Crucifix ban in public schools

[beso]

The European Union has found in favour of a woman in Italy who has been fighting for eight years to have crucifixes removed from public schools in Italy. Discuss.

http://www.time.com/t...,8599,1934859,00.html

For my part I am glad to see this kind of progress. The symbols of witchcraft (or whatever it is called when dominated by men) have no place in education.
My wife still remembers the trauma of seeing a gruesome lifesize statue of the crucified Jesus in a Catholic church as a five year old child.

[Buenchico]

When I was teaching I never permitted any visible Christian cross to be displayed in my classroom. On one occasion that meant physically barring the entry of a visiting bishop (accompanied by the head teacher) in front of my pupils. I told him that I regard the symbol as offensive as a Nazi swastika. (Christianity has done far more harm than the Nazis ever did).

So I obviously welcome the court's decision. Unfortunately it's unlikely to change much. One of the few countries that actually has a constitution barring the display of religious symbols in schools also has an exceptionally high proportion of (deluded) 'believers'. I refer, of course, to the USA.

Chris

[beso]

Chris:
How did that go down with the head teacher and the bishop?
I admire you telling them how it is.

Actually I think the Nazis learnt their techniques from the Bible.
Master Race / Chosen People, Father Land / Promised Land, Final Solution / Book of Joshua
The parallels are truly remarkable especially considering the Nazis central victims.

[naomi24]

That's good news. Religion has no place in schools.

Beso, the correlation between the Nazis and the bible hadn't occurred to me until you mentioned it a few days ago, but it makes sense.

[Sqad]

I totally agree with all the above posters........naomi in particular.

[beso]

Thanks for the support. The comparison of the Bible with Nazis is a very conroversial claim for which I have often been accused of anti-Semitism. However nothing could further from the truth. My focus is entirely on the Bible and its philosophy. The race of the individuals who choose to adopt this philosophy is irrelevant. Moreover it certainly extends far beyong the Jews to half the people on the planet.

Those individuals should expect their beliefs to be critiqued in the context of their behaviour and the potential of their teachings to influence the future of society. Moral progress is only possible where individuals are accountable for the expression of their beliefs.

Many years ago, like most who try to read the Bible, I bogged down in the "begats" of Genesis. But I eventually I got back to it to find there is a lot more action in the following chapters.. By the time I finished Joshua my jaw was on the floor and my eyes were wide. While the intention of the Book is to impress the reader with the power of God I was instead utterly aghast.

A summary of Joshua cannot convey the extent of the treacherous model of morality. I implore all to simply open the book or visit any online Bible, go straight to Joshua and read it to the end. It doesn't take long and it is absolutely riveting. Right there in black and white can be seen a description of the worst of human mob behaviour.

[coccinelle]

This law was passed in all public schools a few years ago in France, so no scarves, crosses etc can be worn and this law also applies in any government run places.

[brionon]

Except it ain't the European Union it's the European Court of Human Rights . Try to get it right,PLEASE !

[naomi24]

Beso, I've studied religion for years, and have read the bible several times, but the comparison never occurred to me. Now, thinking about, there are clues in Mein Kampf to Hitler's mindset on that score. Thank you for that - it's given me another angle to investigate.

[flobadob]

At the end of the day there is absolutely no proof for religion and also a lot of religious theories can be disproven. Also the catholic church has accepted the theory of evolution an the possibilty of extra terrestrial life so they move the goal posts to suit themselves. My point being, No you should not teach fairy tales in school.

[Seadragon]

I can't see why religious education should not be taught in schools as it does affect a vast majority of people, whether you like or not. I think how its taught in England is fine, non-controversial just an overview of practices and lifestyle. And maybe although I don't know where the line would be drawn but some religious symbols, i.e necklace? should not be banned. I think children should learn to respect different religions and people as they may not be taught this at home. They should see that differences are tolerated and accepted as normal.

[naomi24]

Seadradon, if religious symbols and religious education in schools were banned, there would be no line to be drawn - hence no arguments. The rules would apply to everyone equally.

[craft1948]

I used to love going to Sunday school.........especially when you had stamps to collect with different biblical scenes......