http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=696722 A brilliant idea, and one I hope that catches on world wide. This is a very positive step in the right direction. Im not into the whole is there or isnt there a God, but I do believe that all sides of the story needs to be told.
Luckily none of that is happening here. So your statement is OT here. Theres no "force" in the article anywhere. Since theism currently is in the classroom... I have no problem at all that a more rational point of view gets taught as well.
If you believe in evolution, you should know that what dooms does not take root. Or survive. Like atheist societies. What I would like to see is the students being given an opportunity to study all the religions and make up their own minds as to what they believe.
Yes, there is such a course, it's called studies of religion. And btw, who decided it would be a good idea to try this on primary school kids first? Wouldn't it be better to try it on high school students, at least at first?
I disagree with the idea of educating children this way. A much better substitute would be critical thinking and human psychology with focus on natural hallucinatory experience as well as needs / motivations. This way children can get a better grasp of what we are, why we behave the way we do, and how to separate the objective from the subjective.
Agreed. Before any such opportunity is given, I think children should be educated in a manner that helps them discover their identities and understand their psychological needs.
How does anyone discover an identity without any stimulus for it? The development of any ideology or affiliation is a result of influences not an impetus for them.
"Humanists believe people are responsible for their own destiny and reject the notion of a supernatural force or God." Best to read the article, Sam, so you know what's going on and don't have to embarrass yourself.
You embarrass yourself with such statements. Such demonstrates what a weak grasp you have of the whole situation.
It seems that the title of this thread is incorrect. Student's aren't being taught there is no God. They are being taught that Humanists believe there is no God. I have no problem at all with comparative religious education, which would include teaching what Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and many others believe.
Have the educator provide stimulus and ways of seeking it out beyond the classroom. Ideology is not synonymous with identity.
I think it's thinking in the right direction BUT this should be a set of courses that starts with easy to understand course in how to think logically and ends in the archeological evidence showing the natural evolution of religious belief for each of the beliefs. Finally, in the last years the Ss should get a chance to choose to take a more in depth look at the lack of evidence for Goddesses, Gods, Xenu and the like.
I don't want to be a computer. I want to be a person. I like having the imagination that sets me apart from every other creature on earth. I like all the illogical things that make life worth living.