Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

You may accept it, but you don't seem to understand how important it is to large sections of multiple populations.

Regardless of whether you or I consider it important, the fact is that a lot of people the world over do believe in some sort of religion. To give an example of this, according to the CIA factbook around 17% of the world's population is Catholic. Add up the other religions (particularly Christianity, Judaism and Islam), and you will find a massive percentage of the population is religious, even if they don't go to church.

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

CIA - The World Factbook:

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

They did try to force it on me by making me attended RE, however i had more important needs from my education.

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

If you don't mind me asking, how long ago was that?

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

I believe its entirely up to any individual to believe what they want to believe. As long as they keep it to themselves and dont frown on the rest of us for not believing what they believe. Especially when their claims of the supernatural are completely unfounded and unproved. On the other hand.. I cant prove their claims arent true. But surely, it isnt up to me to prove there isnt a God. Its up to them to prove there is..as they are making the claim.

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

I'm presuming that as an atheist you extend the same courtesy to believers?

Either way, again you seem to be under the impression that Religious Education equates to religious acceptance or validation.

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

That's just it. IMO, a well taught RE lesson should not attempt to persuade the pupils that one religion is right, or that any belief system is the right one. You can teach people about various religions without attempting to get them to believe that one is right.

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

R.E is either a History lesson..or an open invitation to pick your horse in the Supernatural race at Epsom... or perhaps a mix of both. I dont believe it serves any function.

Btw.. Im not Atheist.. Im Agnostic. :)

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

All that proves is that you weren't paying attention in class. RE is one of the humanities subjects, along with history and human geography, and has its place in that context.

Has it not occurred to you that dealing with the locals in Afghanistan requires experts in the local religion? The recent case of Qurans being heaped on a bonfire by Americans shows what happens when people who are ignorant of local customs are allowed to get on with the job unsupervised. IIRC at least one American soldier was attacked and killed as a direct reprisal.

If only those soldiers had paid attention in RE and had understood how Muslims view the physical books in which their holy texts are printed.

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

Thankfully your view appears to be in the minority.

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

Apologies if you have been asked this, but when did you last experience an RE lesson?

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

Chris.. I never took R.E in school .. I decided Home Economics was a better choice..I wouldnt have needed to take R.E to understand how not to aggravate a Muslim by burning their holy book.. its innate in me. A bit like I dont do to others that I wouldnt like done to me. I dont need taught this. But I did need taught how do a great steak dinner.. and being a great cook now.. Im glad I chose that path :)

---------- Post added at 21:02 ---------- Previous post was at 21:00 ----------

They dont in this threads poll vote :)

---------- Post added at 21:03 ---------- Previous post was at 21:02 ----------

Never :)

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

With more than 3 billion claiming to be religious, I'd say in the bigger picture they do.

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

I beg to differ but you did ,it still is a compulsory subject up to a certain age ,you may not have chosen it as a subject in the last 3 years at school but you did do RE before that

Re: Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education
 

At a guess..a good 500 million of our worlds population from the Judea religions believe in Santa Claus. Doesnt mean he exists.. or does he ? :)

---------- Post added at 21:11 ---------- Previous post was at 21:10 ----------

First two years in high school.. but I never chose the subject for the remainder of my education.. it bored me beyond belief.

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And btw Marty.. theres my point. I was forced to take it for two years...