End State funded teaching of Religion in our Schools

[mairteenpak]

The State should take a leap forward into the 22nd Century and end State funding of the "Teaching" or propagation of religous superstition in our schools by paying teachers to teach the nonsense of religious instruction. The fact that the State pays for the teaching of different superstitions to Children depending on which of the State funded schools is nearest to them, or depending on which superstition the children's parents elect to have their children learn.

There is no equality of choice in the system as some minorities must of necessity, send their children to schools, which teach either one type of superstition or another.

Since these schools spend a great deal of time preparing and indoctrinating the children for certain superstitious rituals, ( such as how bread is turned to actual flesh which is to be subsequently devoured) children of minority superstitions or children who have no inclination towards such superstition must of necessity, due to the current arrangement, be bombarded by this superstition whether they like it or not.

In the most prevalent superstition children are taught that they must eat this flesh to have eternal life. This is likely to distress children who are not being raised in the superstition.
The logic of, and the ethics of, the State paying for the teaching of, different and mutually exclusive versions of " what is revered to be the truth by many in their superstitious indulgence" is a nonsense and is beneath the dignity of the State.
The Constitution under Article 44.2.2 The State guarantees not to endow any religion

This would prohibit the State giving or bequeathing an income or property to a Religious denomination.

Religious instruction in Schools funded by the State should done outside school hours and the instruction in such superstition should not be paid for by the State.

[saratoga]

The State should take a leap forward into the 22nd Century and end State funding of the "Teaching" or propagation of superstition in our schools by paying teachers to teach the nonsense of religious instruction. The fact that the State pays for the teaching of different superstitions to Children depending on which of the State funded schools is nearest to them, or depending on which superstition the children's parents elect to have their children learn.

There is no equality of choice in the system as some minorities must of necessity, send their children to schools, which teach either one type of superstition or another.

Since these schools spend a great deal of time preparing and indoctrinating the children for certain superstitious rituals, ( such as how bread is turned to actual flesh which is to be subsequently devoured) children of minority superstitions or children who have no inclination towards such superstition must of necessity, due to the current arrangement, be bombarded by this superstition whether they like it or not.

The logic of the State paying for different and mutually exclusive versions of " what is revered to be the truth by many in their superstitious indulgence" is a nonsense and is beneath the dignity of the State.


The Constitution under Article 44.2.2 The State guarantees not to endow any religion

This would prohibit the State giving or bequeathing an income or property to a Religious denomination.

Religious instruction in Schools funded by the State should done outside school hours and the instruction in such superstition should not be paid for by the State.

I think you should take your case to the Supreme Court. Let me know how you get on.

[mairteenpak]

Do you have a view.

Is it not a matter for the People of Ireland to end this nonsense of the State paying for a different doctrine to be taught in different schools.

Better the State not endow the teaching of Religious instruction in doctrine.

It is best left to the Faiths to teach what they wish to those who choose to participate of their free will, using their own purse and thier own time.

[Corcaigh33]

I actually thought this thread was going to be about the Fianna, the Ulster Cycle, Leabhar Gabhála na h-Éireann etc etc etc



Course now the thread title has been changed

[White Horse]

The State should take a leap forward into the 22nd Century and end State funding of the "Teaching" or propagation of superstition in our schools .......

I agree there is too much indoctination of global warming theory in our schools.

Not a day goes by when my son comes home with some ill-thought out and half-baked environmentalist garbage he has been "taught".

I've never heard him ever talk about anything of a religious nature that he learned at school.

[mairteenpak]

I actually thought this thread was going to be about the Fianna, the Ulster Cycle, Leabhar Gabhála na h-Éireann etc etc etc

The State is paying for mutually exclusive versions of the Truth to be taught to its children. The State should ensure that each school teaches the same facts. The State sould leave doctrine to be taught outside school hours and to be funded by the Faith/ Superstitious Group concerned.

[Corcaigh33]

The state teaches religion to children.
In Leaving Cert if memory serves, we were thought about all the religions of the world and atheism.

The vast majority of the people in the country are at the very least lapsed Catholics, the state teaches primary children religion in reflection of that fact so that they can make their Holy Communion and Confirmation as usual. Obviously if you are an atheist and have brought your children up to be atheists I would have thought the obvious course of action would be to inform the school of your preference and have them cater for your child accordingly. Given the increasingly multi-cultural nature of our society I am sure this is something most schools these days have to face up to and are making appropriate allowances for.

[mairteenpak]

The purpose of Schools is to provide an education to the young. It is right that taxes be levied for this purpose. It is a different matter however levying taxes to pay teachers to teach superstitious doctrine about turning bread to the flesh of men and gods, & and fruit juice into actual human blood, for human consumption, and such like.

I am not seeking to stop any parent from learning the rudiments of any particular superstition. I merely require that the Faith/Superstitious groups do so outside core school time, and that such instruction is not paid for out of our taxes.

I object to my child having to sit through such indoctrination, to receive an education, or having to loose up to 2 hours a day of teaching time.

[Corcaigh33]

So you believe that because you object to it, (an objection by the way you are obviously entitled to), the overwhelming majority of parents who wish otherwise should be made to change to your way of thinking???? And the government should legislate for what - let's say at best 2-3% of the population?

[mairteenpak]

Don't you think you should ask the Irish People before rather than guessing what they want?

I am not suggesting that children not have religious instruction as their parents see fit, merely that such instruction is provided outside of school hours and funded by means other than the public purse.

The current arrangement constitutes endowing particular religions such that school time is used to teach doctrine as opposed to educating them about religion in general.


As for the wishes of the majority cannot be enforced or accommodated at the expense of the minority, in particular in relation to issues that concern Human Rights.
The Human Rights are inalienable and cannot be determined by the majority