So ive considered myself atheist for around 7-8 years now. I have a son who is starting school in a few month. We choose his new school based on results and how they would be able to assist with his minor hearing loss. However, it is a church of England school (UK). My question is how I deal with him being taught so much religious ideology when it is not taught in a way i thought it would be. (I assumed even a religious school would teach children that there beliefs were only that, beliefs, not fact. I had hoped they would use some sentence such as "this is what some people believe" but they don't)
I want my son to learn about religion so he can see for himself how brutal, homophobic, racist and abusive it is for himself but i now think the school will only teach him the good (Of which im sure there is within the bible) aspects and he may begin to believe in a false god.
My nephew has said that he would not believe there was no god even if his mum and dad said so...his reason? His teachers told him there is a god. How can school abuse their positions of power so much?
thanks guys

I would keep an open dialogue with your son about the subject. Then you will get an idea of the things he's learning.

(July 3, 2012 at 12:43 pm)dean211284 Wrote: I assumed even a religious school would teach children that there beliefs were only that, beliefs, not fact. I had hoped they would use some sentence such as "this is what some people believe" but they don't

Of course the godtards are going to impress upon the small fry that their beliefs are FACTS! Indoctrination must begin at an early age if the bullshit is going to take root.

Quote:I want my son to learn about religion so he can see for himself how brutal, homophobic, racist and abusive it is for himself but i now think the school will only teach him the good

Did you seriously think these people were going to point out the atrocities committed throughout history in the name of their deity? Of course they're only going to teach the crap that's all honey and sunshine.

Quote:My nephew has said that he would not believe there was no god even if his mum and dad said so...his reason? His teachers told him there is a god.

Tell your nephew to ask the teachers to show him actual evidence that this god is real. Then tell him to expect no actual evidence when they reply.

Quote:How can school abuse their positions of power so much?

That's pretty much what they do isn't it? Little indoctrination factories.

I was taught at a church of england school and all it did was convey how stupid, pathetic and boring that religion was.
My sons were all taught at C of E schools and it didnt touch them either.

(July 3, 2012 at 12:50 pm)Thor Wrote:

(July 3, 2012 at 12:43 pm)dean211284 Wrote: I assumed even a religious school would teach children that there beliefs were only that, beliefs, not fact. I had hoped they would use some sentence such as "this is what some people believe" but they don't

Of course the godtards are going to impress upon the small fry that their beliefs are FACTS! Indoctrination must begin at an early age if the bullshit is going to take root.

Quote:I want my son to learn about religion so he can see for himself how brutal, homophobic, racist and abusive it is for himself but i now think the school will only teach him the good

Did you seriously think these people were going to point out the atrocities committed throughout history in the name of their deity? Of course they're only going to teach the crap that's all honey and sunshine.

Quote:My nephew has said that he would not believe there was no god even if his mum and dad said so...his reason? His teachers told him there is a god.

Tell your nephew to ask the teachers to show him actual evidence that this god is real. Then tell him to expect no actual evidence when they reply.

Guess i was living in hope, lol. But how do I go about making my son see sense without him showing up the teachers when he asks intelligent questions to whcih they wont be able to reply? I want him to do well at school and not be an outcast for being the only one to not believe the rubbish they teach.
Why cant schools just teach children 'how' to think not 'what' to think?

---

(July 3, 2012 at 1:21 pm)downbeatplumb Wrote: I was taught at a church of england school and all it did was convey how stupid, pathetic and boring that religion was.
My sons were all taught at C of E schools and it didnt touch them either.

Ive been told that on more than one occasion from people who went to this exact school. Guess it just makes me sad that many childhoods will be made difficult by being made fearful of an all powerful god who can send them to hell for such silly reasons. I dont want my son taught that the only reason he should be a good person is so he does not get sent to hell. he should be a good person for no other reason than its the right thing to do if he wants to be treat the same way.

(July 3, 2012 at 1:23 pm)dean211284 Wrote: But how do I go about making my son see sense without him showing up the teachers when he asks intelligent questions to whcih they wont be able to reply? I want him to do well at school and not be an outcast for being the only one to not believe the rubbish they teach.

You mentioned your kid was just about to enter school. I'm guessing this makes him 5 or so. This would be a tough age to have him question the teachers because he isn't yet old enough to have developed debating skills. Plus, a child that young would easily be intimidated by an authority figure such as a teacher.

I would ask him questions about what was taught in school that day and then gently ask if things like a man coming back ffrom the dead make sense to him. I'd try to get him to question on his own what is being taught in school. Of course, as the kid gets older he can become a little more vocal and he would have more of a base of knowledge to draw upon when dealing with religious nuts.

Quote:Why cant schools just teach children 'how' to think not 'what' to think?

Because that's not how religion works. I'm reminded of a phrase:

Science has qustions that may never be answered.
Religion has answers that may never be questioned.

(July 3, 2012 at 12:43 pm)dean211284 Wrote: So ive considered myself atheist for around 7-8 years now. I have a son who is starting school in a few month. We choose his new school based on results and how they would be able to assist with his minor hearing loss. However, it is a church of England school (UK). My question is how I deal with him being taught so much religious ideology when it is not taught in a way i thought it would be. (I assumed even a religious school would teach children that there beliefs were only that, beliefs, not fact. I had hoped they would use some sentence such as "this is what some people believe" but they don't)
I want my son to learn about religion so he can see for himself how brutal, homophobic, racist and abusive it is for himself but i now think the school will only teach him the good (Of which im sure there is within the bible) aspects and he may begin to believe in a false god.
My nephew has said that he would not believe there was no god even if his mum and dad said so...his reason? His teachers told him there is a god. How can school abuse their positions of power so much?
thanks guys

If the school is good for hearing, send your son there, it's the logical option. I've never heard anything but good words (from many sources)about the religious schools in the UK, apparently the teaching standards are very good without getting indoctrinated into the bs.

My job frequently takes me into many schools, some "faith based" some not, but I went to one recently in the north east of England which was an "Academy" school (privately funded and run, not under the same rules as state schools) Everywhere there were religious posters and pictures, every corridor had an electronic display with bible quotes scrolling across it. I made some comment to the guy who was escorting me about "ramming the god thing down their throats" His reply was "We need to catch them early!" I said something about catching them before they learn to think for themselves. He was not impressed and threatened to have me thrown off the site!"

(July 3, 2012 at 3:48 pm)zebo-the-fat Wrote: His reply was "We need to catch them early!" I said something about catching them before they learn to think for themselves. He was not impressed and threatened to have me thrown off the site!"

Yeah, the godtards don't like it when you expose their methodology.