Article on Stuff opens a can of religious and secular worms!

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Handsomedan

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#142636 19-Mar-2014 09:24

Had a quick read of the article in question yesterday and was quite impressed with the balanced nature of the writing - especially as I have two primary-aged children who are about undertake "religious education" once a week at their state-run school.

Rather than debate the merits of religion vs science etc (as you can easily do that on the article feedback section), I'd rather focus on the quite varying responses from the readers of the article...from the incredibly balance to the quite frankly, unhinged.

Thoughts?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/share-your-news-and-views/9836817/School-religious-instruction-inappropriate

*Edited due to poor (atrocious) spelling and grammar

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#1008759 19-Mar-2014 09:43

The final statement says it all for me.

"If our children are to be truly educated about religion, then they must learn about the multiple faiths and perspectives of our world, not a single faith from an evangelical perspective."

Perhaps have people from different faiths provide their perspective on alternate weeks to balance things out.

Handsomedan

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#1008770 19-Mar-2014 09:54

That was one of the lines that really got the fundamentalists foaming.

I've actually never seen that many comments (or comments on comments) on a Stuff article before.

Fascinating!

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networkn

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#1008774 19-Mar-2014 10:00

I believe that religion plays an important part of an upbringing. I do understand some terrible things have been done or are done in the name of religions, but for a huge number of people, they use it as a guideline for behaving better, and it gives them comfort and peace, and at the end of the day, I don't see the harm in it.

Klipspringer

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#1008776 19-Mar-2014 10:02

At an appropriate age children should be given a programme of diverse religious education where many faiths, beliefs, histories and traditions are presented (perhaps with visiting representatives) which the teacher and class discuss from an anthropological and critical perspective.

Other ethical and philosophical ideas could be discussed at the same time to include the beliefs and arguments of historical philosophers.

This is similar to the national education policies in Japan, Ireland, South Africa and France, for example.

Good article but found that comment utter rubbish. The author clearly has no idea about education in South Africa.

MikeB4

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#1008778 19-Mar-2014 10:03

There are many places which provide religious study if one choses to do so. School class room time and resources should not be used for this. However groups should be able to offer this as an absolutely voluntary activity outside school hours and be able to use the school premises as long as they pay for it.

Coil

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#1008780 19-Mar-2014 10:10

Reading the comments you get an idea of some of the small minded people.
Example number 1:

Pay attention the the -45 and +45.

Its definitely a field day of comments from the pro religious group and the mildly anti.
Personally i dont take kindly to some aspects of religion or if i were to have one, let my own child be "Educated" in such.
But i dont get out there waving a stick around like some stating my views.

From a state run school perspective. I dont think it should be a mandatory class to have religion each week or so. There are faith based schools around in most areas so if it was something that needed to be a part of there is that to take advantage of.

Coil

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#1008783 19-Mar-2014 10:13

KiwiNZ: There are many places which provide religious study if one choses to do so. School class room time and resources should not be used for this. However groups should be able to offer this as an absolutely voluntary activity outside school hours and be able to use the school premises as long as they pay for it.

Totally agree. The primary school i went to did this. Makes everyone happy.

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Lyderies

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#1008787 19-Mar-2014 10:24

KiwiNZ: There are many places which provide religious study if one choses to do so. School class room time and resources should not be used for this. However groups should be able to offer this as an absolutely voluntary activity outside school hours and be able to use the school premises as long as they pay for it.

This

I believe that as State schools are part (i don't know how to say this and please correct me) of our (society community)? That they should have to provide all teachings of all religions that are accepted in NewZealand if they are going to teach them at all, any school that will only provide the one religion should have to become private and not State funded

I did like the article, very really see such balance in the writing

I'm going to noob myself past judgement

Klipspringer

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#1008788 19-Mar-2014 10:25

KiwiNZ: There are many places which provide religious study if one choses to do so. School class room time and resources should not be used for this. However groups should be able to offer this as an absolutely voluntary activity outside school hours and be able to use the school premises as long as they pay for it.

I think it depends on the school. We should have schools for different religions.

We already have Christian schools. Catholic Schools etc ... In these kinds of schools I don't see anything wrong with the religious instruction which goes along with it. Personally I would send my kids to a Christian school simply because these kinds of schools produce more disciplined, respectful kids ..

Maybe we need some atheist only schools where children can be taught about evolution, how evolution can support alien life on other planets, and how it can deny the possibility of a God! (I may even have to attend because I am still struggling with this one myself) The science of what happened before the big bang etc ... :-P

We are a multicultural very diverse country. I would much rather see multicultural, mulitfaith schools instead of us trying to design a single school system which denies each and every child access to his/her religion. Atheists make up only 2.01% of the worlds faith (If u can call it a faith). The vast majority of the world believes in a God of some sort. Christianity represents one-third of the world's population and is the largest religion, and fastest growing religion on the planet.

NZ is just very secular. We kind of unique I suppose.

Coil

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#1008792 19-Mar-2014 10:28

Klipspringer

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#1008795 19-Mar-2014 10:31

If we really want to go down this route, ie stop religion completely in schools, we should stop allowing our kids to sing "God defend New Zealand" in Schools. Its a little contradictory I think.

ubergeeknz

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#1008797 19-Mar-2014 10:34

Klipspringer: If we really want to go down this route, ie stop religion completely in schools, we should stop allowing our kids to sing "God defend New Zealand" in Schools. Its a little contradictory I think.

One battle at a time...

Geektastic

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#1008799 19-Mar-2014 10:37

Handsomedan: Had a quick read of the article in question yesterday and was quite impressed with the balanced nature of the writing - especially as I have two primary-aged children who are about undertake "religious education" once a week at their state-run school.

Rather than debate the merits of religion vs science etc (as you can easily do that on the article feedback section), I'd rather focus on the quite varying responses from the readers of the article...from the incredibly balance to the quite frankly, unhinged.

Thoughts?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/share-your-news-and-views/9836817/School-religious-instruction-inappropriate

*Edited due to poor (atrocious) spelling and grammar

Not that I have children (fortunately!) but if I did, I would not want them being taught anything other than that religion is a method developed by early humans to explain things they could not understand.

Klipspringer

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#1008802 19-Mar-2014 10:40

What happens in new Zealand's Maori schools?

Do the kids learn about Rangi and Papa?

Coil

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#1008805 19-Mar-2014 10:42

Geektastic:

Not that I have children (fortunately!) but if I did, I would not want them being taught anything other than that religion is a method developed by early humans to explain things they could not understand.

The book of the sun and stars that Kings over the years manipulated to personify the beings to grasp a tighter rule.

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