Comments on: ‘You can’t keep your kids ignorant about other religions’, Christian parents are told http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/04/%e2%80%98you-can%e2%80%99t-keep-your-kids-ignorant-about-other-religions%e2%80%99-christian-parents-are-told/ The voice of atheism since 1881 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:36:37 +0000 hourly 1 By: Chris Morton http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/04/%e2%80%98you-can%e2%80%99t-keep-your-kids-ignorant-about-other-religions%e2%80%99-christian-parents-are-told/comment-page-1/#comment-21559 Chris Morton Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:49:49 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=8273#comment-21559 If they included "Freethought" then I'd get excited, but they are still pushing the belief systems. I wonder if they allow freethinkers/atheists to leave the classroom when they start their religious instruction? If they included "Freethought" then I'd get excited, but they are still pushing the belief systems. I wonder if they allow freethinkers/atheists to leave the classroom when they start their religious instruction?

]]> By: KateV http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/04/%e2%80%98you-can%e2%80%99t-keep-your-kids-ignorant-about-other-religions%e2%80%99-christian-parents-are-told/comment-page-1/#comment-21481 KateV Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:06:13 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=8273#comment-21481 I feel very sorry for the parents in this case. The impression of them I personally get from all this (being careful given their evident liking for litigation): They seem to feel the need for external validation of their beliefs. In turn that suggests insecurity of belief. They seem not to recognise that others have different beliefs that are as legitimate as their own. They seem not to see that understanding a little about others' beliefs can aid mutual respect and reduce conflict. They have spent a lot of money - money they could have spent on broadening their children's understanding of the world. They must have spent a lot of time on this - time they could have spent with their children. That is so very sad. Personally, I sent my son to a Catholic school so he knew something of his father's family background and we hardly talked about religion at home at all. I was pleased he decided his views were similar to my own (humanist) but even more pleased that he had come to that decision by himself on the basis of information and thought. I feel very sorry for the parents in this case. The impression of them I personally get from all this (being careful given their evident liking for litigation):
They seem to feel the need for external validation of their beliefs. In turn that suggests insecurity of belief.
They seem not to recognise that others have different beliefs that are as legitimate as their own.
They seem not to see that understanding a little about others' beliefs can aid mutual respect and reduce conflict.
They have spent a lot of money – money they could have spent on broadening their children's understanding of the world.
They must have spent a lot of time on this – time they could have spent with their children.
That is so very sad.
Personally, I sent my son to a Catholic school so he knew something of his father's family background and we hardly talked about religion at home at all. I was pleased he decided his views were similar to my own (humanist) but even more pleased that he had come to that decision by himself on the basis of information and thought.

]]> By: Stoneyground http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/04/%e2%80%98you-can%e2%80%99t-keep-your-kids-ignorant-about-other-religions%e2%80%99-christian-parents-are-told/comment-page-1/#comment-21474 Stoneyground Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:11:54 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=8273#comment-21474 These people are surely admitting that their beliefs are nonsense. I was not much concerned that my daughter had to go to a CofE school (Hobson's Choice) as I am well informed about religion and knew that I could counter their arguments. The fact is that the notion that Christianity is the only true religion can't stand up for a second in the light of the fact that there are other religions, all making different claims but with identical justifications for believing them. The fact that they are prepared to forcibly keep their children in ignorance of the real world in order to pass on their beliefs to them is something that they should be utterly ashamed of. These people are surely admitting that their beliefs are nonsense. I was not much concerned that my daughter had to go to a CofE school (Hobson's Choice) as I am well informed about religion and knew that I could counter their arguments. The fact is that the notion that Christianity is the only true religion can't stand up for a second in the light of the fact that there are other religions, all making different claims but with identical justifications for believing them. The fact that they are prepared to forcibly keep their children in ignorance of the real world in order to pass on their beliefs to them is something that they should be utterly ashamed of.

]]> By: Buffy http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/04/%e2%80%98you-can%e2%80%99t-keep-your-kids-ignorant-about-other-religions%e2%80%99-christian-parents-are-told/comment-page-1/#comment-21467 Buffy Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:19:31 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=8273#comment-21467 But if children realize there are other religions out there they might convert to one of them or even realize they're all bunk. Oh the horror! The rights of parents to keep their children ignorant and compliant to one dogma should always be recognized and considered superior to anything else. But if children realize there are other religions out there they might convert to one of them or even realize they're all bunk. Oh the horror! The rights of parents to keep their children ignorant and compliant to one dogma should always be recognized and considered superior to anything else.

