R.e
X_Stickman
Not good enough for a custom title. Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15533Members, Constellation
Not good enough for a custom title. Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15533Members, Constellation
in Discussions
<div class="IPBDescription">Half Homework, Half Discussion</div> Right, first of all, i'll get the homework bit out of the way (it is O.K discussion wise anyway). Basically, in R.E (Religious Education), we had to get some "Religious" people to fill out some questionaires. So here's mine anyway. Remember, you don't have to fill it out, it's entirely optional etc.
1) When did you start believing in God/Gods?
2) What was it that caused you to believe?
3) Why do you still believe in God?
4) Have you ever doubted God/in God, and if so, what got rid of those doubts (if you did get rid of them)?
5) Is there anything in your religion that you disagree with, and if so, why?
6) Is there anything you would like to do that your religion forbids?
7) any other comments etc...
Right, now that that is out of the way, i'll get on to my main point. That was a piece of homework. For a lesson i have no choice about at all. I disagree with R.E. I find it's questions too personal, and I cannot refuse to answer them because if i do, I get in trouble, because it is a lesson on the Governments Syllabus.
Last year, "French" or "Language Studies" was taken off the Syllabus. Which means that you don't <i>have</i> to do a language at GCSE level any more, but you still <i>have</i> to take part in R.E, which i personally find stupid. I think that learning another language would be far more beneficial for me or anyone else. Unfortunatly, i could not pick French as an option because ICT took up both my slots (it's a double award GNVQ apparantly, so that's worth 4 GCSEs, so thats nearly into college by itself).
I have asked frequently why we have to do R.E, and apparantly it is so i will learn to tolerate and understand other cultures. Right, this is going to appear MIGHTILY racist, but these are my views: I live in England. I understand English culture. As of now, i am not planning to move to any other country. Why should i learn other people's cultures and/or religions?
Now, i'm aware that there are other cultures living in England, and i personally have no problem with that at all. But i don't need to be taught to "understand" or "tolerate" (i personally find the word "tolerate" used in this instance highly offensive) them. I already do, and always have. If you need to be "taught" to respect other cultures, chances are very slim that a lesson will change your mind.
My views on R.E as a lesson are, as you may have noticed, not very good. I hate R.E, i don't want to do it, i find it an invasion on mine and others privacy (for instance, if i don't get this questionaire filled out by at least 2-3 people, i will have an hours detention). That is simply wrong. Religion and culture is, not a private thing, but it should be taught by family.
In R.E, i constantly feel that i am being ordered how to behave. I don't want to feel like that. I hate the Government for forcing me to learn this lesson. I'm 15, and i hate the government of my country. And i'm not alone in this opinion, i know for a fact that Killer-Olie agrees entirely with me (he sits next to me in lesson).
And one more thing that annoys me. There was a kid in our school 2 years ago who's name was Sunil Chumber/Chumba (i don't know his proper name, although i was his friend. Everyone just called him "chumba"). He was asian/indian. Because of his fathers and his religion/views, he did not have to do R.E, he could sit out of the lesson and basically do what he wanted.
I cannot do this, no matter how much i've asked/pleaded, the answer has always been "no". I ask why Chumba was allowed to, and they go quiet.
Another comment borderline on racist: I can't shake the feeling that he was allowed to sit out of lesson simply because he was Indian. It seems to me that the school was afraid of being charged with racism, and so they played safe. This is un-acceptable to me. I know that this most likely isn't the reason, but it is the ONLY one that makes sense, and the only answer i can think of.
Also, along those lines, the only religions we seem to be taught are Asian/ Indian religions. And i swear to God (no pun intended <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> ) that that is the truth
Anyway, what is your stance on R.E? and any help with that questionaire would be much appreciated.
P.S, i know a few comments in there might be borderline/blatent racism. But, as i have mentioned before, i am not racist. What is written above is pure truth, and i'd like it if Olie came along and backed me up on this as well.
/rant
1) When did you start believing in God/Gods?
2) What was it that caused you to believe?
3) Why do you still believe in God?
