raising kids/religion etc

[Grier78]

Respect to all the atheists on here, if theres one thing to teach your kids its to question, question, question. There is not a single aspect of religion (that does not also exist outside of religion) that is worth having.

You could explain to your daughter that she is made of billions of atoms that are as old as the universe and when she dies those atoms will go on to be other living things. Or that people are made from a pattern of DNA which you pass on to your children and them onto their children and so you go on living through your children.

Any talk of heaven is just pacifying and will no doubt be neither reassuring or really answer the question.

Just my 2 cents.

Happy new year.

[kinboshi]

The atoms thing is an interesting point.  Did you know that when we die none of the atoms in our body were there when we were born?

Ain't life brilliant?

[Geo the Sarge]

Why do we want to lie to our kids at all?

Santa/toothfairy/easter bunny /gods and religion it's all a load of twaddle.

And no, I'm not having a drunken rant, wasn't partying last night as that's happening today when all the family get together.

Religion is one of the main causes of war these days, I say teach all kids that there are no gods and we'll have less wars - of course, I know, it's never gonna happen.

Geo

[smileriraq]

Interesting points and as a dad of a 2 year old something ive been trying to decide on myself

personally I dont go to church but I do believe in God I believe there is either one god who appears to different cultures in different ways or many because i never understood how one religion could claim 100% that THEIRS is the true religion. That said I do believe in a higher power and wether you call him/her Jehovah/Buddah/Allah the basic principle is that there is right and wrong

Lets face it when the shit really hits the fan (and im not talking about having your aces cracked but the real serious stuff) most people say a prayer of some kind

As for the school thing the UK is predominantly christian when I was in the middle east I observed the religion of that country and was respectful of it , why should that be different in the UK. I actually think its good that we have a multi cultural society as it means we will slowly learn to accept the differences between us that said there are plenty of building dedicated to the various religions you have in the UK.

It does annoy me slightly where christianity always has to tread carefully in its own country where as other religions are yelling from the rooftops when they dont get their own way a good example of this is the cartoon in the Danish (i think) newspaper of Allah - there was international condemnation however had that been Jesus cartoonified likely nothing would have been said

anyhow digressed slightly but there my two pence

[WYSINWYG]

Interesting points and as a dad of a 2 year old something ive been trying to decide on myself

personally I dont go to church but I do believe in God I believe there is either one god who appears to different cultures in different ways or many because i never understood how one religion could claim 100% that THEIRS is the true religion. That said I do believe in a higher power and wether you call him/her Jehovah/Buddah/Allah the basic principle is that there is right and wrong

Lets face it when the shit really hits the fan (and im not talking about having your aces cracked but the real serious stuff) most people say a prayer of some kind

As for the school thing the UK is predominantly christian when I was in the middle east I observed the religion of that country and was respectful of it , why should that be different in the UK. I actually think its good that we have a multi cultural society as it means we will slowly learn to accept the differences between us that said there are plenty of building dedicated to the various religions you have in the UK.

It does annoy me slightly where christianity always has to tread carefully in its own country where as other religions are yelling from the rooftops when they dont get their own way a good example of this is the cartoon in the Danish (i think) newspaper of Allah - there was international condemnation however had that been Jesus cartoonified likely nothing would have been said

anyhow digressed slightly but there my two pence

Is that a real gold gun?

How many towns and cities in the UK had 'festive hanging lights' that demonstrated anything religious? We got 'bells' and 'socks', which in my opinion is grossly offensive to those who worship neither.

[cia260895]

Why is it that religion is a non opt out lesson in school?

Surely we should be able to let the children decide what path they want to follow when they are at an age where they understand and can make the decision for themselves,be truthfull and tell them both sides instead of just giving them the religious choice.

[kinboshi]

Why is it that religion is a non opt out lesson in school?

Surely we should be able to let the children decide what path they want to follow when they are at an age where they understand and can make the decision for themselves,be truthfull and tell them both sides instead of just giving them the religious choice.

I think children should be taught about all religions.  Paganism, the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Norse gods, the different Abrahamic gods, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Scientology, and all the other funny stories.  If they're all taught equally, and shown that it depends where you're born and which meme is passed on to you by your parents, they'll soon realise what they all are.

[cia260895]

Why is it that religion is a non opt out lesson in school?

Surely we should be able to let the children decide what path they want to follow when they are at an age where they understand and can make the decision for themselves,be truthfull and tell them both sides instead of just giving them the religious choice.

I think children should be taught about all religions.  Paganism, the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Norse gods, the different Abrahamic gods, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Scientology, and all the other funny stories.  If they're all taught equally, and shown that it depends where you're born and which meme is passed on to you by your parents, they'll soon realise what they all are.

so at which age should they be allowed to make their choice?

[kinboshi]

Why is it that religion is a non opt out lesson in school?

Surely we should be able to let the children decide what path they want to follow when they are at an age where they understand and can make the decision for themselves,be truthfull and tell them both sides instead of just giving them the religious choice.

I think children should be taught about all religions.  Paganism, the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Norse gods, the different Abrahamic gods, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Scientology, and all the other funny stories.  If they're all taught equally, and shown that it depends where you're born and which meme is passed on to you by your parents, they'll soon realise what they all are.

so at which age should they be allowed to make their choice?

When they are old enough. The 'problem' is that most don't make a choice.  They are indoctrinated when they are young.  They then have to 'unlearn' what they've been brought up to believe, or of course, they can continue to believe what they were taught when they were young.

What religion shouldn't do is interfere with the child receiving a rounded education in other areas. 

Anyway, I shouldn't be on this thread - I don't have children...

[cia260895]

the problem is they don't have a choice.which is fine if they are of religious persuasion but if they are not they still have to attend R.E which IMO is wrong,surely they would be better off being educated in something else

[kinboshi]

the problem is they don't have a choice.which is fine if they are of religious persuasion but if they are not they still have to attend R.E which IMO is wrong,surely they would be better off being educated in something else

Children aren't of a religious persuasion.  There's no such thing as a child born a Muslim, or a Christian, etc.  Their parents make this decision for them.

I think you're right about RE.  Don't they have something called social studies or something similar, which talks about religion, moral issues, etc.?  It certainly doesn't need a religious doctrine to educate children about that.

[Geo the Sarge]

Why is it that religion is a non opt out lesson in school?

Surely we should be able to let the children decide what path they want to follow when they are at an age where they understand and can make the decision for themselves,be truthfull and tell them both sides instead of just giving them the religious choice.

I think children should be taught about all religions.  Paganism, the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Norse gods, the different Abrahamic gods, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Scientology, and all the other funny stories.  If they're all taught equally, and shown that it depends where you're born and which meme is passed on to you by your parents, they'll soon realise what they all are.

But why teach them balderdash in the first place??


Geo

[Colchester Kev]

Sighhhhh Of course god is real, havent you seen Bruce Almighty or Evan Almighty ??

God is the dead spit of that old geezer from Shawshank Redemption you know.

[bolt pp]

Evan Almighty ??

sigh, yes seen it

dont need to be reminded of it though, still so so angry!!

[Newmanseye]

the problem is they don't have a choice.which is fine if they are of religious persuasion but if they are not they still have to attend R.E which IMO is wrong,surely they would be better off being educated in something else

Children aren't of a religious persuasion.  There's no such thing as a child born a Muslim, or a Christian, etc.  Their parents make this decision for them.

I think you're right about RE.  Don't they have something called social studies or something similar, which talks about religion, moral issues, etc.?  It certainly doesn't need a religious doctrine to educate children about that.

i suppose the only exception to the rule are the Jewish, You are born jewish and the choice to follow the failth yours.