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Bible reading: Compulsory in schools

gnostic

gnostic

The Lost One
Australian Opposition Federal Leader, Tony Abbott of the Liberal Party, wants to make in compulsory for all kids in schools to read the bible.

All kids must read the Bible, federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says | Herald Sun

This is the reason why I hate devout politicians and leaders who want to make compulsory. :mad:

Tony Abbott is a devout Catholic, but that's not my problem with him. He can be devout, but he was always an obnoxious hypocrite and snob. He has complete contempt for the middle and lower classes, and he has brought down our health systems, when he was health minister. I will never vote for the Liberal Party while he is in power.

If he ever became Prime Minister, I will punch his light out. :fight:

  • Has he ever considered that some children may already have religion other than that of Christianity (or those who choose to have none)?
  • Will he force Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, or atheistic children to read the bible?
  • Will the schools failed children who don't want to participate in bible reading?
  • Do parents have no choice in the matters?
  • Do the school boards have no choice in the matters?
If the schools are private Catholic schools or some other Christian-run private schools, then fine. But in state public schools or private secular schools, then religious classes should be kept out the school curriculum.

Would he like it if we make the Torah, Qur'an or other scriptures as compulsory reading in Australian schools?

Stay out of schools, Tony Abbott! :mad:
 
Storm

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
gnostic said:
Australian Opposition Federal Leader, Tony Abbott of the Liberal Party, wants to make in compulsory for all kids in schools to read the bible.
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I don't know Australian politics, but I support religious education.

Would he like it if we make the Torah, Qur'an or other scriptures as compulsory reading in Australian schools?
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I'm guessing not, but I would.
 
Kilgore Trout

Kilgore Trout

Misanthropic Humanist
That's fine with me. I think if more people actually read religious texts, they'd start to look at their religions more critically.
 
Storm

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
My dear friend from church often cites a survey that claimed the number one catalyst for atheism in America was reading the Bible.

I have no idea if it's true or not, but it strikes me plausible. :(
 
tumbleweed41

tumbleweed41

Resident Liberal Hippie
Storm said:
My dear friend from church often cites a survey that claimed the number one catalyst for atheism in America was reading the Bible.

I have no idea if it's true or not, but it strikes me plausible. :(
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I may not be an atheist per se, but it was my deep studies of the Bible as a Baptist deacon that convinced me that the Christian faith was was an unrealistic belief.


But, as to religious studies in public school, I would only support it if it was an option, not mandatory.
 
tumbleweed41

tumbleweed41

Resident Liberal Hippie
Storm said:
May I ask why?
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For one, I believe religion belongs in the home. Not a mandatory class in public school.
Without strict oversight, it would be too easy to turn a religious studies class, especially one that focuses on one reveled revelation, into a religious indoctrination class.
 
Storm

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
tumbleweed41 said:
For one, I believe religion belongs in the home. Not a mandatory class in public school.
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If we were talking worship, I'd agree. But, for good or ill, religion is a major force in our shrinking world. I think some measure of literacy is vital.

Without strict oversight, it would be too easy to turn a religious studies class, especially one that focuses on one reveled revelation, into a religious indoctrination class.
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Which is why I'm all for strict oversight. ;)
 
gnostic

gnostic

The Lost One
Religion or study of religion should not be made compulsory.

The only subjects that I think should be compulsory for Australian schools are just English and Maths, which is already true. Religion, on the other hand, should only the choice of students, not some obnoxious devout politicians who want to force people read what they want to read. His agenda is selfish one.

Abbott's former leader John Howard had already made it compulsory for public schools to have Christian counseling to be available. I wouldn't want any pedophile Christian counselor in the schools, without rigorous police checks. If the counselor is a pedophile, then both the church he belonged to, and the government, especially John Howard should be held responsible for letting these religious perverts near our children. The school, church and government have been known to cover up scandals of rogue priests or pastors.
 
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A

Archer

Well-Known Member
atotalstranger said:
That's fine with me. I think if more people actually read religious texts, they'd start to look at their religions more critically.
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I agree we have too many that are blinded by a charismatic leader and follow that leader without knowing their texts.

Storm said:
My dear friend from church often cites a survey that claimed the number one catalyst for atheism in America was reading the Bible.

