Learning about other's beliefs

Like you say, it is their decision but it's a shame if the parents have not discussed this with the school before planning to withdraw the children. Likewise, perhaps the school should have foreseen that this should be discussed with the parents. Personally I was banned from showing any interest or connection with anything but CofE which left me with an intense curiousity!

Don't they teach Religious Studies in Schools these days? I would have thought that would be the appropriate lesson to explore other Religions

Great piece Terribull, I reckon that sums it up.

In retrospect having been schooled quite strictly in the catholic faith, I am of the opinion now that I was indoctrinated and it had a negative effect on me and my peer group several of whom I still see, so our school days come up in coversation from time to time. I'm not against religious schools per se, but increasingly I'm beginning to see the argument for secularism in the education system. I think religion should be taught objectively, pupils should learn about different faiths and how they fit into the great scheme of things historically and culturally because it will help them understand the world today. I don't think any one religion should be shown to be preferential and pupils could also be made aware, whislt there is a positive side to religion, there is also a negative one. It's my perception that schools are hampered in tackling the latter due to cultural sensibilities. The problem is that religion can breed intolerance, it shouldn't, but unfortunately it can. The bete noir for the religious teaching staff at school was the protestant faith, it was if The Reformation had happened yesterday as far as they were concerned and every protestant was somehow culpable for not only the Dissolution of the Monastries but the subjugation and subsequent persecution of catholics. Although they were pretty economical with the truth about the persecution catholics inflicted on all manner of other religions and cultures. Their teaching I conclude now was totally biased. However, that was 40 to 50 years ago, I gather from children I know who have passed through a catholic school of late there is less indoctrination going on. It was only when I was older that I was able to rationalise how we were taught and that we were imbued with the prejudices of some of the teaching staff. It's very much with all of that in mind and knowing how young unformed minds can be shaped, I find the idea of whipping up a dislike for other religions by teaching staff harmful. The term "non believers" can be used in a pejorative way. However, I understand how important religion is to some and I think there is a need to respect that. For example, The Charlie Hebdo cartoons were undoubtedly very insulting and although I find I disagree with myself sometimes, on the one hand I think that free speech is so important, and in a perfect world people should rise above criticism and insults, I find it hard to find the balance as far as the Charlie Hebdo cartoons were concerned, they hardly seemed worth defending considering their puerile nature and the trouble that ensued. The publishers didn't seem to exercise any wisdom as to how they were going to be received.

I think we should respect others beliefs, but equally that needs to be reciprocated.

So many points raised here. Thank you all again.

The school does have the local vicar come in sometimes for plays or special assemblies & also- I believe- the priest from local church too. More like guest than a speaker from what I have seen. They do a Nativity in school every year.
My DiL is RC & son brought up loosely C of E - my first husband was RC too so we have had a bit of experience with mixed marriages.
Someone mentioned a gay teacher- they have one already- not a problem.
They also have a boy whose parents insist he is of Hell's Angels religion so he has to wear his hair long & 2 or 3 children from a fairly local traveller's camp. Quite a mixed bunch for a sleepy Surrey village!
My elder DGS is learning about ALL religions at his 2nd school although he is dropping the subject next year to concentrate on sciences so I guess they will all get a rounded education when they change schools.
Hopefully anyway.

I cannot say that it would bother me sending my children to school when the Iman was coming, however the parents have the right to their views and I would respect that.

Good point Dorset

Recently my oldest GD had been taught all about the Sikh religion . We were in a local shop run by a Sikh gentleman , she then whispered about his reason for wearing a turban and asked me if it was ok to talk to him about his religion. He was so helpful, showed the importance of the bracelets he wore amongst other things . She enjoyed seeing first hand a person who had been the subject of that day's lesson . He was delighted to hear that her school was teaching all religions . He felt the more we know about each other's beliefs the less frightening we will be to each other . Not all Muslims treat women badly the same as not all Christians forgive as taught by thebChurch

We had a muslim engineer in our dept he was going home to pick a wife, the other engineers had great fun helping him pick from the photos. When he came back he still wasn't married as he didnt like any of them.

What would happen to these children if they had a Muslim teacher, perhaps a female one who wore a hijab? Would the parents withdraw them from school on the pretext that she or he might inadvertently mention their religion to the children?

I once had a Muslim student doing a TP with my class. His name was actually Hussain and this was at the time of the gulf war. During discussion in tne staff room he revealed he was accepting an arranged marriage and he explained to us his reasoning.

Live and let live. Vive la difference!

Ooooooh radicalnan "imaginary friends" - music to my ears.

What a shame the children will miss out. I thought it was part of the curriculum to learn about other religions. It certainly was when my children were at school. I work (in an infant school) with a muslim lady and the children from that school always have a visit to a mosque as part of their learning. They also visit our local Catholic Cathedral and a synagogue. They always have a really interesting time. I hate to say it, but your son and DIL are being very intolerant.

'There are no muslims in the school'
This is why it is even more important for the children to meet and question a real live practising muslim.
It's more important for schools in white ghettos, like the one I grew up in, to have books and teaching materials that are not just a mirror of their own lives. Mixed urban schools are full of such materials but it's much more difficult to place them in the white areas. I know, I used to do mail-order for a multi-cultural wholesaler.

I think I should go to a different church anxiousgran - this guy sounds a bot like Trump.

