As Above, So Below - the religion thread (formerly: People of California, beware)

Ah, well. If I had received such mails, whether critical towards me or not, it would have left me in stitches. I guess we can't all be equally sensitive.

Anyway, humour seems to be a fine way to vent against people who preach to your children before they are old enough to make up their own minds. I think most Christians would find it easy to sympathize with this parent if their own kids were bringing home permission slips about visits to the Church of Scientology and if public schools throughout the country had scientologists working as counsellors. Humour seems to me to be a rather benign reaction in such a situation.

Peter

Well, yeah, but we're not priests. I do not expect Christian professionals to 'be in stitches' over someone who ridicules the very thing they're passionate about. No more than I would someone who ridiculed film music. As I said, I think the chaplain reacted admirably, the only fault being that he kept the conversation for too long, thus "baiting the troll".

The only thing one can do in such circumstances is to raise the eyebrow, smile a bit, maybe, and move on.

Hmm...I don't know. I presume it was created because they didn't want to offend non-Christians? If so, it's a rather commendable thing to do, IMO. The chaplain says in the comments field that the box was not supposed to be pre-ticked.

And you believe that it all those flyers printed were not meant to be pre-ticked? Not me.

Sure, but I don't think that's the case here. It seems to be a voluntary attendance, where parents have a choice. How is that indoctrination?

I side with Thor. It's a consent form, not propaganda.

Don't some states allow Muslim religion classes for Muslims?

It's in the works in Germany but it pooves to be a very complicated matter. Certain groups try to force their interpretation of Islam into the curriculum, which is of course unacceptable for the state. Those groups won't accept a historico-critical approach as provided by Islam studies faculties at German universities. Typical clash of cultures.

I side with you concerning the present matter btw.

Volker

There is religious education for roman catholic and protestand Christians here in Germany. Whoever does not belong to either denomination, whoever is signed off by his parents (under 14 years old) od signs off himself (14 and older) ends up with me: He has to take "Philosophy". (At least in the state of Northrhine Westphalia.)

Volker

I can speak my opinion about that.

Religion classes in scientology is something I can't imagine, really, because it's just plain weird to read about on wikipedia, let alone imagine as a school subject (and would they teach about fair game, for example?). So first I'd have to see the problem, but in general this is a religion safe to ridicule, partly because of Tom Cruise who did much worse to scientology than anyone else in that regard, even the people who had scandalously quit it recently (Leah Rimini over the leader's wife's disappearance and Paul Haggis over failing to work with charities or something similar). So it's unimaginable to see scientology being taught in schools.

Islam? I wouldn't mind if there were checks, I mean you'd have to make sure of what Volker talked about - Islam is a religion where there is no coherent interpretation of Qu'ran, because of the Islamic courts making the calls on a local level. As long as the terrorist doctrine (in itself rather incoherent, reading up on wiki I'd find Islamic law reasoning for Israel's existence as a state, which the terrorists fail to consider, for example, but it's possible). So if it's made sure that a dangerous (terrorist) doctrine is not taught? Sure, why not. And trust me, there are "safe" (in terms of not vowing to kill infidels) doctrines in Islam, especially in European countries. I wouldn't mind Islam taught in school under the caveat I just mentioned.

Anti-theism is a problem, because I generally think that the only anti- things that I would allow taught in schools are Antisthenes (a Greek philosopher) and anti-matter . In general I am anti anything anti.

In Norway, Islam is taught -- like all the other religions -- in the 'religion' class. I thought it was the same in most countries with similar school systems? Are some of you saying that schools in the western world somehow DON'T teach Islam?

Islam as all world religions is a returning subject in religious education, both rc and pr, as well as in philosophy here in Germany.
Religious education for Islamic children is, as stated above - in the works.

Seriously? I can't believe that Islam isn't somehow part of the syllabus of the religion subject (or variations thereof) in Poland.