Atheist and the nativity

Person_one

liney wrote: »

Unless your school is a faith school then Religious Education (note education, not instruction) will include many faiths. My DS7 knows about Christianity, Judism, Sikhism, and Islam already.

In my opinion, the fact that you are an athiest does not give you the right to influence your child's feelings. They are not taught that this is 'factual information' but that this is what this particular religious group believes. Your child may decide they would like to worship at a later date, and who are you to tell them no?

Just out of interest, when you child asks you about death what will you tell them? Young children find the idea distressing enough and will often gravitate towards there being a 'heaven' for comfort.

That's interesting, because most people accept that parents have the right to raise their children in a particular religion, how is that any different?

I never believed in heaven as a chid and I'd say I'm probably more comfortable about the idea of death than most.

Plans_all_plans

We're Catholics and our daughter is at a strongly Catholic school (Mass in school once a week, day retreats for children about to make their First Communion etc) and even she learns about Diwali and the celebrations of other religions. The school instruct her in the Catholic faith, but educate her about many faiths, if that makes sense.

I don't for one minute think they cover it in as much detail as Christmas, but she definitely spent a WEEK learning about Diwali. I was surprised, but I accept that children learn about all faiths as part of the National Curriculum. You don't have to like it, but it really is to your child's benefit to have an idea of the beliefs of others.

I wouldn't raise it with the school and I'd accept that they will learn about the faiths of others until they are old enough to drop RS if they so wish (think that's in about year 9/10?)

Cat501

liney wrote: »

Unless your school is a faith school then Religious Education (note education, not instruction) will include many faiths. My DS7 knows about Christianity, Judism, Sikhism, and Islam already.

Which is great - but a lot of secular schools both educate and instruct, and it makes no difference (to me anyway) if it's a teacher doing the instructing, or a visiting minister or vicar.:)

eta if you read Person_one's post above, on how teachers have to be careful, that illustrates exactly what I mean far better than I can

geekgirl

Just treat it as yet another opportunity that all folks are different in this world and to embrace those differences. It is no biggie really, answer questions truthfully and age relevant.
I am an atheist yet my children went to church on special occasions with a friend of ours eg christingle etc. I gave them the choice if they wanted to go or not when they were invited. It didn't take long for my son to get bored but my daughter went for a little longer and enjoyed the drama of it. They are adults with their own children now and they are atheist themselves.

tea_lover

jamesflood wrote: »

2000 years ago, we didnt know the truth about science, now we do, people are not believing in that crap anymore.

Tell her the truth. I will always tell my son whats right and wrong, whats the truth and whats not.

You might be better off telling your son that people have different beliefs and opinions, and that he should respect those that think or believe differently to him.

Using expressions like 'crap' to describe the beliefs of others is really quite offensive.

Believe / don't believe / think / feel whatever you want, but have a bit of respect for people that don't have the same views.

daska

Oh Dear! Theism, Atheism, Agnosticism, Human Rights and the Education Act... this could turn nasty LOL.

You have to remember that it is a legal requirement of the Education Act (and subsequent acts) that schools hold collective worship that is broadly Christian and provide religious education (that is education about religion). Some schools try to skirt around the edges of the worship bit and some don't but, as it currently stands, you can't escape Christianity in schools just because you'd rather they were secular.

OP I'd leave it alone for the time being. Live and let live. Personally I have a problem with 'religion' rather than 'theism'. I would rather my children were humanist but, if they choose to become devout catholic, buddhist or scientist I'll respect their right to that choice.

Soubrette

ilikewatch wrote: »

I'm sure that come the Rapture plenty of atheists faced with undergoing Tribulation will wish they had the "special privelege" of ascending to meet the lord, rather hanging round on Earth for 7 years of misery

I'm sure you believe that

Soubrette

SandC wrote: »

I don't see how we can possibly not teach children (or allow them to learn, through what they hear at school or research themselves or whatever) about christian beliefs when the year we use to tell the date is based on the birth of Jesus.

I think it's more harmful to steer kids away from 'religion' as a whole than to encourage them to learn about all faiths, including christianity.

Surely it's even more important then to teach them about the Norse gods of Woden, Thor and Frig? After all our days of the week are based on these gods?

Soubrette

Person_one wrote: »

That's interesting, because most people accept that parents have the right to raise their children in a particular religion, how is that any different?

I never believed in heaven as a chid and I'd say I'm probably more comfortable about the idea of death than most.

When mine asked about death and expressed fear, I asked them what it was like before they were born?

It is just a state and one they have been in before.

Widening the discussion, the afterlife is the biggest load of hooey to me ever, through a series of events a compatively small amount of organisms are given the chance to experience life for a compatively small amount of time.

It feels ungracious to not be thankful for this experience which is denied most. Worse to make up a fantasmagorical one which belittles it as not good enough.

newcook

I think its such a shame that people are saying that Father Christmas is a fictional character when he has actually evolved from St Nick…!

I also don’t think you should enjoy/celebrate Christmas without learning the story about Mary, Joseph and Jesus (not saying you cant enjoy/celebrate xmas if you are not religious just that you should know the meaning behind what you are celebrating)

When Adam and Eve are mentioned to people the image most get is of humans – yet who’s to say that there wasn’t an Adam and Eve of what we and monkeys and the rest of it evolved from? (and dont you think its odd that paintings people do of them have bellybuttons?!!?!)

Many forget that the stories we read/hear from the bible have had their own bits of evolution added in over the years that the stories grew – a bit like Chinese whispers. The stories had been passed from generation to generation until someone decided to put ink to paper and so stories such as moses parting the red sea could have started off as a guy who used stepping stones to get across a stream but have been embellished over time!

I don’t believe Jesus was a nutter – just because someone talks to God doesn’t mean they are crazy, otherwise we wouldn’t have priests, nuns, vicars etc.

Im not religious (nor brought up religious) so my opinion is probably a moo point but I would rather have an opinion than none and I can do that by listening to stories and deciding on my own conclusions!!