yourself.

As a slight aside, I am SO opposed to faith schools and this definitely adds to the arguments against them.

Incredible!

Yes mrz

I was raised in a cult community which believes it fervently, it took me therapy to overcome a fear of burning in hell for eternity because it's so central to that version of christianity

But it's not rare. Turn on TBN network on freeview or visit any church in a warehouse or school hall in UK cities, they're teaching it literally (the majority)

I'm a teacher and have taught in church schools but have never heard anyone talk about burning in hell ...they sound mad not Christian.

mrz
The individual - and their extended family - I speak of is white, Brummie, very English and involved in the local community.
No cults or anything, just very Christian indoctrinated.
So long as you stay away from that topic they are perfectly normal and amusing company.

Rather you than me

Nope I know scientists, lawyers, MH professionals, etc who all subscribe. I went through a phase of pointing out if they really believe that they should give up their jobs and go stand with signs and shout it in the street begging and pleading with the world - that was when they suggested I was nuts.

I think the Church of England has long taken a more symbolic view of hell though

Seriously I have never met anyone who believes non believers will burn in hell (or even in hell as a fiery place) it's unbelievable there appear to be so many around.

Have you asked them? It wasn't a part of the faith they advertised unless trying to convert

No one has ever tried to convert me ... I'm feeling unwanted!

Aww do u live in a very rural part of the UK?