Christian assemblies in schools could face axe over claims they infringe children's human rights

[Yas786]

More daily mail idiocy. Children are not indoctrinated by christian assembly, its a complete nonsense invented by atheist pressure groups who wish to impose their own ideology instead.

It amazes me that those who say it indoctrinated them as kids don't actually believe.

My son attends a catholic school, he isn't indoctrinated, he just thinks its boring and that his RE teacher is weird.

People should find something more productive to campaign about, like literacy levels in schools (which are better in faith schools btw).

Indeed and sometimes i wonder why doesnt the Daily Mail just call themselves the Daily Hate of all Religion or something equally stupid as that.

As a kid i had christian assemblies and i just sat there and listened respectfully....funny that im muslim but yet still didnt get into a huff about it and neither did my parents...still remember my first xmas play where i played one of the 3 wise men...it was awesome and my parents were so proud of me on stage.

I dont think banning religious activities is what this country should be doing....these idiotic atheists really are a joke wanting to ban all religion and festivities.

 

[Dmack]

haha i miss school, i went to a catholic school so had to do everything, assemblies, mass, pray before lunch, pray at the end of the day.... i don't know it seemed to keep things in order but after a certain age everyone in school just rebelled anyway

 

[HeadlessChicken]

So therefore, parents pushing religion onto their own children is also infringing their rights?

It's a toughie, but the simple fact is, no-one is born a Christian / Catholic etc, yet very few get to choose their own religious path. In an ideal world, no child would be forced a religion, and not forced to choose until they were happy with their choice, one they have made their own minds up about. Could be an interesting experiment

 

[exhashdotdot]

I think people look far too much into the whole Christianity in school thing.

It's just an opportunity for children to dabble into spirituality. Pretty much every kid I know from school used to think all this crap was BS but it's still good for young children to get a taste of other cultures.

Heck I remember once, we had an assembly for Channukah before the Christmas one. Most kids didn't even know Channukah existed.

I think it's a bit too PC to actively remove such a thing from schools. To say it's indoctrination is a little extreme, maybe in some places (like what you see on those American documentaries) where they have priests telling kids they're going to hell unless they worship Jesus it's indoctrination, but not just a simple prayer every now and again.

 

[Dirk]

About bloody time! Considering the appalling education standards we are subject to these days, (not to mention physical fitness), why isn't 'assembly' time used for something more constructive like an extra Math or P.E class?

 

[GreatAuk]

IMO faith schools should be banned.

Why? Children who go to faith schools don't get brainwashed and then beaten if they don't pray properly! Parents usually have a certain amount of choice as to where they send their children, and if they don't want their children having a hymn and prayer in the morning and to say grace before lunch (which was what my primary school was like), then they can ever get their child excused or send them somewhere else!

As I see it, the religious body in question is providing extra funding/support, and there is no reason not to take advantage of this. I don't think people with their children actually at faith schools care too much as their children often get better results. These schools also show children a culture that they may or may not choose to accept, but it will hopefully equip them better to make a decision as to what they believe. Parents will affect a childs beliefs in their early life far more than a hymn or two in school assemblies will. However, for those parents that want it, faith schools can provide an environment for children that the parents like, and I don't see why they should be denied this.

 

[Podmonkey]

So from reading this thread, I think it should be removed (the religious assembly that is) purely because it seems to serve no real purpose apart from taking away time that could be spent actually teaching about the different religions in a classroom. I am in no way religious (atheism woot) but there are a great many who are and itsa only common sense to know about the different cultures around you, just saying 'kill it with fire' without even having a peek at it is part of what causes intolerance.

Back on topic. Ged rid of the assemblies. Waste of time, and from most of the comments simply put people off religion and clearly offer nothing in the way of education.

Nothing wrong with teaching what religion is from an outside perspective aslong as it isnt there to guide them towards it.

 

[Koalaboy]

I look forward to the Atheist Reformation... people fighting for nothing to believe in

So many people seem to want to stop immigrants (obviously Johnny foreigner believes in some odd religion) and at the same time want to separate themselves from the English culture and tradition (there's a reason that the Anglican church is the Church Of England).

Perhaps they're just Americans who haven't left yet (or Australians we haven't convicted yet ).

But yes, best we remove any morality from assemblies. Perhaps we should introduce alcohol awareness and sex education into the assemblies instead, as they are far more suited to the beliefs and interests of the young people today.

Apparently.

Happy Christmas (or festival of money spending, turkey eating and alcohol binging, for those atheists amongst you )

 

[semi-pro waster]

Wouldn't have any problem with my children attending Christian assemblies, I like most Christian moral values and they can make up their own minds. Kids aren't stupid.

It does raise the point - if all the people against the teaching of Christian moral values have managed to become atheist or agnostic despite these teachings then is the indoctrination really that good? Frankly is there anything much to worry about or are people so vain that they think they are the only people to see the light and that it's all false prophets etc (if you'll pardon the overtly religious turn of phrase).

