Athiesm to be taught in UK

[mickky]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet,
But I found it heartening:

http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,5500,1148669,00.html


"A spokesman for the QCA said its guidance would be released for consultation in the summer term, but added: 'It is very much the intention that young people in the context of religious education should be studying non-religious beliefs. There are many children in England who have no religious affiliation and their beliefs and ideas, whatever they are, should be taken very seriously.'



(Also not sure how long the link will stay active!)

Edited to add quote...

[Yahweh]

I dont know about yall, but I'm heading down in the basement...

RR is about to explode...

[geni]

This strikes me as a bad idea (but then so does pretty much all relgiuos education)

[Fishboot]

Bad form on the Brits.

Atheism-as-Social/Political movement gains nothing (What's to study?) and loses a lot (juxtaposed with other religions, rather than a default). I mean, what would they talk about after the five minutes it takes to clear up the weak/strong atheist dichotomy?

[mickky]

I look at it from the perspective of watching some schools in the U.S. (although i am not American) try to pretend that certain points of view simply don't exist.

I am against any religion in school, however I don't think there will ever be that separation, so they might as well be exposed to any and all points of view.

[geni]

Originally posted by Fishboot
Bad form on the Brits.

Atheism-as-Social/Political movement gains nothing (What's to study?) and loses a lot (juxtaposed with other religions, rather than a default). I mean, what would they talk about after the five minutes it takes to clear up the weak/strong atheist dichotomy?

Easy. The weak atheist / agnostic problem.

[epepke]

Originally posted by geni
This strikes me as a bad idea (but then so does pretty much all relgiuos education)

The problem is that religious education is mandated in the UK.

It's a bit more like a school regulation in the US, which I don't know is still in effect, introduced during the 1950's and basically required all schools teach that Commies are Bad™.

The challenge to a teacher is to take such a requirement and find a way to do some actual teaching. In the US, it's usually been interepreted as Comparitive Economic Systems. I don't see any reason why the British religious requirement couldn't be satisfied by Comparative Religion as easily, which would include atheism. Atheism isn't a religion, but is the absence of a common religious belief.