Should atheism be taught along side religious studies in schools?

idi banashapan · 09-09-2018, 14:36

https://www.theguardian.com/educatio...-diverse-world

What are people’s views on this? Should atheism be taught in an equal measure in schools?

heero_yuy · 09-09-2018, 14:55

Quote:

Quote from The Independent:

The number of Britons who say they have no religion has hit a record high, new data has revealed.

More than half of the British public (53 per cent) say they are not at all religious – a figure that has increased by five percentage points since 2015 and by 19 percentage points since 1983, when just three in 10 people deemed themselves non-religious.

Both atheism and all religions including paganism with their good and bad points should be taught so that young people can make an informed decision as to follow or not.

denphone · 09-09-2018, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

Both atheism and all religions including paganism with their good and bad points should be taught so that young people can make an informed decision as to follow or not.

Nothing wrong with whatever religion one follows as the problem is people who use religion for their own selfish and nefarious ends.

**Hugh** · 09-09-2018, 15:10

Yes

Angua · 09-09-2018, 15:18

Yes, and humanism.

Seems odd that despite the stranglehold faith based education has on third of schools, they are producing the least religious generations, year on year.

Sephiroth · 09-09-2018, 15:21

There is no God. Even if there was, purpose was accomplished and God has died. Nothing to worship.

Religion is now a political tool (as it has been for thousands of years) designed to control people and enrich the institution or power wielder.

Atheism should be positively analysed and taught in schools and rationalised against the various religions.

Taf · 09-09-2018, 16:12

I strongly believe that no religion should be taught, studied or practiced in schools. And that faith schools should be banned during normal school hours.

**Maggy** · 09-09-2018, 16:59

Many schools I taught in did teach about other faiths without promoting them. It can provide better understanding in the society we all live in of how others have the views that they do. I do think that atheism should also be part of the syllabus.

Pierre · 09-09-2018, 17:11

Threads about religion rarely end well.

In answer to the question...yes.

idi banashapan · 09-09-2018, 17:15

I do wonder how atheism could be ‘taught’. By its nature, it’s more a lack of belief rather than a belief system in itself. In fact, it’s what we start with.

Perhaps schools could instead teach critical thinking, ethics and morality in place of ‘religious’ studies, but incorporate how different religions value those aspects, with emphasis on the fact religion is not necessary in order to live by a useful, good and ethical values?

Angua · 09-09-2018, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by idi banashapan

I do wonder how atheism could be ‘taught’. By its nature, it’s more a lack of belief rather than a belief system in itself. In fact, it’s what we start with.

Perhaps schools could instead teach critical thinking, ethics and morality in place of ‘religious’ studies, but incorporate how different religions value those aspects, with emphasis on the fact religion is not necessary in order to live by a useful, good and ethical values?

Critical thinking and tolerance.

idi banashapan · 09-09-2018, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angua

Critical thinking and tolerance.

Tolerance is a good one, unfortunately. It seems to me that intolerance is what is taught. Children in the infant school playground rarely even see the differences between themselves and the other children they play with. At some stage, as they grow, they learn to highlight those differences.

**Damien** · 09-09-2018, 17:53

I don't see the problem with including atheism as part of religion education but there isn't much too it really. You could do a bit about the history of it but it's not as if there is a unifying set of beliefs/history/system to it.

I think it's patronising to teach critical thinking as part of 'atheism' as if people who are not atheists lack it.

idi banashapan · 09-09-2018, 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

I think it's patronising to teach critical thinking as part of 'atheism' as if people who are not atheists lack it.

Some may argue it's just the inverse of saying one needs religion to live morally, which implies those without religion are immoral, I guess?

This is why I think it may be better to remove the religious or atheism concepts from the equation and just teach the elements of critical thinking, et cetera. But equally, it may not be better

That said, I understand that learning about those beliefs (or lack of) helps everyone to better know or understand another's point of view, and therefore we can better understand and be mindful of them as people.

Sephiroth · 09-09-2018, 19:22

I think the trick to teaching Atheism is to start with "who pushed the big bang button" and let it develop from there.

50% says God did it; 50% says it just happened - no God. You can then build on the "God did it" postulation leading to when God had finished setting the Universe on its path, including life on Earth, God died. Evidence? Who has seen God?