School should be the one place where children of all backgrounds can study and socialise together in preparation for living in a diverse society. Religiously segregated schools (or 'faith schools') subvert this idea, promoting separatism and an 'us and them' perspective, which is self-evidently damaging. Such schools do a disservice to the pupils themselves and society in general. So, how can we work towards eliminating these schools? Is it worth joining the National Secular Society to contribute towards curing the problem? "So, what's the problem?" - I already said what the problem is. Read the question details.
Religion & Spirituality - 11 Answers
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1 :
If you don't like religious schools, create an atheist only school... wait, it already exists. So, what's the problem? Always ask the question from the opposit stance. You will gain more objective perspective. "How best to eliminate atheistic segregated schools in the UK?"...
2 :
I agree. Religion and education should be two separate things and all children, regardless of their backgrounds and faiths should have the oppurtunity to learn about the beliefs of others, not just about the beliefs of their particular religion. i dont think we'll ever be able to get rid of faith schools though :(
3 :
With atheist fire and brimstone
4 :
Well, here's the deal. You can eliminate schools, but you will never eliminate the "'us and them' perspective". So, basically, you'd be forcing all the bigoted students to mingle with the intelligent students. Not to mention all the right wing religious parents would throw a hissy fit.
5 :
It's probably worth it to join the National Secular Society. At least then you'd have done something. In my country, we don't really have religious schools. Lucky us and our n.1 education system world wide (a fact confirmed by a recent worldwide PISA study).
6 :
You are right. Religiously segregated schools are a problem. I think the only way to do away with them is for the government tom legislate against them. But this is not likely to happen.
7 :
Don't focus on the symptom, focus on the disease - work toward eliminating religion. No religion = no religious segregation. And less war, less sex crime, less oppression, more scientific advancement, more freedom.
8 :
What beliefs do you or would you share with those you love. The ones you feel are important or vital. So don't begrudge that to others just because you think they are wrong and you think that you are correct. You could be wrong.. is it not just remotely posible..??? No?
9 :
Why not just leave them alone and see if they will fade away. It is said, "If they are not against us, they are for us". It is also said, "If they are not with us, just leave them alone". What is your opinion of these words quoted?
10 :
Maybe the solution is to offer religious education in the public schools, but with a requirement that the material be broad and extend across the religious spectrum. The classes should not only focus on the spiritual aspects, but the social and political ones as well. I live in America, and here some of the religious right feels that anything relating to God has been sanitized if not altogether removed from public schools and it upsets them. They may be whiners, but perhaps it'd be better to actually deal with religion in an earnest and constructive way that does not exclude anyone. You'd need some pretty damn good teachers though, and those can be hard to find. Especially as people tend to come at things like religion with their own personal agenda.
11 :
Religious school are a Godsend for immigrant families wishing to retain their own identity and culture whilst living in what has become and anti culture land. I tend to step on my soap box for the return of Christian Morning Prayer assemblies in school as I received as a child. In those days JW’s and the like would refuse to let their children attend assembly for religious reasons which I found unsubstantiated. I am not an orthodox practising religious. Al lack of pastoral tutelage and focus mainly upon a media has destroyed this nation’s culture and identity. Atheism is mainly an American disease where religious zealots have literally generated a group of thoroughly nasty subversives against religion. I could not understand this stance of theirs until yesterday upon receiving an email from a so called Christian so infuriating me as to increase my wariness against psychologically damaging religious and atheist bigotry, both resultants of psychotically damaged social misfits crusading against innocents to avenge a perceived wrong they may have suffered. The people need a culture, an identity, we destroy religion and create a greater market for the media profiteers, and it hasn’t worked and has ruined a nation, driven by greed and hate. Curing people with love and understanding, teaching self sufficiency works against the media or state culture seeking to control the masses via the idiot box strategically placed in each lounge in every home. The religious school close to my home was fantastic in its time, and taught an integrated individuality, a blessing in times of old traditional cultural views conflicting with new age faddishness. Each nation needs to economically prosper but not necessarily at the expense of the quality of life, and social stability of the people. Criticism is better reserved for the state infidels and media spin doctoring destroying the very fabric of a country to enhance its profit ratio. The objective being solely greed driven than a virtue of national pride. Most Unfortunate.
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