Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education

[denphone]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17646549

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17646549

Rowan Williams will warn against "downgrading" religious education in secondary schools in his last Easter sermon as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Younger people take religion seriously "when they have the chance to learn about it," he is expected to say.

In his Easter sermon, Britain's most senior Roman Catholic, Cardinal Keith O'Brien, is urge Christians to wear a cross to symbolise their beliefs.

It comes amid a growing debate about secularisation in British society.

During the service in Canterbury Cathedral, the Archbishop will say it is the wrong time to "downgrade the status and professional excellence" of religious education in schools.

RE is not one of the subjects counting towards the English Baccalaureate, the standard for ranking schools brought in by the coalition government.

[Fawkes]

I don't have a problem with religious education in schools. People should learn about the different religions as this forms a large part of world history. But let’s not brain wash kids into religion, and keep it out of the science lessons.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Fawkes

I don't have a problem with religious education in schools. People should learn about the different religions as this forms a large part of world history. But let’s not brain wash kids into religion, and keep it out of the science lessons.

Agreed

Allow religious education to those who have requested it. Those who have not should not be forced into religious education classes and should not be forced to attend a religious event as part of school registration. The whole process of forcing people to do something they do not wish to do stays with you for the rest of your life.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Sirius

Agreed

Allow religious education to those who have requested it. Those who have not should not be forced into religious education classes and should not be forced to attend a religious event as part of school registration. The whole process of forcing people to do something they do not wish to do stays with you for the rest of your life.

You're almost there

Religion is too big an issue in the world to ignore IMO. It forms the basis for cultures, governments and ways of life. I believe it should be compulsory education.

BUT: Religious Education does not equate to religious acceptance. I have no issue with RE lessons which encompass education on all major faiths - in fact I prefer it. I also have no issue with personal religion being left to parents, sunday school and faith schools. But to remove RE from schools completely just because the parents don't believe is short sighted and narrow minded.

RE is part of that "freedom of choice" that atheists are always banging on about ,they give a child a chance to study about a variety of religions and make a choice as to whether they want to follow up on those studies with the spiritual aspect of a religion.There is no belief required or expected in RE lessons ,they are more closely related to history lessons than religious instruction

[Gary L]

You can look at this 2 ways.
one being that there is a God, and the other being there isn't a God.

the first would be sort of expected to 'learn' about him/it.

the second would be just the long tradition throughout the world. hoping that more members join if you like.

but it doesn't help matters when he says

and that the answer is not in scientific proof but by the way believers live with their faith

he's basically saying that there isn't one, but it would be nice to believe that there is.

which is why people question it now. why 'teach' about it in schools when really it's not much different to believing that there really 'was' such thing as Giants, beanstalks and golden eggs?

now you're going to tell me that the Giants, beanstalks and golden eggs was just a story.

Originally Posted by Gary L

You can look at this 2 ways.
one being that there is a God, and the other being there isn't a God.

the first would be sort of expected to 'learn' about him/it.

the second would be just the long tradition throughout the world. hoping that more members join if you like.

but it doesn't help matters when he says


he's basically saying that there isn't one, but it would be nice to believe that there is.

which is why people question it now. why 'teach' it in schools when really it's not much different to believing that there really 'was' such thing as Giants, beanstalks and golden eggs?

now you're going to tell me that the Giants, beanstalks and golden eggs was just a story.

Except they don't teach it in schools ,they teach about religion in schools ,there is a huge difference between learning about a religion and worshiping within a particular religions beliefs.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by martyh

they teach about religion in schools ,

Thanks, I've put the word in now.

Originally Posted by Gary L

Thanks, I've put the word in now.

Then in answer to your question "why teach about it" i would say because ,like it or not religion has played a massive part in world history and is largely responsible for the layout of the world today ,and understanding how and why events happened is very important

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Gary L

why 'teach' about it in schools when really it's not much different to believing that there really 'was' such thing as Giants, beanstalks and golden eggs?

So hopefully those people with spectacularly cock-eyed ignorant attitudes towards religion and faith may finally be educated about what is actually believed and written about in holy texts and not use what is written on the back of a beer mat on which to base their 'knowledge' of such matters.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by martyh

Then in answer to your question "why teach about it" i would say because ,like it or not religion has played a massive part in world history and is largely responsible for the layout of the world today ,and understanding how and why events happened is very important

Good point. I suppose a lot of wars and battles get mentioned then?

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Russ

You're almost there

I was there from an early age. I have no issue with RE in schools but it should be totally voluntary

I have big issues with religion being forced down the throat of someone who is not interested in religion, be it at school, council meetings or my front door by someone who cannot read a simple sign and then gets upset when i tell them to go away .

[Fawkes]

Originally Posted by Gary L

You can look at this 2 ways.
one being that there is a God, and the other being there isn't a God.

the first would be sort of expected to 'learn' about him/it.

the second would be just the long tradition throughout the world. hoping that more members join if you like.

but it doesn't help matters when he says


he's basically saying that there isn't one, but it would be nice to believe that there is.

which is why people question it now. why 'teach' about it in schools when really it's not much different to believing that there really 'was' such thing as Giants, beanstalks and golden eggs?

now you're going to tell me that the Giants, beanstalks and golden eggs was just a story.

Religious education isn’t, or shouldn't be about the existence of God. It's about religion and how it has and continues to shape society. Not to teach it at all would be wrong. It’s like saying lets not teach people about the Nazis because you don't like them. They are part of our history.

All inclusive religious history = Good.
Monotheist and creationist pseudo-science = Bad.

Originally Posted by Gary L

Good point. I suppose a lot of wars and battles get mentioned then?

Learning about the religious differences between Christianity and Islam would give a person a better understanding as to why the crusades happened .
so yes there would be plenty of wars and sword fighting to keep your interest

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Sirius

I was there from an early age. I have no issue with RE in schools but it should be totally voluntary

I have big issues with religion being forced down the throat of someone who is not interested in religion, be it at school, council meetings or my front door by someone who cannot read a simple sign and then gets upset when i tell them to go away .

The issue isn't about religion (or indeed, atheism) being rammed down anyone's throat. Nobody is suggesting that.