Atheist sending kids to a church school?

seven-day-weekend

steve-L wrote: »

But isn't that the point.... I don't think that when you say factually you apply it equally. When they learn about Christianity is it in the same context as learning about Hinduism or another polytheist religion? i.e. Do they get told Jesus did ....., God said ..... in Christianity vs Hindu's believe that Lord Krishna did.....

Because they can't all be factual..... indeed from an atheist POV non of them are factual just beliefs and from any monotheist religion then all the others are just what people believe vs what is considered fact.

I have yet to hear of a church run school actually treats its own religion as a fictional story as it treats other religions.

That is: "There is a story that Jesus helped some guy from a neighbouring province called Samaria and the Samaritans were not liked very much, now isn't that a good thing to do even if it's just a story"

Why should it? They don't believe it is a story. The children are taught that there is some truth in all world religions and they should all be treated with respect.

USM

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Why should it? They don't believe it is a story. The children are taught that there is some truth in all world religions and they should all be treated with respect.

Because we rely on schools to teach children based on fact, not a fantasy which THEY happen to believe.

seven-day-weekend

USM wrote: »

Because we rely on schools to teach children based on fact, not a fantasy which THEY happen to believe.

So don't send them to a church school. Plenty of others around.

We sent our son to C of E schools because we wanted him to learn about Christianity in a school that believed it. If we hadn't we'd have sent him elsewhere. Simple.

silvercar

USM wrote: »

Because we rely on schools to teach children based on fact, not a fantasy which THEY happen to believe.

I'm sure most schools mention the tooth fairy.

lostinrates

USM wrote: »

Because we rely on schools to teach children based on fact, not a fantasy which THEY happen to believe.

I think this is almost impossible. It's not how Most things, including our understanding of science, is. Science is what we think we know now. Most likely theories. Some we absolutely relyi on being fact.

But think how many of those we now know more about and are proven wrong or incomplete in our life times.

Don't get me wrong, I would want any child I would have to be at a school that taught science, but as something to be curious and investigative about......like all other subjects!

Janepig

silvercar wrote: »

I'm sure most schools mention the tooth fairy.

We don't have wars because of the tooth fairy. We don't stop woman having abortions because of the tooth fairy. And at a fairly young age children soon realise that it's their parents leaving money under their pillow in exchange for teeth.

Jx

samtoby

This makes me laugh.

How many people just get married in a church because they think it's nicer?!

I have so many friends who are not religious and have got married in churches and just attended for a few weeks to have their bands read or indeed to make 'an appearnace'.

Religion is a choice; if you don't abide by it why be a hypocrite.

In this situation it's because the Church school has a better report.

samtoby

But after all as I've been told before 'the bible is just a story'.

Yolina

Things might be different in the UK, but *many* years ago, I went to Catholic school in France, neither of my parents were religious or baptised. I was also the only pupil there who wasn't baptised and it was absolutely fine. There was no pressure on me because of this, didn't turn me into some kind of zealot or anything and what I remember now most from the "bible class" was that we were doing a lot of colouring in :rotfl: It also taught me to respect other people and their beliefs, though my parents and grandparents had already been drumming that into me from an early age

The reason my parents sent me there is that other than the primary school itself being good, it fed into the best secondary school in the area. By the time you got into 6th grade (I think - not too sure about the equivalence - whatever is at around 11 years old?) there was zero mention of religion. Their main thing was discipline rather than religion really.

Filey

divadee wrote: »

Most church schools require a letter from your church vicar/minister etc.. Saying that you go to church on a regular basis.

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Not necessarily. When my children were primary school age we lived in a village with one school which was a voluntary controlled C of E school. No choice. And no letter /church attendance etc required. The local vicar was in attendance and did customary vicary things. My four children have all turned out to be agnostic/atheist/tolerant non believers. The open minded attitude at home is more formative than what goes on at school.

For me as a child going to church every Sunday was obligatory. I remember all the hymns. I even like hymns - some good tunes there. And then Sunday School in the afternoon. You did these things because it was what you did. Likewise church weddings, baptisms and funerals. Then I went to a C of E secondary school. I got a distinction in O Level Scripture, because it was really just Bible stories and I had a good memory. As a Girl Guide I promised on my honour to do my duty to God and the King.

Because it was just what you did. To me it was just words, a formula, and I listened and did the right things at the right time. If you are open minded and tolerant at home and answer his questions in an open minded and tolerant way then when he gets older he will make up his own mind.

So if you want to send your child to a Catholic School go ahead for the sake of his education and never mind his immortal soul.