Author Topic: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?  (Read 13868 times)

Hope

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #75 on: April 24, 2016, 09:46:09 PM »
Being a Bible-believing Christian isn't a badge of superiority.
I should hope not!!  Rather, its an indication that such people are people who have understood that they are in need of the doctor that I mentioned on another thread.

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On the other hand there are some Christians that I find to be incredibly compassionate and moral human beings. No doubt you may view them differently.
Oddly enough, they base their thinking on many of the very interpretations that you seem to diss in the previous paragraph of your post, Rhi.
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Rhiannon

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #76 on: April 24, 2016, 09:49:37 PM »
'Oddly enough', most of them use the Bible as a tool, not as a master. They prefer relationship with their God to idolatry of a book.

Hope

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #77 on: April 25, 2016, 07:35:13 AM »
'Oddly enough', most of them use the Bible as a tool, not as a master. They prefer relationship with their God to idolatry of a book.
Precisely, Rhi.  You couldn't have pointed out what Christianity is all about much better than that post - mind you, you seem to forget the third leg of the triangle, relationship with other human beings.  One form of relationship is only partial without the other.

Whilst I have met a few folk who idolise the Bible, I've never had a great deal to do with them.
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Rhiannon

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #78 on: April 25, 2016, 07:38:41 AM »
Precisely, Rhi.  You couldn't have pointed out what Christianity is all about much better than that post - mind you, you seem to forget the third leg of the triangle, relationship with other human beings.  One form of relationship is only partial without the other.

Whilst I have met a few folk who idolise the Bible, I've never had a great deal to do with them.

And yet you use the Bible to justify your lack of compassion towards homosexual relationships. Why is that?

ProfessorDavey

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #79 on: April 25, 2016, 07:52:56 AM »
The issue I have with this whole concept is just what the basis is for humanist moral thinking.  It would appear not to be linked to an understanding of human life as having intrinsic value and purpose as there seems to be no grounds for a humanist understanding of purpose.  Rather, humanism would seem to be based on situational thinking, so what might be seen as of value today might not be tomorrow.
That is a matter of opinion and not one I agree with, certain in respect of the assumed negativity implied towards the concept of moral relativism.

But isn't this exactly the kind of thing we should be getting our children to understand and discuss to help them decide for themselves whether they considered morality of ethical behaviour to be fixed and immutable or intrinsically linked to society and therefore evolving as our society evolves. I'm not suggesting that they should be taught that there is a 'right answer' to that debate, but wouldn't it be great if, at later levels in the curriculum, students engaged in those discussions.

Of course earlier on the curriculum would need to be somewhat simpler, more akin to christians believe this, muslims believe that, humanism is about this, consequentialists decide on what's right and wrong by looking at the effect it was etc etc.

Bubbles

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #80 on: April 25, 2016, 10:14:40 AM »
RE never just included religion even when I was at school.  We learnt about sex, contraception and drugs in ours, as well. I think it was a dumping ground for covering all sorts of things.

You could teach a theme along the lines of religious and non religious forms of expression of our common humanity, that could include non religious things as well.

There are lots of altruistic clubs that raise money or volunteer to help those in need, lots are non religious in nature.

Various groups could come into school and show children what they are doing around the world to help others. The Lions and their support for water aid for example. Alongside religious ones like Christian and Muslim aid as another example.

Then there are all the debates on things like abortion, vegetarianism etc.

You could cover both POV and then get the kids to argue a case themselves, for both sides.

Perhaps instead of Religious studies you could call it, beliefs and opinions time, where different ideas are discussed.

Maybe even throw in a bit of politics and even a bit about tensions and why some places have a lot of prejudice and just different POV's.

I think as long as you put both sides, equally and discuss its not an issue.

For me the whole point of RE is it gives room to discuss why the world is how it is, what different people feel, think and behave and why.

It's not about " facts" just about being more aware of the world situation and why people think and do like they do.

It's the only time children get to really discuss things, outside the national curriculum.

It's something they can join in and find out about for themselves.

That's how I would treat RE.

Use it as time to explore different opinions in our world and what often drives the news headlines ( as well as the basics of belief and different religions, forms of worship etc)

The purpose of it wouldn't be to tell a child what to believe, but maybe just to learn a bit about what's going on behind the headlines, with tensions and other people.

That includes the non religious as well.







« Last Edit: April 25, 2016, 10:16:50 AM by Rose »

Rhiannon

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #81 on: April 25, 2016, 10:16:30 AM »
One problem identified by the teachers at the school where I was governor was that they felt they had inadequate knowledge to teach RE properly given that now it is really comparative religion. For example, trying to explain to a class of nine year olds what the purpose of Buddhist meditation is defeated one because it wasn't something they'd ever engaged with.


Rhiannon

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #82 on: April 25, 2016, 10:17:07 AM »
Rose, you are describing PSHE.

Bubbles

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #83 on: April 25, 2016, 10:21:03 AM »
One problem identified by the teachers at the school where I was governor was that they felt they had inadequate knowledge to teach RE properly given that now it is really comparative religion. For example, trying to explain to a class of nine year olds what the purpose of Buddhist meditation is defeated one because it wasn't something they'd ever engaged with.

I think they try to teach too much, instead of keeping it simple.




Bubbles

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #84 on: April 25, 2016, 10:21:36 AM »
Rose, you are describing PSHE.

PSHE?

Looked it up

http://www.tts-group.co.uk/primary/pshe-and-rewards/?gclid=CMa2k6a7qcwCFWoz0wodHJII8w

That's more inwards looking, I had something in mind that was more outward looking.
« Last Edit: April 25, 2016, 10:25:50 AM by Rose »

Rhiannon

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #85 on: April 25, 2016, 10:25:58 AM »
Personal, social and health education. Covers everything from emotions, right and wrong, to personal safety, relationships and contraception, through to legal matters and running a bank account.

Walt Zingmatilder

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #86 on: April 27, 2016, 09:45:37 AM »
The phenomenon and history of social darwinianism should be taught.
Is evolving morality even a sensible concept? ProfessorDavey.....what do you mean by it?

Stranger

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Re: What of non religious world view should make it into RE?
« Reply #87 on: April 27, 2016, 10:11:34 AM »
The phenomenon and history of social darwinianism should be taught.

In history lessons, perhaps. Wasn't this topic about RE?

Social Darwinism declined during the 20th century as an expanded knowledge of biological, social, and cultural phenomena undermined, rather than supported, its basic tenets.

x(∅ ∈ x ∧ ∀y(yxy ∪ {y} ∈ x))