Rowan Williams to warn of downgrading of religious education

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Mactire

Of which I have.. acceptance that is

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.

[Fawkes]

CIA - The World Factbook:

Religion:

Christian 33.35% (of which Roman Catholic 16.83%, Protestant 6.08%, Orthodox 4.03%, Anglican 1.26%), Muslim 22.43%, Hindu 13.78%, Buddhist 7.13%, Sikh 0.36%, Jewish 0.21%, Baha'i 0.11%, other religions 11.17%, non-religious 9.42%, atheists 2.04% (2009 est.)

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Russ

If only you'd had a proper Religious Education, then you'd know how much more it is than that

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

[Russ]

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

[Mactire]

Originally Posted by Stuart

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.

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.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Mactire

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.

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.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Mactire

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.

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.

[Mactire]

Originally Posted by Russ

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.

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.

Originally Posted by Mactire

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.

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.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Mactire

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.

Thankfully your view appears to be in the minority.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Mactire

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.

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

[Mactire]

Originally Posted by Chris

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.

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 ----------

Originally Posted by Russ

Thankfully your view appears to be in the minority.

They dont in this threads poll vote

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

Originally Posted by Stuart

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

Never

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Mactire

They dont in this threads poll vote

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

Originally Posted by Mactire

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

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

[Mactire]

Originally Posted by Russ

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

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 ----------

Originally Posted by martyh

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

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

---------- Post added at 21:14 ---------- Previous post was at 21:11 ----------

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