Children as young as 4 to be educated in Atheism

[bhavv]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...young-educated-atheism.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

School pupils aged just four are to be taught atheism in a move schools hope will equip them to be 'citizens of the world'.

Education bosses in Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire, have radically restructured the RE syllabus to accommodate non-religious beliefs.

Youngsters will continue to learn about the six major faiths - Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism - but they will also be taught humanism, the belief that there is no God or Gods, and that moral values are founded on human nature and experience.

The move recognises that more than 10,000 people in the borough do not have any religious beliefs. Both primary and secondary school pupils will be included in the shake-up.

Fiona Moss, from RE Today, which helped create the new syllabus, said: 'We really must recognise that some people do not believe in God and do not have a religious background.

'We have to make children aware of non beliefs.

'We want to support children to engage and enthuse them about RE to become good citizens in Blackburn and the world.

'The aim is for them to be confident wherever they settle.'

I completely agree with all of the above part, and I seriously lol at the stupidity of the next part:

But Salim Mulla, chair of Lancashire Council of Mosques, is concerned about the outcome of these teachings.

'We believe it is important to have faith values whether that is Christian, Islamic or any other religion,' he said.

'The values are very, very important. I don't think the non God aspect should be introduced into the curriculum.

'I don't think it is right. People are born into faiths and are brought up in that faith and that's how it should stay.

'The non-faith beliefs send a wrong message to the children and confuse them.'

^^ Religion, please just STFU.

 

[Dewotter]

How about just teach them nothing about any of it. Then, when they're old enough to make an informed decision they can.

 

[sammo62]

Religious person in being intolerant of Atheism shocker.

 

[Wicksta]

Although I don't agree with anything that typical Daily Mail rent-a-muslamic says, what's the point of religious education if you're not teaching them about religion?

 

[Sherbs]

It was never mentioned when I was at school that some people don't have a religion.

So obvious but silly now I think about it.

 

[Rainmaker]

Religious person in being intolerant of Atheism shocker.

Want some more tar for that brush?

Personally I think it's a very good idea. The more balanced the lessons the better, I think. What's the possible harm in that? Present all available information and let them make their own mind up.

I do hope the teachers remember to emphasise that humanism/atheism is in itself a belief; just one about the absence rather than presence of God. Hopefully they'll add the concept of agnosticism and ignosticism to the syllabus too.

 

[Rainmaker]

Although I don't agree with anything that typical Daily Mail rent-a-muslamic says, what's the point of religious education if you're not teaching them about religion?

Because there are a great deal of philosophies abounding amongst our species, some religious some more spiritual (meaning lacking focus on a deity(ies)).

Teaching about evaluating the evidence, spiritual practices, atheism, agnosticism etc is no bad thing. In fact learning about Humanism alongside the 'big six' faith will serve to demonstrate that you don't need to be religious to be moral. Nothing wrong with that. It's certainly better than being spoon-fed one particular religion and being chastised for arguing against it or questioning it (as often happened to me in school).

 

[Vulcan]

How do you get educated on atheism? What's to learn?

 

[semi-pro waster]

It seems fair enough to me for it to be brought up in R.E. lessons as appropriate that there are people who believe in religion and those that believe in none, obviously it will depend on how it is done whether it is appropriate but prima facie there's nothing inherently wrong with the idea.

 

[Lightnix]

How about just teach them nothing about any of it. Then, when they're old enough to make an informed decision they can.

It's probably a better approach to make sure that children are at least exposed to as many of the most widely held beliefs as possible if nothing else so that they can understand why others may believe things in the way that they do. Ignorance breeds fear and all that. Or moreover, this: http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2192#comic

 

[Rainmaker]

How do you get educated on atheism? What's to learn?

You'd make a rubbish academic/teacher, wouldn't you? How about cultural values, moral codes, the fact that we're all different and not everyone agrees about things. The fact that a lack of belief in a particular faith doesn't mean a person is bad, or 'naughty' and that you can live a good life without a religion. And so on.

These are 6+ don't forget, so hopefully it'll be handled sensitively and with proper balance.

 

[Robbo]

How do you get educated on atheism? What's to learn?

That there is no proof (or even anything close to proof) that any form of God exists, so you can stop listening to all that crap your parents keep harping on about.

Something along those lines?

 

[Rainmaker]

That there is no proof (or even anything close to proof) that any form of God exists, so you can stop listening to all that crap your parents keep harping on about.

Something along those lines?

Constructive debate for the proverbial win.



Oh. Wait...

 

[Vulcan]

You'd make a rubbish academic/teacher, wouldn't you? How about cultural values, moral codes, the fact that we're all different and not everyone agrees about things. The fact that a lack of belief in a particular faith doesn't mean a person is bad, or 'naughty' and that you can live a good life without a religion. And so on.

These are 6+ don't forget, so hopefully it'll be handled sensitively and with proper balance.

Well yes, there's a reason why I'm not a teacher.

I don't think "cultural values, moral codes, the fact that we're all different" has anything to do with atheism.

 

[Rainmaker]

Well yes, there's a reason why I'm not a teacher.

I don't think "cultural values, moral codes, the fact that we're all different" has anything to do with atheism.

So you think the fact that in a religious class, it couldn't be brought to bear the relevance that some people don't have any belief, and that just because someone isn't religious it doesn't mean they're bad or wrong...?

We're talking about 6 year olds remember. It's a perfect opportunity to explain the counter-argument for religion (in a basic way) and to point out that just because someone's different, be it for having a different faith or none at all, that's OK.

I was referring to moral codes along the lines of 'you don't need to be religious to be a good person'. Believe it or not a lot of children are brought up being told differently. A little balance never hurts, especially where it promotes discussion and further thought.

 

[Orcish-Horde]

How do you get educated on atheism? What's to learn?

Stop educating them on religion, but its much better to let them now that religion in many ways is a work of fiction.

 

[Warbie]

I don't think "cultural values, moral codes, the fact that we're all different" has anything to do with atheism.

Agreed - they have nothing to do with atheism at all.

 

[Rainmaker]

Stop educating them on religion, but its much better to let them now that religion in many ways is a work of fiction.

Or better yet educate them about the various belief systems throughout the world, which like it or not play a significant role in billions of lives. Then preferably teach them how to evaluate and investigate, and prompt some discussion rather than reading a list of commandments and forcing them to pray.

Any kind of progression in RE isn't a bad thing, really. Especially when the aim is to promote balance in the syllabus.

 

[Rainmaker]

Agreed - they have nothing to do with atheism at all.

Re-read my post and take it into context.

 

[bhavv]

How about just teach them nothing about any of it. Then, when they're old enough to make an informed decision they can.

I agree with this, but these classes supposedly help to promote acceptance of other people and faiths.

But if faiths can be taught, then it is the right direction to also teach atheism and humanity.

Though I would have preferred not to have taken RE classes at school because they taught me nothing and were a waste of 1 hour every week. And they hardly did anything to make me respect religion lol.

That there is no proof (or even anything close to proof) that any form of God exists, so you can stop listening to all that crap your parents keep harping on about.

A very valid point. RE classes in school help a lot of kids who are being raised by bigoted fundamentalist parents. I'd want to take it a step further and leave in the atheism, humanism, and morality parts, but omit all the stuff about religion

I really didnt gain anything from learning that Muslim men can marry up to 4 women, and that the Quran taught Muslims to wash at least once a week when I was in year 4 (completely 100% true, I'm not making that up, all the kids burst out laughing at the wash once a week a bit, and then the reacher went red faced trying to defend it as being good back in the olden days).