]]> By: barriejohn http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/04/%e2%80%98you-can%e2%80%99t-keep-your-kids-ignorant-about-other-religions%e2%80%99-christian-parents-are-told/comment-page-1/#comment-21464 barriejohn Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:35:47 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=8273#comment-21464 They're scared shitless that their kids will start to think for themselves! They're scared shitless that their kids will start to think for themselves!

]]> By: Fr33think3r http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/04/%e2%80%98you-can%e2%80%99t-keep-your-kids-ignorant-about-other-religions%e2%80%99-christian-parents-are-told/comment-page-1/#comment-21462 Fr33think3r Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:41:20 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=8273#comment-21462 If your religion is True then you should have nothing to fear. <i>"Freedom of religion does not protect the right not to know what is going on in our universe."</i> You can ignore it but you are not protected from it. Unless of course you have your Morman magical undies. If your religion is True then you should have nothing to fear.
"Freedom of religion does not protect the right not to know what is going on in our universe." You can ignore it but you are not protected from it. Unless of course you have your Morman magical undies.

]]> By: Stuart_W http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/04/%e2%80%98you-can%e2%80%99t-keep-your-kids-ignorant-about-other-religions%e2%80%99-christian-parents-are-told/comment-page-1/#comment-21460 Stuart_W Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:36:16 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=8273#comment-21460 I had to do a compulsory GCSE in RE in the late 90s, the reason being that nobody save for one person in our year chose it as part of their 'options', and even he only ticked that box because he saw it as the lesser of six evils. So, because nobody wanted to do it, we ALL had to. Little matter, it was basically a weekly doss period. (In case you're wondering, I got an 'F' which could stand for... see title of site!) I had to do a compulsory GCSE in RE in the late 90s, the reason being that nobody save for one person in our year chose it as part of their 'options', and even he only ticked that box because he saw it as the lesser of six evils. So, because nobody wanted to do it, we ALL had to. Little matter, it was basically a weekly doss period.
(In case you're wondering, I got an 'F' which could stand for… see title of site!)

]]> By: Dave http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/04/%e2%80%98you-can%e2%80%99t-keep-your-kids-ignorant-about-other-religions%e2%80%99-christian-parents-are-told/comment-page-1/#comment-21459 Dave Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:55:37 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=8273#comment-21459 "What parents were demanding was the right to ignorance, the right to protect their children from being exposed to the existence of other religions. This right to ignorance is certainly not protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms" Exactly, Perhaps they don't want their children "exposed" read "indoctinated" into the offical cults, perhaps the children are ignorant in the methods of torture, or sexual activities or drunkness, As for the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Print me a copy on 2 ply and I'll show you my ruling. "What parents were demanding was the right to ignorance, the right to protect their children from being exposed to the existence of other religions. This right to ignorance is certainly not protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms"

Exactly, Perhaps they don't want their children "exposed" read "indoctinated" into the offical cults, perhaps the children are ignorant in the methods of torture, or sexual activities or drunkness,

As for the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Print me a copy on 2 ply and I'll show you
my ruling.

]]> By: Angela_K http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/04/%e2%80%98you-can%e2%80%99t-keep-your-kids-ignorant-about-other-religions%e2%80%99-christian-parents-are-told/comment-page-1/#comment-21458 Angela_K Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:07:15 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=8273#comment-21458 Most freethinking persons would want religion banned from schools, but if schools must try to fill children’s heads with religious nonsense at least children will learn about the different branches of religion and hopefully realise that they can’t all be true because none of them are. Most freethinking persons would want religion banned from schools, but if schools must try to fill children’s heads with religious nonsense at least children will learn about the different branches of religion and hopefully realise that they can’t all be true because none of them are.

]]> By: Har Davids http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/09/04/%e2%80%98you-can%e2%80%99t-keep-your-kids-ignorant-about-other-religions%e2%80%99-christian-parents-are-told/comment-page-1/#comment-21453 Har Davids Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:02:00 +0000 http://freethinker.co.uk/?p=8273#comment-21453 Parents' moral authority over the education of their children? I never knew I had any over my son, but then I didn't realise that I didn't own him, like some parents think they do. Being an atheist I'm wary of any religion, but I do think it important to know about it, as it has influenced history in a big way. And if these parents are so sure of their little cult, why should they worry about their kids getting some extra information? Parents' moral authority over the education of their children? I never knew I had any over my son, but then I didn't realise that I didn't own him, like some parents think they do. Being an atheist I'm wary of any religion, but I do think it important to know about it, as it has influenced history in a big way. And if these parents are so sure of their little cult, why should they worry about their kids getting some extra information?

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