Faith Schools -

[observer]

- good or bad idea?

[safeway56]

Very bad idea...If you want your kids indoctrinating in this mumbo-jumbo do it yourself at home or take them to church...Don't taint the impressionable minds of other youngsters with this superstitious nonsense. Religion should have no place in centres of learning.

[Lt Kije]

Agreed a very bad idea

[wolfie]

Apparantly Faith schools are better at building community relations, they have better Ofsted reports, particularly at Secondary level, and in general oversusbscribed because on average they are more successful academically.

[Lt Kije]

Apparantly Faith schools are better at building community relations

 

I cannot see this myself, Does a RC school, or a muslim school help the community if they are not of the faith

 

I would love to go to a family planning lesson at an Rc school, or an Re lesson in a muslim school, I wonder what they would learn about the jews I don't suppose that would be good for the community as a whole

[kevofaz25]

Think you might be surprised there Kije

[observer]

It's not surprising that "standards", dress codes etc and possibly dicipline may be higher in faith schools; and the results of course; hence why some pushy parents are prepared to change religion and start attending church in order to get little Jonny a place. BUT; if scientific enquiry is lost to dogmatic belief - EG Creationism V Evolution; plus the seperation of young impressionable minds into creed groupings - we have a recipe for social discord EG; N/Ireland - as most of the discord in the world appears to have religious conflict at it's core.

[Lt Kije]

Completly agree with Obs

[Legion]

Depends on the outcome of the pupils.

 

If we had access to the crime rate and working percentage of the school leavers from faith and none faith schools in selections of geographic areas surely that would be all that mattered.

 

I'm all for teaching of religions its quite clear that most people eventually grow out of it along with the tooth fairy and father Christmas, those that want to remain in Narnia are "mostly harmless".

[asperity]

As a recovering catholic who was taught at faith schools I have to agree with Legion's analysis.

[Lt Kije]

How can you teach in a school that creationism is a scientific fact

[observer]

or the EU is good for us!

[Lt Kije]

They don't teach that in schools

[Bazj]

Thank god for that.... I'd be more inclined to believe that a great celestial being created the world in 6 days and then had a day off on the 7th than believe that the EU is good for us!

[Lt Kije]

I'd be more inclined to believe that a great celestial being created the world in 6 days and then had a day off on the 7th

 

Baz everyone knows the celestial being didn't take the 7th day off, he created the EU, did you never go to school

[observer]

What?! So God isn't a Union Member - Sundays a day off or treble time!

[Lt Kije]

[Legion]

How can you teach in a school that creationism is a scientific fact

 

How can they teach evolution as scientific fact.

 

its a chicken and egg question, regardless of whether a sequence of evolutionary traits based on adaptation to suit environment occurred or whether man was made like morph with a Tony Hart like God the question still remains what sparked life on earth. could that have been through an action of divinity?

 

Secondly if Man Evolved from Apes, why is there no evidence of other such evolutionary advances beyond basic animal intelligence from other species such as intelligent fish, or elephants? Natural selection principle insists this to be so.

[observer]

Science is based on the objective observation of evidence - in the case of evolution, we have the fossil record. Acording to theory, WE did evolve from "fish", but they evolved too, from a simple cell; and as evolution took place, it would have been quite possible imo, for intelligent being to have developed from insects or reptiles, it's just that time and circumstances favoured animals. All science is constantly open to scrutiny and challenge, one speculative theory being replaced by another when the evidence presents itself. Now if we contrast that, with mystical belief based solely on what has been written in the old testament, logic and common sense suggest that the latter is utter nonesense, and to pass it onto impressional minds as fact is irresponsible to say the least. The sad thing is, that despite our scientific and technical progress; humananity (or large parts of it) havn't progressed much beyond the cave, in terms of primitive belief systems - praying to statues, believing that a river (Ganges) is a God, wearing all sorts of ludicrous clothing etc - and believing that your's is the only true faith and that others are infidels - thus the basis for sectarian violence throughout history.

[Legion]

Yes but your argument is specific religious beliefs rather than a general theology.

There is no denying that 2000 year old speculation (if not older) on the wonders of the universe is a bit dubious no matter whom you choose as your salvation in the afterlife, Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed , Elvis Presley whatever... but the general question of why or how we exist alludes science and that then leaves only religion to offer any meaningful debate at this stage.

 

What many (all) of the people who argue science over religion forget is that all religions are/were based on current scientific belief, it is only progress of understanding of that belief that has converted it into the class of science.

 

Science is only religion and magic that we have become familiar with.

[Lt Kije]

but the general question of why or how we exist alludes science

 

Does it

 

When it comes down to it we exist from a Biological point of view to procreate to keep the species alive

[observer]

No legion; science is a continual inquiry, based on evidence as it presents itself and speculative theories subject to scrutiny and challenge. What we "don't know", should imo be left at that or the continued search of science for answers NOT a reliance on belief systems derived from and resting on ignorance.

[observer]

Interesting prog tonight, suggesting that some Islamist faith schools are promoting anti-semitism - well, isn't that how it all starts?