[Crimson Dynamo]

An atheist mum has stopped her children from going on school trips to churches, mosques and synagogues because she does not want religion forced on them.

Claire Baker, 32, says she believes an atheist upbringing is as much a choice as being brought up with a religion - which she does not want forced on her son and daughter.

Instead she would prefer her children Benn, 12, and Katie, eight, to learn first aid, because it would be more useful.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....school-9328170

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How do you feel about this lady's decision?

[user104658]

We're completely unreligious but my daughter still goes to the church with school, was in the nativity, etc.

Long story short: the only people who can effectively "force" religion on a child is the parents themselves. So long as parents are providing context and commentary at home - actually talking to their kids about what they learn at school - they really shouldn't have to worry about indoctrination.

Plus I had a conversation with my daughter about church last week that was bloody hilarious... She told me that you can't see Jesus at church, but there's a guy who gets up to speak and that "he's dressed up as Jesus and pretends that he is Jesus" . Essentially she thinks that ministers are actors putting on little Jesus-based performances. Awesome. Who would want to miss that?

[Crimson Dynamo]

I agree with the French that religion is a personal thing and as such should be only taught at home.

[Samuel.]

I'm atheist myself. I think RE needs to be thrown in with History at this point, with perhaps a politics-based class introduced instead.

I'm not sure I understand their point here though. With it being a range of religious buildings the school trips are visiting, it's not as if any one particular religion is being encouraged.

The one benefit from teaching religion is that it introduces different cultural beliefs to students and I think that's good for expanding their minds to being understanding and respectful to those cultures, and I think it could be more harmful than anything by sheltering a child from that.

[bots]

This is about education, not religion. What the mother is doing is trying to exclude her children from religion putting her kids at a disadvantage in their educational maturity. Better to let them attend, but put her own views on it as they learn.

Silly woman

[arista]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

An atheist mum has stopped her children from going on school trips to churches, mosques and synagogues because she does not want religion forced on them.

Claire Baker, 32, says she believes an atheist upbringing is as much a choice as being brought up with a religion - which she does not want forced on her son and daughter.

Instead she would prefer her children Benn, 12, and Katie, eight, to learn first aid, because it would be more useful.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....school-9328170

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


How do you feel about this lady's decision?

How Nice

[arista]

Originally Posted by Samuel.

I'm atheist myself. I think RE needs to be thrown in with History at this point, with perhaps a politics-based class introduced instead.

I'm not sure I understand their point here though. With it being a range of religious buildings the school trips are visiting, it's not as if any one particular religion is being encouraged.

The one benefit from teaching religion is that it introduces different cultural beliefs to students and I think that's good for expanding their minds to being understanding and respectful to those cultures, and I think it could be more harmful than anything by sheltering a child from that.

You Are Most Wise

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

This is about education, not religion. What the mother is doing is trying to exclude her children from religion putting her kids at a disadvantage in their educational maturity. Better to let them attend, but put her own views on it as they learn.

Silly woman

Indeed

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

This is about education, not religion. What the mother is doing is trying to exclude her children from religion putting her kids at a disadvantage in their educational maturity. Better to let them attend, but put her own views on it as they learn.

Silly woman

Exactly, these parents are depriving their children of experiences with their peers, visiting a mosque is not going to turn them into Muslims anymore than visiting Buckingham Palace will make them Royal

[JoshBB]

There's no harm in just letting them go.. it seems almost hateful to be so opposed to religion. I wouldn't class myself as necessarily religious myself, but that doesn't mean I cannot show respect and simply sit in a religious building and just be nice to people..

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

This is about education, not religion. What the mother is doing is trying to exclude her children from religion putting her kids at a disadvantage in their educational maturity. Better to let them attend, but put her own views on it as they learn.

Silly woman

Yep pretty ignorant of her really

[T*]

Okay so I'm unreligious and so is my family, I do not understand why this woman is being.. Well... A dick about it, it's still good to learn about society

[Crimson Dynamo]

The mosque visit cost Ł5.00 the other 2 were free

[Ninastar]

Originally Posted by JoshBB

There's no harm in just letting them go.. it seems almost hateful to be so opposed to religion. I wouldn't class myself as necessarily religious myself, but that doesn't mean I cannot show respect and simply sit in a religious building and just be nice to people..

one of the very few times we will agree on something! Well said!

[JoshBB]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

The mosque visit cost Ł5.00 the other 2 were free

I'm assuming there were more activities in the mosque, either that or they're just cheap af.

Originally Posted by Chaos

one of the very few times we will agree on something! Well said!

ha thanks

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

The mosque visit cost Ł5.00 the other 2 were free

They might have had to travel by bus to the Mosque, whereas the church and synagogue were in walking distance?

[Crimson Dynamo]

I would rather have someone who knows about first aid helping me if i had an accident than some one praying for me..

[bots]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

I would rather have someone who knows about first aid helping me if i had an accident than some one praying for me..

and you would trust an 8 year old to give you first aid

[Kizzy]

Why the visits? the education is ok and accepted as part of the national curriculum, it's the organised visit she opposed to, they could have gone anywhere covering any subject, museum, art gallery, OAP home. Having three trips would not run cheap, there's extra staff, insurance travel costs, then risk assessments, letters home, permission slips.
I'm not sure why this is news really, if it's driven home that it's fine to be of differing faiths then why is it seized upon to not extol any one faith, or any faith?

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

and you would trust an 8 year old to give you first aid

If all there was was an 8 year old and they could help yes, of course

[Crimson Dynamo]

As has been said. Beliefs in crazy stuff can be easily covered in History in one lesson.

[divergent]

Being educated on religion I think is important rather than letting your kid grow up and have their opinions shaped by others and the media.

[Vicky.]

I don't see how visits and learning about other religions is forcing anything on the kid.

[Vicky.]

BUT, at the same time I do feel some people would be more sympathetic towards the (stupid) mother if, for example, she was a christian and banned mosque visits, or vice versa.

[MB.]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

and you would trust an 8 year old to give you first aid

What, and you'd refuse first aid if there was only an eight year old to administer it?