[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by daniel-lewis-1985

I know but many gay people still believe in god as apparently everyone was created equally ect, they choose to bypass the judgment in the Bible.

Its just a hyperthetical situation.

I know it's just hypothetical but I was talking about gay people wanting to be involved in a specific religion which denounces homosexuality.

Believing in God doesn't necessarily make you a Christian. Plenty people are spiritual/believe in a god without belonging to an organised religion.

Originally Posted by the truth

no its not like that whatsoever.

Well, yes it is.

[Shaun]

I think most of those who're gay christians have been brought up in a very religious family - probably Catholic, since they're a little more... strict and fun, than protestants or the half-arsed CofE folk - and just want to stay pleasing the family but keep within the faith. It's like keeping the family name or not seeing the partner before at the altar, just a tradition that shouldn't really be a problem.

[daniel-lewis-1985]

I reckon every high school should gather everyone in the assembly room, give them some popcorn and play this film. Its basically mean girls with girls all competing to get themselves a gay best friend but with all sexualities and cliques becoming besties in the end (you know the teen comedy drill).

That would be my suggestion anyway, sitting people down and making them listen to a serious debate at 15 wouldn't make as much as an impact as sitting them down to watch a teen flick.

Yes a lot of teens are mature and can discuss and debate but lets be real its more effective to teach this way and then open a discussion after viewing.

Naturally the talk will become more in depth as they talk about a character and what right they feel he should have ect instead of sitting in a class and talking about something which doesn't even relate to 95% of those pretending to listen to the teacher.

I should so be a teacher.

Youtube video

[Crimson Dynamo]

I hope everyone watched Rev last night, it was all about Gay marriage in church

[Livia]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

I hope everyone watched Rev last night, it was all about Gay marriage in church

You know it wasn't a documentary... right?

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Livia

You know it wasn't a documentary... right?

Its much truer than that!

[Marsh.]

Do people somehow get the impression that "religious" schools somehow drum the bible into you?

I went to a catholic school but I don't believe it made any difference. There were masses held in the school hall, which you had the choice to attend or not, you had the choice to be confirmed or not, religious education wasn't about trying to make you believe the bible but studying varying different religions/cultures and how they've developed over the years, how the religious groups split etc.

A valid cultural education for anyone whether you're a believer or atheist.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by 08marsh

Do people somehow get the impression that "religious" schools somehow drum the bible into you?

I went to a catholic school but I don't believe it made any difference. There were masses held in the school hall, which you had the choice to attend or not, you had the choice to be confirmed or not, religious education wasn't about trying to make you believe the bible but studying varying different religions/cultures and how they've developed over the years, how the religious groups split etc.

A valid cultural education for anyone whether you're a believer or atheist.

They do over here

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

They do over here

Ah well, Ireland is another kettle of fish altogether.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by 08marsh

Do people somehow get the impression that "religious" schools somehow drum the bible into you?

I went to a catholic school but I don't believe it made any difference. There were masses held in the school hall, which you had the choice to attend or not, you had the choice to be confirmed or not, religious education wasn't about trying to make you believe the bible but studying varying different religions/cultures and how they've developed over the years, how the religious groups split etc.

A valid cultural education for anyone whether you're a believer or atheist.

That is my experience with my kids education

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by 08marsh

Do people somehow get the impression that "religious" schools somehow drum the bible into you?

I went to a catholic school but I don't believe it made any difference. There were masses held in the school hall, which you had the choice to attend or not, you had the choice to be confirmed or not, religious education wasn't about trying to make you believe the bible but studying varying different religions/cultures and how they've developed over the years, how the religious groups split etc.

A valid cultural education for anyone whether you're a believer or atheist.

..no, we don't at all, religious topics are covered but it's all religions not just Christian ones..the children have bible stories once a week for around 15 minutes, which is the only time the bible is covered ...and they are 'moral' stories...it's not a Catholic school though, so it's probably different for them...I told you about my work colleague and his marriage..?...I should say that the restrictions placed aren't from the school as such, it's more from the parents and what they want...

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..no, we don't at all, religious topics are covered but it's all religions not just Christian ones..the children have bible stories once a week for around 15 minutes, which is the only time the bible is covered ...and they are 'moral' stories...it's not a Catholic school though, so it's probably different for them...I told you about my work colleague and his marriage..?...I should say that the restrictions placed aren't from the school as such, it's more from the parents and what they want...

Nope they cover all religions as part of the RE curriculum.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..no, we don't at all, religious topics are covered but it's all religions not just Christian ones..the children have bible stories once a week for around 15 minutes, which is the only time the bible is covered ...and they are 'moral' stories...it's not a Catholic school though, so it's probably different for them...I told you about my work colleague and his marriage..?...I should say that the restrictions placed aren't from the school as such, it's more from the parents and what they want...

Sorry, I shouldn't have referred to "all religious" schools as I only have experience with catholic ones.

[the truth]

why would you ban them all as opposed to tightening regulations and scrutinising them better? are they performing any worse than the other schools/

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by the truth

why would you ban them all as opposed to tightening regulations and scrutinising them better? are they performing any worse than the other schools/

I would rather "state" run schools be purely educational, if people want to send their kids to religious run schools that would be their choice, I don't want to but currently I have very little choice in the matter as all the schools in or near my area (and probably the majority of areas over here) are religious run schools eventhough they are state schools not private. imo the state should not be influenced by religion and currently almost all of our schools are.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I would rather "state" run schools be purely educational, if people want to send their kids to religious run schools that would be their choice, I don't want to but currently I have very little choice in the matter as all the schools in or near my area (and probably the majority of areas over here) are religious run schools eventhough they are state schools not private. imo the state should not be influenced by religion and currently almost all of our schools are.

im surprised theres no choice at all
what is it in particular you detest about these catholic schools? I read their performance tables are on average higherthan most other schools

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by the truth

im surprised theres no choice at all
what is it in particular you detest about these catholic schools? I read their performance tables are on average higherthan most other schools

Its a disgusting liberty that the word religion and schools are uttered in the same breath.