I agree, learning about different religions can only be a good thing. I have had a chance to visit the local mosque to do with some work I am involved in.
The imam was delightful, and so welcoming, and gave us chance to see the whole of the mosque, including prayers, and talking to the children, who were delightful and happy.
He and I talked a bit about Muslim extremism, and he looked upset as he assured me that extremists either didn't attend a normal, moderate mosque or didn't attend a mosque at all, and were mostly brought to extremism on-line. He blessed us as we left.
I meet muslims on my nights out when I'm 'on duty' with my voluntary work, they're mostly keen to talk to us about Islam, football, schools( Muslim or not), anything.
We have a group of Muslim lads in our town who serve the homeless home made curries one night week to anyone who needs it.
I met a muslim women in full veil in the lift in Marks and Spencer who was loaded with shopping, and we had a brief chat. It was Ramadan, so I asked her if it was tiring do all her shopping when she was hungry and thirsty. She told me no, she was on her period, so she didn't have to fast and she was getting on with shopping for her kids." How lucky is that? " she laughed as she left. I've never had an open conversation in a chance encounter like that before!
Just lastly, the vicar at my church preached a sermon on Sunday, espousing that the world was black and white, no havering, it was either heaven or hell. He also to my great alarmed spoke about the creation story as true and didn't believe that evolution should be taught in our local primary school of which he is chair of governors'.
It has upset me so much I can hardly talk to him now, although I am a Christian and have regarded him as a friend. So who would you like to have your grandchildren spoken to? Vicar or imam? I'm not in any doubt now. I'm not thinking of converting, but following a kinder Christianity, that builds bridges, looks outwards, lives with disagreements and walks together with all people of good will.

It was just a light-hearted remark - hence the exclamation mark!

So if there such concerns about RC priests abusing children we should keep children away from nurseries and schools , there has been abuse in these too.

If the children are kept away for the day they will find out all about it the next day in the playground!

Personally I would be more worried about a catholic priest talking to them!!
That is quite prejudiced if you mean what I think you mean; it is not just Catholics who have been in the news and there are good and bad eggs in all religions.

DGC goes to a Catholic school

I would be against faith schools, but as many posters have said, it is important too know about diverse religions and understand them.

As one poster suggested it would be a good idea if parents or grandparents were invited to attend. When I eventually persuaded my daughter's catholic school to have the drug squad in to talk to 16 year olds, us parents were invited too. The girls were given the chance to talk to the police alone, as were us parents. Very sensible and informative.

I write as an ex-christian, now a happy atheist, finally triggered by my US sister's extremist Christian views which I regard as arrogant and contemptible. I wish we could have a similar focus on secularism and atheism in schools, also on the godslot each morning on the Today Programme on Radio 4. The views of the Sikh and Hindu speakers always seem to be the most interesting. I'm sure many schools welcome talks from those of non Christian faiths, which I'm not against. I would, however, wish to ask the imam when did he last invite a Christian priest or a rabbi to give their views in a Muslim school? If he could not give a positive response I suggest that he too should be giving further thought to that possibility.

Oh gosh OP what a difficult situation for you. But I am sure you have done the right thing in voicing your thoughts. I am saddened to hear that young people in their twenties have such biased ideas, just when I was trying to convince myself that things could get better. All of the posts about how it will be handled in school are, I am sure correct. RE studies must be in accordance with the Nat. Curriculum and will be handled sensitively. It is always good to have people in to talk to the children, it provides a link with the outside world. If you withdraw your child from a lesson/day, then you are giving the message to your children that there is something bad/wrong about that lesson. So instead of promoting the idea that religions are interesting and help you to understand people of faith, you are promoting the idea that Islam is bad and something to be feared. My SIL is Muslim and his sisters have all been educated (university), they all have very good jobs, have been offered arranged marriages (but declined them) and are lovely people. (as is he!) Incidentally, at my daughter's Muslim wedding, the Imam wore his robes and a pair of trainers!

If we don't learn about other people's beliefs, how are we going to begin to understand each other? If we prevent our children from knowing how others think and feel, what sort of world are we bequeathing to them?

Most, if not all, religions have the potential for oppression and abuse by those who choose to interpret it in that way, usually to increase their own power and diminish the autonomy of others. Islam isn't unique in that way, particularly when it comes to the subjection of women. Christianity has a poor record when it comes to gender equality and so does Hinduism, for a start. I don't know that Judaism or Buddhism have got a lot to boast about either, where women's rights are concerned.

An imam is just a priest - hardly likely to be an extremist, as that's a small minority and I can't imagine the school would have invited anyone with extreme views. At our local primary, which has children from many ethnic backgrounds, they all learn about Jesus, particularly at Easter and Christmas, and none of the parents seem to object or regard it as indoctrination.

Personally, I think that religion in schools should be confined to teaching about different faiths, but I never asked for my children to be excluded from religious services. You just have to be willing to talk to them at home about what they have been taught. My younger DD got very anxious about the idea of hell, when she was about 8, and I would have preferred that her (very devout) class teacher hadn't raised the issue. However, I talked to my DD and dealt with her worries. Can't your DS do the same with any issues raised by the imam's visit?

I have been lurking on this site for ages and reading the many interesting threads. Not sure why this topic has prompted me to respond! But here goes. Coming together is good, no one can deny that. However, I wonder would a reciprocal invitation be accepted, i.e. would a vicar or other Christian religious leader be welcomed to address Muslin pupils. I think not. If I was in that position as a parent, I would most definitely keep my children away. Respect goes both ways.

No divorce,
No abortion, even for rape or abuse,
Stigmatisation of unmarried mothers
Male only religious leaders
Brainwashing of impressionable young people, especially teenage girls
Sexual abuse
And a few more
Not Islam Lilyflower but a faith closer to home.
By the way, FMG is not part of Islam