Richard Dawkins says children need to be ‘protected’ from religion.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

Who does tell you the best way to bring your children up, Russ?

Nobody 'tells' me - I do what I believe is best for them

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

Discussing faith is diffrent from teaching faith.

Not always. Of course I'm going discuss and teach them about Christianity but do I 'demand' they comply? Do I threatend them with 'fire and brimstone'? Of course not. If they want to know about other faiths (and they will) then by all means, I won't stop them.

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

Effectively Dawkins wants to have his doctrine as the only one allowed to be taught and tries to tie his to science and others as opposed to science.

His blinding hypocrisy and double standards will be lost on many.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

As to faith schools, if you don't want your kids to be brought up that way don't send them there.

This talk was given in the Republic of Ireland. Less than 1% of the schools there are secular. Northern Ireland isn't much better.

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

Parents will want their children to follow their own faith, that's pretty natural. That includes secular positions.

I can't comment for everyone on that one but I have at no point made any attempt to influence my daughter's faith, or lack of, and leave it up to her. I'm not a fan of indoctrination or influencing children on such matters when they are unable to properly consider these things and have very much adhered to this tenet in my own home. It's not a coincidence that the fastest growing religion in the world with the most 'retention' across generations is the one where most of the children are forced to study said religion from perhaps the age of 4 or 5, even in the UK, despite that religion making Christianity appear downright plausible in comparison.

Incidentally it's perfectly possible to be secular and religious. Secularism is the basis of complete religious freedom with no bias, or prejudice, shown to anyone depending on their faith. Many religious people are secular in that they seek no bias from the state and don't seek to prejudice others.

Secularism is a principle that involves two basic propositions. The first is the strict separation of the state from religious institutions. The second is that people of different religions and beliefs are equal before the law.

The UK is, obviously, not secular, and the Conservative party, especially around election time, aren't either.

---------- Post added at 13:07 ---------- Previous post was at 12:52 ----------

Originally Posted by Russ

His blinding hypocrisy and double standards will be lost on many.

I'm not always a fan of his delivery but his key point always remains that we should be rational and follow the evidence.

I have to admit to being one of those his blinding hypocrisy and double standards are lost on.

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Russ

Nobody 'tells' me - I do what I believe is best for them

Which is obviously, therefore, based on your opinion. That is what Dawkins is doing, exercising and articulating an opinion. By what barometer do you gauge what is best for them? Where do you seek guidance from?

Originally Posted by Russ

Not always.

I think you'll find teaching and discussing are essentially two different things.

[Taf]

I have always been of the belief that religion has no place in education, politics or everyday life. It should be a choice by consenting adults practiced behind closed doors. Indoctrination of the young outside of their own homes should not happen.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I doubt it, because he doesn't .

Every time I hear him speak I'm tempted to go to church just to cheese him of and I'm sure there's many lapsed Christians that feel the same, up till now though I've got by just ignoring the boring little man.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

Parents will want their children to follow their own faith, that's pretty natural. That includes secular positions.

No it doesn't, if any of my children came to me andsaid that they had thought long and hard about it and they had decided that they had put their faith in a god and wanted follow that religion, they would have my blessing.

If they go on to have children and then indoctrinate their own children into that religion from birth, I would remind them that I didn't do that to them and let them find their own faith, and I would advise they did the same for their children.

[Gary L]

My niece was always sceptical about there being a God.
I felt that she was forced to believe it was true. and I suppose she thought the same too because she doubted it.
but she doubted it thinking that it was wrong to doubt it. as if she thought she wasn't allowed to doubt it.

now she knows there isn't one and she's ok.
you could say she has been 'saved'

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by alanbjames

Even though they are Catholic they will be taught about all aspects of life including sex education when old enough which will include LGBTQIA.

Think there are enough labels there, Chris?

I would hope no-one defines themselves by their sexuality in the modern UK, and that simply informing the kids that people are different and to accept it would work. Running out of letters of the alphabet breaking down every possible permutation seems excessive.

---------- Post added at 14:22 ---------- Previous post was at 14:21 ----------

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Every time I hear him speak I'm tempted to go to church just to cheese him of and I'm sure there's many lapsed Christians that feel the same, up till now though I've got by just ignoring the boring little man.

Looking at the attendance figures, stripping out newly arrived immigrants, he doesn't seem to be having that effect on the whole.

Not entirely convinced Dawkins is stalking you and monitoring your church attendance, mind.

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by alanbjames

LGBTQIA.

That's a bit of a mouthful.

[tweetiepooh]

Been down this before but if you do have a belief that there is an eternal consequence to actions and such then you will want your children to be "protected" by that belief.

Since Dawkins doesn't believe in eternal consequences he is fine to insist that the young are simply left to make their own minds up, after being taught through school that anything that can't be proven to his standards isn't worth it of course.

[papa smurf]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

Been down this before but if you do have a belief that there is an eternal consequence to actions and such then you will want your children to be "protected" by that belief.

Since Dawkins doesn't believe in eternal consequences he is fine to insist that the young are simply left to make their own minds up, after being taught through school that anything that can't be proven to his standards isn't worth it of course.

imo that excuse is getting a bit old and tired

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

Been down this before but if you do have a belief that there is an eternal consequence to actions and such then you will want your children to be "protected" by that belief.

Glad I don't believe in your God if they're so embittered, resentful and petulant as to hold the actions of children against them for all eternity.

EDIT: Sorry, apologies for holding God up to the same moral standards we expect other from human beings. Keep forgetting that as far as morality goes we, imperfect and mortal as we are, are held to far higher standards than the gods we worship.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

Looking at the attendance figures, stripping out newly arrived immigrants, he doesn't seem to be having that effect on the whole.

Not entirely convinced Dawkins is stalking you and monitoring your church attendance, mind.

Err he hasn't had the effect on me either as I already said, he just tempts me to and speaking of figures I'm pretty sure the biggest demographic re religion will be lapsed Christian, what do you think these constant attacks on the religion do for them, makes them remain lapsed or encourages them to refind their faith? Still what does it really matter to Dick, the mans a business and he has books to flog

[Gary L]

When all's going well. it's God's doing.
When you're being tortured, abused, raped, bullied, dying as soon as you're born, suffering immensely.

that's God too.

So you're God's fault?