There should be NO religion anywhere near a school

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by the truth

im surprised theres no choice at all
what is it in particular you detest about these catholic schools? I read their performance tables are on average higherthan most other schools

I'm sure you did read that about privately run Catholic schools but that's not what I'm talking about here, I'm talking about state schools in Ireland which are pretty much all Catholic run. They shouldn't be, state schools should not be run by the church, I don't detest Catholic run schools but I would have preferred to send my children to a school that doesn't teach Catholicism as fact...........which is what happens in these schools. People can choose to send their children to religious schools if they like, that's their prerogative, I didn't want to but I had no choice unless I took my kids out of our area and travelled a long way to and from home every day with them which wasn't doable for me and wouldn't have been fair on them

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I'm sure you did read that about privately run Catholic schools but that's not what I'm talking about here, I'm talking about state schools in Ireland which are pretty much all Catholic run. They shouldn't be, state schools should not be run by the church, I don't detest Catholic run schools but I would have preferred to send my children to a school that doesn't teach Catholicism as fact...........which is what happens in these schools. People can choose to send their children to religious schools if they like, that's their prerogative, I didn't want to but I had no choice unless I took my kids out of our area and travelled a long way to and from home every day with them which wasn't doable for me and wouldn't have been fair on them

That's just as bad, parents forcing their religious beliefs on their children and basically indoctrinating them is disgusting

Faith schools shouldn't exist full stop. Religious beliefs are a personal, private and individual choice that should be made after studying and understanding different viewpoints when at an age where you're capable of forming your own rational opinions, not having them taught to children as fact from an early age whether in the home or at school. It's sickening

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I'm sure you did read that about privately run Catholic schools but that's not what I'm talking about here, I'm talking about state schools in Ireland which are pretty much all Catholic run. They shouldn't be, state schools should not be run by the church, I don't detest Catholic run schools but I would have preferred to send my children to a school that doesn't teach Catholicism as fact...........which is what happens in these schools. People can choose to send their children to religious schools if they like, that's their prerogative, I didn't want to but I had no choice unless I took my kids out of our area and travelled a long way to and from home every day with them which wasn't doable for me and wouldn't have been fair on them

If I felt as strongly as you seem to do about how awful catholic schools are I would leave to an area which provides a school with no religious element. though personally I think the religious element is in many ways a good thing and this is illustrated by the fact catholic schools usually outperform other schools

[Jack_]

I know they're not all the same and I accept that, but the fact that some are and will use their building to push their religious agenda is reason enough to close them IMO

I went to a Catholic school in London for Reception and Y1 and assemblies would be focused around bible stories and praying at the end. If you didn't join in you'd be told off, and when I moved to where I live now my second primary school whilst not being an official faith school had hymn singing and prayers and that alone is way too far. I thought about this recently actually, six year old children being forced to sit in an assembly hall and pray, sing hymns, listen to readings from the bible there isn't that much religious education at that age either, certainly not from what I remember so it really is a case of indoctrinating children at an early age. That's just unacceptable

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Jack_

I know they're not all the same and I accept that, but the fact that some are and will use their building to push their religious agenda is reason enough to close them IMO

I went to a Catholic school in London for Reception and Y1 and assemblies would be focused around bible stories and praying at the end. If you didn't join in you'd be told off, and when I moved to where I live now my second primary school whilst not being an official faith school had hymn singing and prayers and that alone is way too far. I thought about this recently actually, six year old children being forced to sit in an assembly hall and pray, sing hymns, listen to readings from the bible there isn't that much religious education at that age either, certainly not from what I remember so it really is a case of indoctrinating children at an early age. That's just unacceptable

..yeah, I agree, that shouldn't be forced on young children, especially by schools but it's irritating sometimes when it's assumed that 'faith schools' are all as one because they are so, so different and you would be more likely to hear our children singing High School Musical in assemblies, than you would a hymn...

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Jack_

I know they're not all the same and I accept that, but the fact that some are and will use their building to push their religious agenda is reason enough to close them IMO

I went to a Catholic school in London for Reception and Y1 and assemblies would be focused around bible stories and praying at the end. If you didn't join in you'd be told off, and when I moved to where I live now my second primary school whilst not being an official faith school had hymn singing and prayers and that alone is way too far. I thought about this recently actually, six year old children being forced to sit in an assembly hall and pray, sing hymns, listen to readings from the bible there isn't that much religious education at that age either, certainly not from what I remember so it really is a case of indoctrinating children at an early age. That's just unacceptable

I don't feel it's indoctrination, more tradition. We had the same type assemblies at primary school and had to say prayers at the end of the day but it was more parroting than praying....I can't see it had any effect on anyone's beliefs. It is outdated now but I don't think there is that much of an agenda in primary schools especially

Edit....plus, if I don't get to sit and cry watching my boy in his first nativity, I will. Not be happy. He better be Joseph

[AnnieK]

I am currently trying to get my son in the local catholic primary school....it has the best ofsted in the area but I don't think they will accept him. I have my own beliefs but I decided against having him christened (which I got a lot of stick for) as I do think religion is a personal thing and I wanted him to decide but now it could go against him