There's little wrong with most of the Christian ideas of morality in a general sense - essentially stripping it down to an elemental level it is just about being nice to your fellow man and having respect for him. Some of what goes on top of that is objectionable and it almost certainly isn't necessary for it to be taught as Christian morals only but nor is it the worst thing in the World either provided it is taught in a moderate way with acknowledgement that this is not the only belief system in the World - in fact I'd say that is the problem with a great deal of things, anything taught to extremes tends to be bad.

 

[Abraham]

While I'm not particularly against the level of "indocrination" in most state schools, I and most of the people I grew up with came out of it atheists, I do wonder how many fewer people would classify themselves as christians if their parents were the only driver toward them becoming christian and traditions weren't followed in schools (the only one I can really remember is singing hymns though).

 

[Nitefly]

It does raise the point - if all the people against the teaching of Christian moral values have managed to become atheist or agnostic despite these teachings then is the indoctrination really that good? Frankly is there anything much to worry about or are people so vain that they think they are the only people to see the light and that it's all false prophets etc (if you'll pardon the overtly religious turn of phrase).

There's little wrong with most of the Christian ideas of morality in a general sense - essentially stripping it down to an elemental level it is just about being nice to your fellow man and having respect for him. Some of what goes on top of that is objectionable and it almost certainly isn't necessary for it to be taught as Christian morals only but nor is it the worst thing in the World either provided it is taught in a moderate way with acknowledgement that this is not the only belief system in the World - in fact I'd say that is the problem with a great deal of things, anything taught to extremes tends to be bad.

Indeed

It amuses me that, generally speaking, I find the most intolerant and obnoxious of all those with belief are atheists, because they are the ones who appear the most consistent in claiming that people who don't think the same as them as wrong or stupid

 

[Castiel]

Indeed

It amuses me that, generally speaking, I find the most intolerant and obnoxious of all those with belief are atheists, because they are the ones who appear the most consistent in claiming that people who don't think the same as them as wrong or stupid

+1.

How right you are.

 

[Nitefly]

Indeed and sometimes i wonder why doesnt the Daily Mail just call themselves the Daily Hate of all Religion or something equally stupid as that.

I was under the impression that the daily mail was actually being anti-human rights and pro Christian actually. In the article it says that the move is an attack on British culture.

 

[Yas786]

I was under the impression that the daily mail was actually being anti-human rights and pro Christian actually. In the article it says that the move is an attack on British culture.

Tbh i really dont understand the whole 'Daily Mail' thing...it just confuses the hell out of me...thankfully the only time i browse their website is when i want a laugh at the celebs...thats about as good as it gets for me with them...their other stories are just so blatantly mis-guided with their useage of sensationalist headlines that it literally makes my head explode.

Funnily enough Nitefly what you said about atheists is spot on ie they tend to be the most obnoxious and intolerant of all...not saying all of them are as i know a few that are pretty pleasant people on the whole...their motto is they dont really care who believes in what but rather its what sort of person they are ie actions speak louder than words. It was strange but funny at the same timewhen the Pope made his visit here over the summer and when he said that there is an element of the 'extremist atheist' that is getting bigger and stronger...i dont care much for the Pope myself but he was pretty much spot on with his comments about atheists.

 

[spp]

I'm very happy to hear this, I hated assembly.

 

[Trusty]

Wouldn't have any problem with my children attending Christian assemblies, I like most Christian moral values and they can make up their own minds. Kids aren't stupid.

Absolutley.

I'm agnostic yet i pray every sunday. Wierd? Probably, but i don't see religion as a lot people. I see it as mini pep talk to myself every sunday, pray about things in my life and people in my life. I remember whats good in my life and what i can do to make it better..

I think a lot of people need to wake up and stop taking religion in a such a literal sense.

 

[aardvark]

Indeed

It amuses me that, generally speaking, I find the most intolerant and obnoxious of all those with belief are atheists, because they are the ones who appear the most consistent in claiming that people who don't think the same as them as wrong or stupid

yeah, because people of different religions have always lived in peace and harmony

 

[rypt]

Good

 

[Nitefly]

yeah, because people of different religions have always lived in peace and harmony

Of course they haven't, but in my life I have never met a person tell me (or others) I was stupid for my beliefs or they were wrong other than an atheist. I can only recall on here one short period of a few Christians telling those in speaker's corner we were all going to burn in hell. It's far more frequent that athiest's belittle the beliefs of others, in my experience at least.

I find this belittling attitude also comes hand in hand with this some of pseudo-intellectual smugness. It's never pleasant when it rears its ugly head.

 

[Yas786]

yeah, because people of different religions have always lived in peace and harmony

He hasnt said anything of the sort So stop getting your knickers into a twist.

Majority of religious people do live in peace and harmony but if it makes you feel better about your view that they dont then please carry on living in your little bubble there.