4) Have you ever doubted God/in God, and if so, what got rid of those doubts (if you did get rid of them)?
5) Is there anything in your religion that you disagree with, and if so, why?
6) Is there anything you would like to do that your religion forbids?
7) any other comments etc...
Right, now that that is out of the way, i'll get on to my main point. That was a piece of homework. For a lesson i have no choice about at all. I disagree with R.E. I find it's questions too personal, and I cannot refuse to answer them because if i do, I get in trouble, because it is a lesson on the Governments Syllabus.
Last year, "French" or "Language Studies" was taken off the Syllabus. Which means that you don't <i>have</i> to do a language at GCSE level any more, but you still <i>have</i> to take part in R.E, which i personally find stupid. I think that learning another language would be far more beneficial for me or anyone else. Unfortunatly, i could not pick French as an option because ICT took up both my slots (it's a double award GNVQ apparantly, so that's worth 4 GCSEs, so thats nearly into college by itself).
I have asked frequently why we have to do R.E, and apparantly it is so i will learn to tolerate and understand other cultures. Right, this is going to appear MIGHTILY racist, but these are my views: I live in England. I understand English culture. As of now, i am not planning to move to any other country. Why should i learn other people's cultures and/or religions?
Now, i'm aware that there are other cultures living in England, and i personally have no problem with that at all. But i don't need to be taught to "understand" or "tolerate" (i personally find the word "tolerate" used in this instance highly offensive) them. I already do, and always have. If you need to be "taught" to respect other cultures, chances are very slim that a lesson will change your mind.
My views on R.E as a lesson are, as you may have noticed, not very good. I hate R.E, i don't want to do it, i find it an invasion on mine and others privacy (for instance, if i don't get this questionaire filled out by at least 2-3 people, i will have an hours detention). That is simply wrong. Religion and culture is, not a private thing, but it should be taught by family.
In R.E, i constantly feel that i am being ordered how to behave. I don't want to feel like that. I hate the Government for forcing me to learn this lesson. I'm 15, and i hate the government of my country. And i'm not alone in this opinion, i know for a fact that Killer-Olie agrees entirely with me (he sits next to me in lesson).
And one more thing that annoys me. There was a kid in our school 2 years ago who's name was Sunil Chumber/Chumba (i don't know his proper name, although i was his friend. Everyone just called him "chumba"). He was asian/indian. Because of his fathers and his religion/views, he did not have to do R.E, he could sit out of the lesson and basically do what he wanted.
I cannot do this, no matter how much i've asked/pleaded, the answer has always been "no". I ask why Chumba was allowed to, and they go quiet.
Another comment borderline on racist: I can't shake the feeling that he was allowed to sit out of lesson simply because he was Indian. It seems to me that the school was afraid of being charged with racism, and so they played safe. This is un-acceptable to me. I know that this most likely isn't the reason, but it is the ONLY one that makes sense, and the only answer i can think of.
Also, along those lines, the only religions we seem to be taught are Asian/ Indian religions. And i swear to God (no pun intended <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> ) that that is the truth
Anyway, what is your stance on R.E? and any help with that questionaire would be much appreciated.
P.S, i know a few comments in there might be borderline/blatent racism. But, as i have mentioned before, i am not racist. What is written above is pure truth, and i'd like it if Olie came along and backed me up on this as well.
/rant
Comments
2) What was it that caused you to believe?
3) Why do you still believe in God?
4) Have you ever doubted God/in God, and if so, what got rid of those doubts (if you did get rid of them)?
5) Is there anything in your religion that you disagree with, and if so, why?
6) Is there anything you would like to do that your religion forbids?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
1) I started believing in God when I was younger, as would be expected living in a Christian family, but I don't think I fully understood God, and fully and completely commited my life until I was a Junior in HS.
2) Growing up in a Christian family I attended church throughout my life, I grew up in the church, and I believed on an intellectual basis, I simply couldn't believe in the pride and just the knowledge of men, and the current status of modern philosophy.
