General Chat

Only 9 Len? Still seems young and impressionable to me. I was taught it from when we could first talk I suppose, aged 4/5. Forced singing, bible stories, prayer time. I'm not a rebellious person, but it takes the biscuit.

Read it again, Daniel. len

I don't think religion (I presume we're talking about Christianity here)as a faith, should be taught at school, after all it is a belief system, not a fact. However, I think the various religious observances, the differences and, more importantly, the similarities, should be taught, as they are fact. I managed to avoid RE. PE and games at school, merely by stating that 'charity begins at home', I want to do volunteer work at the children's home up the road!!! RE teacher told me to ask Head, head said you set it up - I did. I suppose the fact that my dad had converted to Islam, and taught it to Saudi's helped, as no-one in Britain knew much about the Moslem faith then(over 35 years ago). They certainly didn't realise my dad's conversion didn't mean I was suddenly religious! Having said that, I now have a degree in religious studies acquired when I was 40 - still no religion though lol Jess, theyare Plymouth Brethren. maggie

My experience of religious education dates back a long way. (I left school in 1980) I attended local authority comprehensive multicultural schools in Greater London. Now Infants and Juniors had assembly each morning with a a couple of Hymns and a moral tale (not necessarily from the Bible) At Junior High School we had a head teacher who considered herself to be 'hip' (someone shoul've told her that tweed twinsets were NEVER hip) We still had assembly with hymns but there was no R.E. In its place we had E.P.R. (education in peoples relationships) which theoretically should have been the equivalent of 'citizenship' classes and supposedly covered multi- faiths. However, the teacher of E.P.R. was a religious zealot who appeared to be a failed Nun. Consequently I left there with a full understanding of Franciscan Monks lifestyle and as for the multi faith aspect, well I learnt that (shock, horror!!) Buddhists worship Buddha!!!!!!!! As for Senior High, I think they gave up on assemblies many years before I attended. We had a wonderful ex missionary as our R E teacher and I left with a far greater understanding of all the major faiths.

Jess. I think they are Taylorite Brethren. There you go again Len. I put my hand up. What we need banned in schools is the modern religion of evolution. A misnamed 'science' with no evidence. In fact all the evidence is for a young earth. David

I had lots of religion in school, prob due to the fact I went to an RC primary sch then to an RC high school. The high school even had nuns teaching us, not just religion tho. We had all sorts of religious activites but as I said my Nan knew what the school was like when she sent me there LOL What I did object too was being made to sit it at GCSE level.. what use what that to me???? I could have done a different subject. My children do learn about religion but in a more relaxed way. Each term they learn about a different religion. In the twins class is a boy who is a Jehovah and his sister in in my youngest sons class... AS far I know they do attend the classes, but will not take part in xmas plays etc. They sit in the office while this is happening, also don't celecrate birthdays, so don't attend any they are invited to either. But they have a big party at end of each school yr. Eldest who is in high sch does have an RS lesson, but again it is more multireligion than anything else.

Theresa You know I'm not lol I actually did it at CSE wasn't good enough for O level :-P Hated teh Nun who taught it..... she used to rap our knuckles with a ruler if we so much as breathed out of turn!!!!

Was it the Jesuits who claimed 'Let us have your child until he is 8 and he will be ours forever'? Len

Oh dear Theresa and i thought we was on the same wavelength with everything..... obviously not LOL