Should religious induction of children be banned?

Religion should be treated like sex and kept behind closed doors.

I don't think schools (public or private) should be allowed to adopt and promote any specific religious ethos. Religious education should limited to teaching children about the different religions of the world and any culture associated with them. This will teach children about religion, rather than teach them a religion.

I have no objection to parents teaching children about religion in their own home or in church. If they want their kids to have a more in depth religion education let their church set up Sundays Schools. The right to believe in whatever you want is a cornerstone of a free society.

However, if religious beliefs intrude intrude in to the childs school life (e.g. I wont play with him because he's a whatever) then the state should step in and tell the parents they have gone too far.

The hour or two I wasted at school each week learning about how great Catholicism was could have been better spent teaching more math, science, or anything that had a basis in fact.

Why is the poll hidden?

No btw. Up to parents.

Emersyn Fierce Year wrote: »

They weren't wasted, spending them few short hours on religion and learning about being a catholic were very important. You obviously can't/don't undertstand or appreciate the importance though.

There is no importance.

The Bible should be taught during an English Literature or a History class, but left at that.

Emersyn Fierce Year wrote: »

They weren't wasted, spending them few short hours on religion and learning about being a catholic were very important. You obviously can't/don't undertstand or appreciate the importance though.

Being a catholic may be important to you and I respect your right to have those beliefs.

I myself couldn't care less about being a Catholic. I last voluntarily went to mass when I was 12. Heck, the only reason I got married in a Catholic ceremony was to placate the grandparents. I spend my Sunday mornings teaching my son about electronics and other actual useful stuff.

I send my children to an Educate Together school to make sure they learn about religion without learning a religion. If they want to join a religion when they are old enough to understand the implications then I will support them.

I was born in the UK and went to a state junior school where the most religious activity was a hymn on Friday after assembly. My mother always had her own interpretation of Catholicism which in essence "just be good and don't worry about all this communion and guilt stuff".

When she moved back to Ireland when I was nine, I went to a convent primary school and then a CBS secondary school. I soon realised that a lot of the religious instruction was actually contradicting my mothers views. I was told on several occasions that my mother was wrong for believing what she did. That is what turned me against having any form of religious ethos in schools.

The way I see it so long as I am good and I teach my children to be good then god (if he/she is real) is duty bound to look favourably upon me.