3) I still believe in God because I've literally experienced how it feels, as lame as some people may think it is, there's just a dramatic difference in your life, you're not afraid of things like you may have been before, you're calmer, at ease, more understanding and patient. It's truely something you can feel, and that's always been God's testament to me that he exists, because I've seen the change in my life.
4) Sometimes I'll ask myself if there really is a God that I can't see, what if all my experiences were "just random", but as soon as I think about Jesus Christ, I am satisfied in my faith.
5) There is absolutely nothing I disagree with Biblically, many churches carry their own philosophies or politics, but that has nothing to do with Christianity.
6) Sure I would like to just go ahead and just do whatever, It's always easier just to take the easy way out, even if that leaves me empty inside. It's more of a battle of my understanding of consequences, and why God has set rules, because inside the rules we are completely free of consequence, and that is true freedom.
Happy to help you with the questionnaire. I hope you don't dislike the class too much, it probably won't be too bad. Maybe you'll find it quite interesting.
Also, I know it's hard to step out of your "comfort zone" but you'll find just because you don't want to do something, doesn't mean that it won't be rewarding. The easiest way to deal with it is just to simply accept the class because fighting it and arguing it will just leave you emotionally drained, which will just make it much worse when you're in the class.
There are alot of things we have to do in life, despite your feelings over the matter, take it with content heart, take the opportunity to learn something, and above all, if you find yourself really wrestling with it mentally, remember that it's only a <i>temporary</i> problem.
Submitting to authority will always be a factor in your life, take it humbly, or you'll find that it's much worse to take it with a prideful heart. (I.E. "I shouldn't have to do this, I don't care, I shouldn't have to listen to you" )
But I'm surprised that you get forced to do RE now. But then again When I started GCSE's 3 years ago only 3 people out of a year of around 450 wanted to do it. So it was cancelled for that year and the next as well. I think many people, like you, don't like the way in which it's taught. A few people in my school were allowed to sit out of RE in lower school too. I think it's something to do with the parent's not wanting the child to learn about other "heathen" religions, the two in my school were of strict Jehova's witness upbringing, no sex ed lessons or certain biology lessons either (didn't believe in it themselves though).
One of the thing's that really annoyed me about RE was that outside the department there was a big display on the wall with the words "RE is the Science of Life". I always thought that was Biology but obviously not.
Anyway, tough luck about not being allowed to do French, I hated it myself but it is one of the more useful subjects you can learn at GCSE level.
Good luck with the course.
So, since the questions intrigue me, here goes:
1)I have toyed with the ideas of the existence and nature of God for about 5 years now. Prior to that I was not convinced but I hadn't dismissed the possibilty; I was in the camp of "I can't tell either way yet..."
2)My belief ultimately came from within; a combination of faith and logic. The logic was the easy part. I broke down all barriers in the nature of reality in my 'hippy phase' (some would say i have t. leary or a. shulgin to thank), this left me really messed up and thoroughly confused. After taking a philosophy course on reason and responsibility, my existentialist views were solidified but with a twist. If i only have this subjective reality to count upon, then it's all connected and all that 'really' matters. The bliss i can take in the realization of being in existence is incredible. The faith was the hard part. I still don't think i've completely commited myself to this trust.
3)I still believe in God because everything i see is a beautiful part of her, and once you've seen it (from where i have, imho), it's not something you can deny.
4)Doubt in God requires that something in Her world is at fault. That is not a belief I will consider.
5)My 'religion' is of one, my own practices do stem from my beliefs, and so guide my choices but never dictate them.
6)No. But something that i would morally consider forbidden but would like to do is to be everything.
I find it interesting that the questionnaire doesn't ask about what my beliefs are, only my feelings and history towards Her.
I hated R.E. in School and I dont think its clever to force people to do it, but I didnt let that stop me from trying to get what I could out of it.
However, as far as the indoctrination of children goes, I am a firm believer in the American concept of a separation between Church and State.
Because:
A) I never thought to include that <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> sorry, and
B) We were never required to ask that question. We just had to ask a minimum of 7 questions, which to me just outlines how poorly prepared the school boards are to teach such a personal subject. At least Sex-Ed is a kind of science, religion is something that changes from person to person.