Atheist sending kids to a church school?

laurel7172

Nothing, but nothing, has convinced my children of the absurdity of belief in a supernatural being as much as mixing with the children of religious families.

After all, if the class bully comes from a fundamentalist Christian sect, and the class thief goes to mosque six times a week, religion-makes-you-good is a hard sell to any child with a scrap of intelligence.

I'm not especially proud of my son's wickedly accurate impression of our ridiculous local vicar (who used to waltz into our local, non-church primary school as if he had the right to be there-there really is no such thing as non-religious education), but I think it proves my point that there are no greater propagandists for nonbelief than believers.

The only thing I would worry about is the sheer nastiness of believers, who are getting more vicious as their numbers dwindle. My children are quite used to being threatened with hell, called names etc (and this in nominally non-religious schools). It has made them quite contemptuous of faith, which is a pity, because it isn't what I wanted for them....even took them to church when they were small with some idea of giving them a choice. But they have judged the faithful on the basis of their experience of them.

seven-day-weekend

laurel7172 wrote: »

Nothing, but nothing, has convinced my children of the absurdity of belief in a supernatural being as much as mixing with the children of religious families.

After all, if the class bully comes from a fundamentalist Christian sect, and the class thief goes to mosque six times a week, religion-makes-you-good is a hard sell to any child with a scrap of intelligence.

I'm not especially proud of my son's wickedly accurate impression of our ridiculous local vicar (who used to waltz into our local, non-church primary school as if he had the right to be there-there really is no such thing as non-religious education), but I think it proves my point that there are no greater propagandists for nonbelief than believers.

The only thing I would worry about is the sheer nastiness of believers, who are getting more vicious as their numbers dwindle. My children are quite used to being threatened with hell, called names etc (and this in nominally non-religious schools). It has made them quite contemptuous of faith, which is a pity, because it isn't what I wanted for them....even took them to church when they were small with some idea of giving them a choice. But they have judged the faithful on the basis of their experience of them.

I don't suppose your children have even noticed the hundreds of children from religious homes who are neither bullies nor thieves, but who just go quietly about their business.

Welshwoofs

laurel7172 wrote: »

My children are quite used to being threatened with hell, called names etc (and this in nominally non-religious schools).

I've always wondered about the level of logic involved when someone who's religious screams insults about going to hell to an atheist.

What's the point? Talk about the mother of all toothless threats.

lostinrates

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I've always tried to say "Christians believe...", "scientists believe...", etc. Now our eldest is 8 I'm happier to have discussions about what I believe (which, as it happens, matches what the "scientists" believe).

There are religious scientists!


I e physics teachers in my school were more religious than the nuns! While lots of scientists and other people are not some certainly are. I cannot quite remember but didn't robert winston make some sort of stand on this, saying his science did not stop his faith or some such?

notanewuser

alinwales wrote: »

So my problem is that the CIW school would be an absolute no-brainer if it wasn't for the religious element. I'm all for using religion as a tool to teach morals and the like, but to have it ingrained in every subject seems a bit ott to me. They do learn about other religions too, so it's not as cultified as it could be!

I think you have a major misunderstanding about what goes on at a CIW school. I went to a CIW secondary school. Religion was not involved in every lesson at all. There was assembly every morning, a Eucharist (mass) once a term and RE lessons (compulsory to GCSE) where other religions were covered in great detail, not just Christianity. No religious aspect to any other lesson at all. (The headteacher was a scientist though - I believe the current headteacher is a reverend so things may have changed.)

That said, I am now atheist (as is my husband) and we don't celebrate Easter or Xmas (we have a winter festival day in December instead). My daughter will start school in 2014 and there is no way we'd even consider a church school of any denomination.

I do have a different dilemma though - I'd like her to have a welsh medium education - where every subject is taught in welsh - but at secondary level the teaching may be poorer because there aren't as many specialist teachers who speak welsh. It's hard work, this parenting lark!!

lostinrates

laurel7172 wrote: »

Nothing, but nothing, has convinced my children of the absurdity of belief in a supernatural being as much as mixing with the children of religious families.

After all, if the class bully comes from a fundamentalist Christian sect, and the class thief goes to mosque six times a week, religion-makes-you-good is a hard sell to any child with a scrap of intelligence.

I'm not especially proud of my son's wickedly accurate impression of our ridiculous local vicar (who used to waltz into our local, non-church primary school as if he had the right to be there-there really is no such thing as non-religious education), but I think it proves my point that there are no greater propagandists for nonbelief than believers.

The only thing I would worry about is the sheer nastiness of believers, who are getting more vicious as their numbers dwindle. My children are quite used to being threatened with hell, called names etc (and this in nominally non-religious schools). It has made them quite contemptuous of faith, which is a pity, because it isn't what I wanted for them....even took them to church when they were small with some idea of giving them a choice. But they have judged the faithful on the basis of their experience of them.

What a tremendous shame.

I decided I did not believe while at a religious school, who despite their belief taught us what appears from reading these boards was amoung the best lessons on contraception and choice.

I spoke at length to the priest about this, and he was the most supportive person imaginable. He asked of me that I still believed in making good choices, conscientious ones and when satisfied with my answer said, live you r life like that and you will be ok. But we will be here for you if things change. As a younger child I received great inspiration from a Monsignor in the church who was kind and funny and humble.

I married someone from another faith background who is also a non beliver, but like me, owes a cultural respect to his background. I have enjoyed being taught how to cook several meals of cultural significance or religious tradition.....as I do enjoy those from my Christian background. I had flirtatious with other beliefs too, and have taken something valuable from them all. It's a shame to write a tranche of society off because you don't believe what they do....

Imagine if it were politics...such thinking would be the end of democracy and could end in prejudiced persecution.

JimmyTheWig

lostinrates wrote: »

There are religious scientists!

While this is true, when talking to a 6 year old you need to generalise.

seven-day-weekend

I used to tell my son '.... Christians believe this..... some people believe that....still others believe the other....'

He has always said he was glad he went to church and to church schools because he wouldn't have known anything about it otherwise. He is an agnostic, tending towards belief.

motherkitty

As you say you already tell your child about Christmas and Easter and agree with the morals your child would learn in this school that are based upon religion, it doesn't sound like you would find it very upsetting for him to be taught this way.
I would say go with this school, it sounds like what you want for your son to me. They are more than likely to be teaching basic moral Christian values, and they do have to learn about all religions in school these days. I would understand your worry if it was likely to be ramming religion very vigorously down everyone's throats, but I don't think any schools are like that these days as they have to cover all religions. It sounds lovely, go with it!

andygb

As someone who went to a Catholic school, and very quickly found that the teaching was good, but that having religion shoved down your throat was bad, here is what I would do.
I would keep my trap shut, look for the best school possible for your child, to give them a head start in life. If that means you having to swallow your pride and pay lip service to things which you do not agree with, then so be it, you are simply looking out for your child's best interests.
I totally disagree with the fact that certain faith schools should have better teachers/facilities than non faith schools, because this is discriminations, and goes against the basic teachings of all religions.
History however, has taught us that very often religions ignore their own teachings.