General Chat

Reading does not appear to be a national accomplishment in some junior schools anymore, if newspaper reports are to be believed.

Perhaps that is one reason why youngsters do not or cannot acquaint themselves with reality - assuming they or their elders are interested.

Maggie, I have to say that your last paragraph is exactly how I look at things. It seems to be a trait that having a religion makes one a better person than one with no religious beliefs. I have experienced alot of this in life and I can only feel sorry they are so ignorant.

Just occurred to me, Do followers of Islam allow photographs to be taken of people. Can children not have pictures of their parents or friends? Does anyone know?

YOUR DAD SOUNDS LIKE A LOVELY MAN

MY BELIEFS
A BIT OF LOTS OF THEM MIXED TOGETHER
BUT ALL MINE
MY CHOICE

I WAS CHRITENED CofE
WENT TO SALVATION ARMY SUNDAY SCHOOL
NOW WHO KNOWS BUT ME

In any religion there are various 'depths' different people will practice.
There are Fundamentalist Jews - the men have ringlets and the women cover their heads twice. They do no physical work at all on the Sabbath.
There are Liberal Jews - people whom you would never now follow this religion - some even eat pork!
There are Moslems who wear western clothes and drink, there are others who follow the really Fundamentalist views of a few.
There are Roman Catholics who use contraception, Protestant Christians who turn people away etc etc.
There are different bands of 'belief' in EVERY religion, no two people will follow the same 'path'.

My dad converted to Islam when I was 12.
He was never a Moslem, always a follower of Islam.
The difference ? He belonged to none of the 'factions' of Islam, he lived by the Qu'uran.
This is like saying he was neither Protestant nor Catholic, he lived by the Bible.
The Qu'ruan is a very peaceful book. evangelising isn't allowed, war is looked down on etc. It's only the 'thoughts' of later religious leaders that has brought other ideals - rather like the Papal 'bulls' of the Vatican.
My dad was very serious about his religion - he taught religion in Saudi Arabia, when he was working there.
What difference did this make to me, a 12 year old?
Not much - but now I could chase my dad around the house tempting him with my Sunday breakfast (bacon) LOL
However, to my dad it made all the difference in the world.
He became more 'people' focussed - prior to his conversion , it has to be said, he preferred animals to humans, though, when he lived in Saudi, he still brought cheetahs home for no known reason (Perhaps they were lonely) and requested any injured desert foxes (they're really cute) were brought to him.
He worked abroad a lot, but he returned to UK when he retired, and I got to know him much better.

When he retired, to attone for any sins he may have committed, he did a lot of voluntary work. He helped in the head injuries unit at the local hospital, taught people to read and write, and became a bit of an unofficial social worker in the large block of flats he lived in.
Oh - and he also adopted feral cats from the local cats home!! LOL
I can honestly say, my dad's conversion to Islam brought us closer together.
His one wish was that his children would speak to a beggar and a King in the same way (an Islam thing) and before he died, he said he was very proud of all four of us, as he knew we would, but thought I shouldn't have been quite so blase with King Faisal!! LOL

maggie (absolutely no religion - but with very high morals and an utter contempt for anyone who thinks they are 'better' than anyone else!!)

Btw, yes, children should be taught about different faiths. You can't teach all of them, there are too many, but the main ones should be taught. Biogtry is caused by ignorance and fear, whereas giving someone knowledge helps them to understand and breeds tolerance :-)

Dizzi I suspect there are problems because some people decide to be offended on behalf of other people and ban/change things. This causes resentment and the truth is the people who are supposed to be offended aren't offended at all and wonder what all the fuss is about.

I HAVE QUITE A FEW MUSLIM FRIENDS AND FIND THEM EXTREMLY FRIENDLY AND BELIEF/FAITHS ARE NEVER FOURCED ON ANYONE
AND THEIR CHILDREN HAVE PRESENTS AT CHRISTMAS,,EGGS AT EASTER THEY BRING
THEIR CHILDREN UP IN A WAY THAT COMBINDS
WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN AND WHAT WE BELIEVE
CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN ONE STREET,,IF ORDINARY WORKING FOLK CAN DO THAT,,
WHY IS THERE SO MANY PROBLEMS

MY MOTHER SEARCHED FOR A SIGN TO SAY THIS IS THE WAY FOR YOU.
SHE WAS BAPTISED CATHOLIC,,CHANGED TO Cof E
AND BEFORE SHE DIED JEHOVAH.
I HOPE SHE FOUND WHAT SHE WAS LOOKING FOR,

I ALSO BELIEVEA CHILD SHOULD HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT FAITHS ARE AND
CHOOSE THEIR WAY THEMSELVES

Some members of my family are Muslim. They send and receive christmas cards.

Having learned about other faiths, it's a pity so many fail to put their chosen one into practice.

Hi Dizzi,
I understand exactly what you mean. You have expressed it fine.
I think all children should have basic knowledge of other faiths regardless of their particular faith/non faith . Its fundamental to communication with others.

I believe it only right that children should be taught about other beliefs and religions in school. On the whole children are far more accepting and tolerant than we give them credit for. I have respect for anyones chosen religion but do not believe any child should be indoctrinated into religious beliefs. By teaching them about different religions they can grow up and make informed choices about faith for themselves.

Cath xx

We tend to imagine that Muslim children are firmly kept apart - by their parents - from any "infidel". I saw a Muslim woman in full burkha helping her young children buy some Christmas decorations. I also know a Hindu doctor who puts up a Christmas tree and exchanges gifts with his family so that his children can enjoy that aspect of the holiday season. He says that helps his family assimilate into our culture. I have great respect for that.

Children in the schools my children attended are taught "religious studies" where they learn about various religions in the world. It demystifies religions and allows people to understand how alike some of our beliefs are.

Sue

Hi Dermot,
Teaching children about different faiths has been standard practice in this country for at least 15 years that I know of!
Twenty years ago I remember in a Cof E primary school, the children were painting a nativity scene, and one Moslem boy decided he was going to go all 'fundamentalist' and refused to draw it, saying (quite rightly) that in Islam, the re-creation of a living being wasn't allowed. (He'd conveniently forgotten the picture of a horse he'd drawn the previous week!! LOL)
I pointed out that he hadn't been told to draw people - the nativity was in a barn, probably at an oasis and suggested he draw a barn and a few palm trees, with a star in the sky!

Hello Dizzi:o)

No l don't think Muslim children should be excempt, they should learn other religions just the same of other children do!!

jude:o) x

I know a Muslim family and remember the little girl being an angel in the school nativity play. Her mother was fine about that and said it was a part of joining in with what happened in this country.
I think it's great that children are taught about different beliefs and hope that this leads to a better understanding and respect for other's views.

Gwyn

In our primary, at the end of assembly we say a prayer & we are not a church school.

We also do the Xmas story, sometimes with a slight twit or variation but it still stays the same format. - all children of different faiths take part - apart from as I said earlier any JW children through their own choice.

We were taught about other faiths. Assembly was for all, and then we split for prayers etc into different rooms as RC would not allow mixed prayers in 1947. At that time there were no children of other faiths in school.

I think the majority of schools teach about all religions to all pupils these days? .. where there might be an 'exemption', is from particular 'religious' assemblies ( singing Christmas carols for example) ... Though I think most school assemblies are now secular? unless in faith schools.

It would be well for all children (& adults too) to have a rudimentary understanding of other faiths. Unfortunately, this has never been the standard practice in UK schools - so, we have a lot of catching-up to do.

Knowledge is not a heavy burden.