Baptism meeting with father

Brighton_belle

Torry_Quine wrote: »

I totally think that all should be able to challenge society and point them in the direction they feel is the best. The problem is that Christians are frequently villified for merely doing what is part of being a Christian. I wouldn't criticise an atheist for telling me there is no God so why do some feel it necessary to be so hyper-critical of those who believe there is?

Well, I can't speak for others because it isn't how I choose to behave myself, but I think it probably is where the private spills over in to public: historically the church has had a big say in how we have been allowed to live our lives (especially in the most fundamental areas around sex for example) so perhaps you represent memories and experiences that others have had that aren't actually anything to do with you personally.
And some people just like a gloves off debate/argument and are happy to get and good as they receive.

mountainofdebt

shegirl wrote: »

It's harmless. It's part of our culture. Do you want Nativity plays banned too?


Do you not think there is a rich moral founding in what kids are exposed to in school?


I find it quite sad that anybody would want it removed like that.

I take it you never read the thread about forced sharing at school which then turned (weirdly) into a rant about religion in schools.......

Brighton_belle

shegirl wrote: »

Now you've gone and done it... you mentioned Santa * dons Santa defender armour*

What.have.I.done. Gulp.
Interestingly though, the threads do bring up quite a few people who confess they felt horribly lied to as kids when they discovered the truth, and that was a revelation to me - so you see it is a discussion worth having, because you can start appreciating a different perspective.. and then choose to change your view or not. Society needs people who challenge it, even if we collectively decide to keep things as they are, at least we've had a light shone on previously unquestioned aspects of our lives

notanewuser

shegirl wrote: »

It's harmless. It's part of our culture. Do you want Nativity plays banned too?


Do you not think there is a rich moral founding in what kids are exposed to in school?


I find it quite sad that anybody would want it removed like that.

I am perfectly supportive of Religious Education - you know, where you learn about all of the main religions. What I am absolutely not happy with is the fact that parents here have NO CHOICE for a secular education for their children. I shan't rehash another thread (you can look if you want to), but I (and others) believe it is utterly unacceptable for children to receive religious instruction in any religion (i.e. being taught how to pray etc and expected to do it daily) in non-denominational state schools.

I'd rather not on the nativity front, but so long as it's taught as a story - something some people believe - and not fact, then it's no different to acting out any other story in my view. (I wouldn't really want DD cast as Mary though!).

notanewuser

Brighton_belle wrote: »

What.have.I.done. Gulp.
Interestingly though, the threads do bring up quite a few people who confess they felt horribly lied to as kids when they discovered the truth, and that was a revelation to me - so you see it is a discussion worth having, because you can start appreciating a different perspective.. and then choose to change your view or not. Society needs people who challenge it, even if we collectively decide to keep things as they are, at least we've had a light shone on previously unquestioned aspects of our lives

Thanks for the support. I have always questioned (and been encouraged to do so). I'll defend anyone's right to a POV, even when it opposes mine!

seven-day-weekend

Had I simply myself to please when our son was small, I also would not have 'done' Santa. In any event, he was only ever 'pretend'.

notanewuser

mountainofdebt wrote: »

I take it you never read the thread about forced sharing at school which then turned (weirdly) into a rant about religion in schools.......

The only weird bit was that all of the information on the religious indoctrination favoured by the nursery teacher was so hidden by the school, and that I was clearly the only person to ever question it.

Janepig

mountainofdebt wrote: »

To stir the board up a little perhaps as Ican't see any other reason



Thinking about it I think Christianity is probably the only religion,certainly in this country, that people feel 'comfortable' openly mocking.

I'm sure there are many muslims, sikhs, jews, etc... who might take issue with that statement!! I don't mock Christians, I take issue with good behaviour/deeds being described as "Christian" as if they're the only people capable of being kind. I know many Christians who are very unkind (as I know people of all walks of life who are unkind, not singling one group out).

For me, I'm like alot of others who have no "faith" in that I'm happy for followers of any religion to indulge, but I don't want my life dictated by it. I'm not happy at the amount of religion (Christianity) that is foisted upon my children at their non-faith school (not as RE, got no issue with that) but I grin and bear it as it's otherwise a good school.

I'm pleased that two neighbouring local authorities have voted to cut free buses to take children to local "faith" schools, despite opposition, as parents who send their children to "non faith" schools don't get that luxury. I was going to say that in an ideal world perhaps ALL children would get free buses to school, but actually in my ideal world there would be no faith schools at all. Watch the number of Christenings plummet if that was the case!

Jx

missbiggles1

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Had I simply myself to please when our son was small, I also would not have 'done' Santa. In any event, he was only ever 'pretend'.

I wouldn't "do" Santa but I would "do" Father Christmas.;)

notanewuser

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

No doubt you've said in previous threads, or maybe even this one (so apologies if I've missed it), but is there any particular reason why you are like the way you are when it comes to religion?

A lot of people don't have faith/font go to Church, but I've never known anybody to be so down on religion as you are.

I don't go to Church and I'm not really religious. However, I have no problems with my parents getting me christened. It's something they wanted to do, it made them happy, so if it makes them happy it makes me happy.

My Mam is somewhat religious and regularly used to go to Church, I never have really, but it's never bothered her. I think she probably would have liked me to get married in a church, but both me and my husband weren't prepared to be hypocrites.

I dislike the way (some) religions target the young, so as to influence them while they aren't able to question. Yes, many question later on, but why not just provide the information and let children and adults decide for themselves?

I appreciate the past, and the fact that when the majority of the country were practicing christians, laws, public policy etc were linked to it. However, that is no longer the case and the insistence on keeping things how they were when the stats show the proportion of the population being christian shrinking every year infuriates me.

I spent 7 years at a church school. I was not compelled to take part in any religious activities and indeed didn't past the age of 12. My 3 year old daughter starts at a school nursery in September and will be exposed to far far more than I was purely because of the nursery teacher's beliefs. I'm having to prepare to homeschool if we don't manage to get to a reasonable compromise.

We had relatives refuse to come to our wedding and our DD's naming day because they weren't religious services. Like you we couldn't be hypocrites. Other family members are perfectly happy to be hypocrites.

I worked for a long time in HR for an international HR chain - the hassle religious beliefs caused me in trying to do my job was ridiculous.

There should be room for all belief systems in our society - this is after all the 21st century. Believe whatever you like, in your own homes and families, but don't expect everyone else to want to practice it too.


Does any of that make sense?