I have no idea if it's true or not, but it strikes me plausible. :(
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True after all of the lies told them in church they find truth and it leaves a bad taste, that is sad.

gnostic said:
I wouldn't want any pedophile Christian counselor in the schools, without rigorous police checks.
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That is really pushing it!!!!!!!! pedophiles are all around us and you make it sound like you think all Christians are that way. I take offence to that and take it as a personal attack.

That being said a good ethics class will cover the basics.
 
Zadok

Zadok

Zadok
Because religion has had such an impact on humans and human knowledge, I am always amazed when someone thinks that education, especially public education would be better off without such knowledge. I believe religion to be an important part of education. So much so that I believe most events of history will not be understood or put in the proper context without religious education. There is hardly a war in history that did not have some roots somewhere in religion. Thus I think it is foolish to think we can understand our current conflicts without religious knowledge and understanding.

I submit that the mind that rejects religious education is both arrogant and foolish to a fault.

That said I also believe that schools are the product of a community and not a federal issue. Often I believe that even states over step their good care of society by forcing their social adjustments on educational systems. I realize that some good has come from the federalizing of education but I also believe there is a direct correlation between America’s fall from technology, creativity and liberty with the influx of federal programs and funding of education.

Zadok
 
Imagist

Imagist

Worshipper of Athe.
atotalstranger said:
That's fine with me. I think if more people actually read religious texts, they'd start to look at their religions more critically.
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If they read the whole thing, then yes.

But the bible as it is presented to children is almost always the Cliff Notes version with all the sex, murder, genocide, and just plain weirdness cleaned up. Granted a few of the core stories that they can't clean up are left in, like Noah's genocide or torturing people for eternity for even a tiny sin or killing your own son to excuse people for an arbitrary rule that you made. But those are mostly stories that are part of the general consciousness anyway, so I don't think they have much effect on changing people's minds about Chrisianity.
 
Imagist

Imagist

Worshipper of Athe.
Zadok said:
Because religion has had such an impact on humans and human knowledge, I am always amazed when someone thinks that education, especially public education would be better off without such knowledge. I believe religion to be an important part of education. So much so that I believe most events of history will not be understood or put in the proper context without religious education. There is hardly a war in history that did not have some roots somewhere in religion. Thus I think it is foolish to think we can understand our current conflicts without religious knowledge and understanding.

I submit that the mind that rejects religious education is both arrogant and foolish to a fault.
Click to expand...

The difference between teaching kids about religion and teaching kids religion is huge. Teaching kids about religion is important. Teaching kids religion is wrong.

Would you be saying the same thing if kids were being forced to read the Koran in class?
 
Storm

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
tumbleweed41 said:
Exactly, but as the OP mentions Bible alone study, I would find it hard to believe that oversight is involved.
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Yeah, even from what little I know, I wouldn't support this particular effort.

This wasn't addressed to me, but....
Imagist said:
The difference between teaching kids about religion and teaching kids religion is huge. Teaching kids about religion is important. Teaching kids religion is wrong.
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Well said, ITA. I want to teach kids ABOUT religion.

Would you be saying the same thing if kids were being forced to read the Koran in class?
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Yep.
 
gnostic

gnostic

The Lost One
archer said:
That is really pushing it!!!!!!!! pedophiles are all around us and you make it sound like you think all Christians are that way. I take offence to that and take it as a personal attack.
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Until the churches exposed the pedophile priests/pastors/teachers that they have cover up, let the law deal with these criminals with arrests, prosecution and convictions, then I would trust a single one of them in the public schools.
 
Storm

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
gnostic said:
Until the churches exposed the pedophile priests/pastors/teachers that they have cover up, let the law deal with these criminals with arrests, prosecution and convictions, then I would trust a single one of them in the public schools.
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I assume you hold the same stance regarding parents.
 
Zadok

Zadok

Zadok
Imagist said:
The difference between teaching kids about religion and teaching kids religion is huge. Teaching kids about religion is important. Teaching kids religion is wrong.

Would you be saying the same thing if kids were being forced to read the Koran in class?
Click to expand...

In today's world I cannot understand why any parent of any religion would not want their children well versed in the Koran; among other things.

It is my personal belief that terrorist are not borne of intelligent understanding but out of ignorance.

Zadok
 
Zadok

Zadok

Zadok
Forcing children to learn as part of education is a straw man argument. Children are not "forced" to learn anything - including reading, writing, and math.

Zadok
 
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