Religious Education

[Pidge]

In today's Irish Times, I noticed that Ted Haggard has resigned his position in an American church. His resignation reminded me of The Root of All Evil?, a two-part Channel 4 documentary by Richard Dawkins. (Both episodes can be downloaded at a link on the bottom of the Wikipedia entry linked to above.)

In the second episode, Dawkins looks at religious education of children, looking at the teaching of evolution and other things in what are referred to as "faith schools".

He regards children being indoctrinated into a certain religion as being a form of child abuse (a term which I think goes a bit far). He finds the idea that children are religiously labelled from birth as abhorrent, and I find it hard to disagree. Children are labelled as "Catholic" or "Muslim" based not on their own views, but on the views of their parents. As Dawkins points out, we would never refer to a child as a "Marxist child", since we recognise that the child doesn't have the capacity to decide where they stand politically, yet we have little difficulty referring to a two-year old as "Protestant", for example.

I'm curious as to what posters think of education which promotes a particular religious view.

[jady88]

Whilst it is important to point out there is a serious difference between the religious schools in America, where schools are far more independent, and those in Ireland I think this is an issue that will become far more important.

I believe that religious education is wrong becasue it creats divisions in our school system. All children of the state should be educated together to bring about a sense of nationhood.
We must never allow the system of seperatism to take hold in our island.

[Unionist]

I think all childeren in Ireland should be taught about Christitanity but it should not be denominational teaching.For instance in my school Religion class is basically a Catholic Supremacy Class.

I think Childeren need to be taught about Christ and his teachings and the differences between denominations and it would prepare them to chose or not chose a denomination in later life.

[Alliance]

I'm more in favour of secular schooling but the option should be there for parents to send their children to religious type schools if they want. It's unfair to say a child being brought up Catholic or Protestant has been "abused" by his parents. Trying to bring up your children by teaching them values that are important to you is perfectly fine. The problem is when the religion becomes the be all and end all, when it surpasses logic and reason like it does in those schools in the states who think evolution is just a theory and God did great everything. Christianity does promote a lot of good moral and social ethics which aren't even necessarily Christian, but just good moral law.

Anyway, if someone feels like sending their children to a Chuch of Ireland or Roman Catholic school, then it should be their right. I do believe though that those religious based schools shouldn't be allowed to put nonsense into childrens heads that just flies in the face of reason.

[gaelach]

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[Dee Four]

I met someone over the summer who freely admitted to being a 'Communist baby'. So much for Mr. Dawkins then...

Anyway, I went to schools where a different faith of my own was practiced and it didn't do me no harm. I got taught the sacraments outside of school, for which I am grateful, but, tellingly, I wasn't allowed sit out the weekly prayer or church trips 'cus apparently there wasn't enough of a difference between the two religions for anyone to care. My muslim friend always got to do colouring in lest they offend him, which always struck me as unfair.

[jady88]

I think all childeren in Ireland should be taught about Christitanity but it should not be denominational teaching.For instance in my school Religion class is basically a Catholic Supremacy Class.

I think Childeren need to be taught about Christ and his teachings and the differences between denominations and it would prepare them to chose or not chose a denomination in later life.

Yes classes about the different religious traditions and the importance of tolerance and peace are welcome but religious schools and religious docterine should be preached in church mosque synagouge whatever.

[Unionist]

I think all childeren should be taugh Christs message - A generation and a nation without God is ultimatley doomed

[mothball]

Educationally, every child should be catered for as far as possible in accordance to the wishes of the parents. The fact of the matter is that parents control our lives from day one and they have to make the best judgements they can and the choice of religion is a fundamental 'right' of every parent until the child is old enough to choose. If the child refuses to believe in religion years later then what's the problem?

[mothball]

I'm more in favour of secular schooling but the option should be there for parents to send their children to religious type schools if they want. It's unfair to say a child being brought up Catholic or Protestant has been "abused" by his parents. Trying to bring up your children by teaching them values that are important to you is perfectly fine. The problem is when the religion becomes the be all and end all, when it surpasses logic and reason like it does in those schools in the states who think evolution is just a theory and God did great everything. Christianity does promote a lot of good moral and social ethics which aren't even necessarily Christian, but just good moral law.

Anyway, if someone feels like sending their children to a Chuch of Ireland or Roman Catholic school, then it should be their right. I do believe though that those religious based schools shouldn't be allowed to put nonsense into childrens heads that just flies in the face of reason.

Largely agree.