Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

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Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by FBM » Tue Apr 19, 2011 1:46 pm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ds-newsxml

OK, it's not hot off the wires, but here it is, anyhoo...
Children as young as four to be educated in atheism
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 11:54 AM on 29th March 2011

School pupils aged just four are to be taught atheism in a move schools hope will equip them to be 'citizens of the world'.
Education bosses in Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire, have radically restructured the RE syllabus to accommodate non-religious beliefs.
Youngsters will continue to learn about the six major faiths - Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism - but they will also be taught humanism, the belief that there is no God or Gods, and that moral values are founded on human nature and experience.
(Non-)religious education: Children as young as four will be taught the doctrines of humanism, alongside the six major faiths
The move recognises that more than 10,000 people in the borough do not have any religious beliefs. Both primary and secondary school pupils will be included in the shake-up.


WHAT IS HUMANISM?
Humanists reject religious and superstitious beliefs.
Instead, they believe we can make sense of the world using reason, experience and shared values.
They say we can make the best of life by creating meaning and purpose for ourselves, and choosing to take responsibility for our actions.
Humanists do not believe the universe needs a divine power to determine its value.

It is important to act morally towards others, not because of a divine imperative, but because people have inherent dignity, they say.
Humanists believe that we have only one life, it is our responsibility to make it a good life, and to live it well.



Fiona Moss, from RE Today, which helped create the new syllabus, said: 'We really must recognise that some people do not believe in God and do not have a religious background.
'We have to make children aware of non beliefs.
'We want to support children to engage and enthuse them about RE to become good citizens in Blackburn and the world.
'The aim is for them to be confident wherever they settle.' But Salim Mulla, chair of Lancashire Council of Mosques, is concerned about the outcome of these teachings.
'We believe it is important to have faith values whether that is Christian, Islamic or any other religion,' he said.
'The values are very, very important. I don't think the non God aspect should be introduced into the curriculum.
'I don't think it is right. People are born into faiths and are brought up in that faith and that's how it should stay.
'The non-faith beliefs send a wrong message to the children and confuse them.'
The new syllabus was drawn up after reviewing the 2001 census results, which revealed that, although the borough has representatives from all of the six major faiths, there were more than 10,000 people who stated they did not follow a religion.
At its launch Dot Thomson, Blackburn with Darwen school improvement officer, said: 'I would not describe the syllabus as radical but it is disassociated from what went before in Blackburn with Darwen.
'This is the first time we have given respect for non-religious life stances.
'It is an important area. We expect this year's census to show the diverse faiths and beliefs in the area and we need to reflect this when teaching RE in schools.
'This syllabus is more imaginative and creative.' The new syllabus will be taught in all the borough's 28 schools from September.
Social change: The syllabus comes after a review of the 2001 census revealed more than 10,000 people in the borough do not follow a religion

More...Atheist Christopher Hitchens turns to evangelical Christian doctor in his fight against cancer

Councillor Chris Thayne, chair of Blackburn with Darwen Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education, said: 'We don't want the future to be blind. We want it to be illuminated. We need understanding without prejudice.'
Reverend Kevin Logan, a local journalist, author and religious community leader, said: 'It is quite a change but it is completely right to recognise atheism and humanism.
'They are religions like any others. It is just that people worship man instead of a god.
'I am certainly not worried about Christianity. It can stand against any belief and come out in a good light.'
Voluntary aided CofE schools must use the Diocese's RE syllabus but the areas voluntary-controlled schools can opt to use the new syllabus.
A spokeswoman for Blackburn Diocese education department, said: 'We fully support the use of the syllabus in Blackburn with Darwen.' The scheme has already been trialled in Leicester.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/n ... z1Jybc0ewm
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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by klr » Tue Apr 19, 2011 2:42 pm

The Daily Mail ... who else? :hehe:
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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by FBM » Tue Apr 19, 2011 2:42 pm

:pardon:



:hehe:
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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by Geoff » Tue Apr 19, 2011 2:46 pm

Same old crap from the apologists:
Salim Mulla, chair of Lancashire Council of Mosques, is concerned about the outcome of these teachings.
'We believe it is important to have faith values whether that is Christian, Islamic or any other religion,' he said.
'The values are very, very important. I don't think the non God aspect should be introduced into the curriculum.
'I don't think it is right. People are born into faiths and are brought up in that faith and that's how it should stay.
Reverend Kevin Logan, a local journalist, author and religious community leader, said: 'It is quite a change but it is completely right to recognise atheism and humanism.
'They are religions like any others. It is just that people worship man instead of a god.
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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by Millefleur » Tue Apr 19, 2011 2:53 pm

