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[Hazybear]

But in the history classes, perhaps?

What I always found odd at school was the teaching of Christianity in RE as though it were the absolute truth, while Judaism/Hinduism/Islam were taught in terms of 'look at those quaint little foreigners, with their funny little beliefs'. It's all a load of tosh IMO - why push one above the rest with its theories taught as though they were scientific facts?

How old are you Joe it has changed a lot even in the last few years and most 'RE' teachers are atheists or not attached to any particular religion. Most of the mixed syllabus then includes moral and ethical issues more than it does teaching about different religions.

I still do not think religion should be taught in schools. I am a Buddhist \I came to be a Buddhist when in my twenties just because I was interested and started reading books. I do not object to teachers giving an outline or facts about a certain religion. Children should be able to get information about other faiths if they want to. Most schools and families have computers and kids can always find out what they want without any pressure. Just because you are born into one denomination does not mean you cannot learn about others. What I do not believe is dogma in certain religions, this is what causes a lot of trouble. I think kids will make up their minds what they believe themselves once give all the facts. My children are both grown up and do not have any religious belief but they have been taught to treat people kindly and always to respect other people's beliefs.

Did you read my post? I pointed out that I'm not talking of kids being taught to believe in one religion or other at school but being taught about the different religions so they know about them and then know what other people globally believe whether they choose to then follow a particular religion themselves.

[Joe]

How old are you Joe it has changed a lot even in the last few years and most 'RE' teachers are atheists or not attached to any particular religion. Most of the mixed syllabus then includes moral and ethical issues more than it does teaching about different religions.

Two years older than you, Missy!

Actually, my secondary school was a bit of a funny one with RE - year 7 was all about Christianity, with a proper Christian lady teaching - I remember her in tears while we watched a video of the crucifixion one day. Then a lady who I think was an atheist in year 8, stifling laughs while watching videos on Islam with a British convert extolling the virtues of praying 5 times a day. Year 9 I barely remember, other than that we watched Gandhi across about 5 lessons while colouring in a map of the world (don't ask, I can't remember why!).
Then years 10 and 11, with compulsory RE once a week around the GCSE subjects, was just discussing/arguing with a youngish teacher about abortion, evolution, etc. I couldn't work out what her own views on religion were as I always suspected she was playing devil's advocate.

So a mixed bag really. Must say I did enjoy some of the later morality debates. It hardened my views against religion, I'm afraid, as I found myself disagreeing with pretty much everything on the Christian side!

[Mark]

Though now at 25 it's a much harder path to follow then at was in my teens

[Hazybear]

And now let's enter back into the real world. When people date, one of the prime objectives tend to be common interests. Not just materialistic things but more importantly, principles.

If I had made that comment, rest assured, Clydey would have hunted me down and have a word with me in person. I can’t even state what would have happened next. But because you are his long time buddy, he let you off the hook, but that comment of yours is neither trivial nor respectable. It’s okay if you don’t like Islam in general or religion for that matter, but it’s not okay how you dismiss people who follow it. You are basically judging people based on their religion and not giving it an ounce of thought behind your own rationale. At the end day, I care about the person and who he or she truly is rather than what religion he or she follows. You are not giving the person a chance because your mind is so made up. It, in fact, shows your own narrow mind if I am to be honest, but I am not going to deduct that so soon. Instead I am going to say it’s your prerogative who you choose to date or go out or marry and I am going to overlook the reason behind it.

I agree with Mark, and I'd go further and say that your comment is a load of garbage. The sentiment sounds alright-but not within this context. So get off your high horse and move on please! Are you going to have a go at me for dismissing people because I've found from experience that dating non-Christians doesn't work and so I will only date guys who are Christians because they understand that how is live my life is built upon my faith in Christ?

[Emma Jean]

You really are hilarious! It's convenient to you because you want to think I can't answer your questions, when in reality I have other things to do with my time than look back through pages of arguments - besides which, it's not how I approach fora. I'm happy to dip in and out of discussions.

There is absolutely no flaw. One of the biggest underlying purposes of religion is to control and oppress. 'Believe in God or you'll go to hell.' It kept people in check under the rule of monarchs in the dark ages and it continues to now. Sexist men wanting to keep women down at heel is an extension of that. Using religion to do it is all part of the game. I'm not sure what flaw you want to expose, but you'll no doubt tell me I'm missing your point. Christ alone knows what point, but feel free to tell me it's there.

I must say, I'm enjoying seeing this whirlwind of righteous indignation and confused bile-spewing, in a sadistic sort of way.

I am hilarious, eh? As far as I know, you haven’t missed one single opportunity to argue back here, there or anywhere. You know that you are not that person. It would go against the very nature you have, Joey.

As to the main point I’ve highlighted in your post, that’s what you like to believe. There are far too many people out there who believe the opposite. Who is to say who is right on this? Would you say it’s you? Wouldn’t that make you a complete fool if you did? Because behind Religion, there’s God – God who apparently created this Universe. Seriously, your take on religion and God is a simplistic one because there are far too elements to take into account never mind the history and all other things. The matter on religion and God is a far complex one. Any scientist would agree on that.

But that’s the danger with human beings though. If they know a bit, they claim to know a lot when in truth, they still know nothing.

[Joe]

I am hilarious, eh? As far as I know, you haven’t missed one single opportunity to argue back here, there or anywhere. You know that you are not that person. It would go against the very nature you have, Joey.

As to the main point I’ve highlighted in your post, that’s what you like to believe. There are far too many people out there who believe the opposite. Who is to say who is right on this? Would you say it’s you? Wouldn’t that make you a complete fool if you did? Because behind Religion, there’s God – God who apparently created this Universe. Seriously, your take on religion and God is a simplistic one because there are far too elements to take into account never mind the history and all other things. The matter on religion and God is a far complex one. Any scientist would agree on that.

But that’s the danger with human beings though. If they know a bit, they claim to know a lot when in truth, they still know nothing.

I literally have no idea what you're talking about. It's absolute gibberish. I feel like I've gone down the rabbit hole.

[Emma Jean]

I literally have no idea what you're talking about. It's absolute gibberish. I feel like I've gone down the rabbit hole.

That's a cop out and you know it. You believe religion is manmade and you gave your reasons but you know full well, that's not the absolute truth just because you don't believe in it. It was very simple as I see it.

When you don't understand something that's beyond you, you either resort to personal insults or you just dismiss it saying you don't understand it. I am noticing a pattern here. I am not going to continue with this anymore.