Fucktards. All there is left to do is :sigh:
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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by Xamonas Chegwé » Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:24 pm

but they will also be taught humanism, the belief that there is no God or Gods, and that moral values are founded on human nature and experience.
That word jump out and bite anyone else? :nono:
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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by Faithfree » Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:30 pm

Xamonas Chegwé wrote:
but they will also be taught humanism, the belief that there is no God or Gods, and that moral values are founded on human nature and experience.
That word jump out and bite anyone else? :nono:
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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by Pappa » Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:53 pm

Why choose Humanism over a more general introduction to atheism? Sounds like they're scared of saying it like it is.
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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by maiforpeace » Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:06 pm

Pappa wrote:Why choose Humanism over a more general introduction to atheism? Sounds like they're scared of saying it like it is.
Because it's a more gentle approach? I don't think it's a bad idea to start with humanism. The biggest misconception people have about atheists is that they lack morals. When humanism is described and discussed in an introductory fashion, it puts forth the concepts of morals and ethics more than atheism does, in my opinion.
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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by FBM » Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:29 pm

I'd agree, Mai. The word "atheism" carries a lot of baggage that gets negative knee-jerk reactions. I'll bet there are a lot of parents who would find the word "humanism" OK, even if they'd froth at the mouth at the prospects of their child being taught about atheism.
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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by floppit » Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:40 am

It's a positive step in the right direction. But screw religion, i'll get a spring in my step when reason, logic, peer review, materialism and debate are taught in schools. It's these things NOT a lack of religion that nurture rational minds and act to thwart myths. Without any understanding of the alternative to 'faith', without the above subjects being touched on, they're right, humanism becomes nothing beyond another branch of faith.

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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by JOZeldenrust » Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:44 am

They even get humanism wrong. Humanism isn't atheistic, it's secular. It's perfectly possible to be both humanist and Christian.

I don't see why atheism should be taught in RE. It isn't religious, and there isn't really anything to teach. Educators should just make sure to mention that the religious beliefs they teach about aren't universal.

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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by Aos Si » Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:55 am

Daily Fail fails to write balanced article for the 267622312 time since its publication began in the late 19th century.

Middle class housewives and overmonied twats with right wing grudges who attend church regularly must have their weekly dose of self righteous ire or they will go crazy and start writing down their stupid thoughts and sending them to the Daily FMail.

Dear Sir,

I am appalled at your suggestion about giving women orgasms, I have been happily married to my wife for 56 years and I am proud to say I have never once given her an orgasm! I didn't fight to keep China British to listen to your filth.

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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by HomerJay » Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:29 am

maiforpeace wrote:
Pappa wrote:Why choose Humanism over a more general introduction to atheism? Sounds like they're scared of saying it like it is.
Because it's a more gentle approach? I don't think it's a bad idea to start with humanism. The biggest misconception people have about atheists is that they lack morals. When humanism is described and discussed in an introductory fashion, it puts forth the concepts of morals and ethics more than atheism does, in my opinion.
FBM wrote:I'd agree, Mai. The word "atheism" carries a lot of baggage that gets negative knee-jerk reactions. I'll bet there are a lot of parents who would find the word "humanism" OK, even if they'd froth at the mouth at the prospects of their child being taught about atheism.
I guess if we are in hock to the religious then perhaps we need to tread carefully but all this is doing is re-inforcing the religious bent.

Obviously the best thing is not to teach about religion at all but failing that, then atheism is much more important to teach than Humanism or Shamanism or anything else you have going.

Teaching Schumanism just confirms that even non-faith beliefs are similar to faith beliefs.

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Re: Atheism to be taught to UK young 'uns...

Post by FBM » Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:29 am

Aos Si wrote:Daily Fail fails to write balanced article for the 267622312 time since its publication began in the late 19th century.

Middle class housewives and overmonied twats with right wing grudges who attend church regularly must have their weekly dose of self righteous ire or they will go crazy and start writing down their stupid thoughts and sending them to the Daily FMail.

Dear Sir,

I am appalled at your suggestion about giving women orgasms, I have been happily married to my wife for 56 years and I am proud to say I have never once given her an orgasm! I didn't fight to keep China British to listen to your filth.

And them bloody wogs coming over here and taking our jobs. Wuuurrr, the war!111one.
I'll bet this gives Clinton Huxley an orgasm when he finds it...
"A philosopher is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there. A theologian is the man who finds it." ~ H. L. Mencken

"We ain't a sharp species. We kill each other over arguments about what happens when you die, then fail to see the fucking irony in that."

"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains of a different opinion."

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