Comments on: Swedish government – it’s illegal for schools to teach religious doctrine as if it were true.

By: mirrzz

mirrzz — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:09:29 +0000

it is the paren'ts right but what their government is thinking about is the child's right. their right to make their own choices and prevent being brainwashed. kids can't stand up for themselves. someone has to. and if the kid decides on his own that he wants to follow a certain faith then fine, go right ahead.

By: Hikamori

Hikamori — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:14:01 +0000

Don't try to say that everyone in private schools are there by choice. If there was no question all of them belong there, then fine with us. However, until then, you cannot say that private schools are private. Yes, I believe in something.

By: jeber

jeber — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:25:11 +0000

Here's the problem with that position. We expect the state to protect children, even from their parents if that's necessary. We don't object to laws that protect children from kidnapping or molestation. If we expect the state to protect a child's body, why not their mind? Is one less important than the other?

The accommodating mentality that would allow parents or schools to teach something as fact when it is really nothing more than belief or opinion isn't an attitude of tolerance. It appears to be, but in reality allowing fiction and unestablished belief to be presented as established fact is to allow our children to be misled and lied to. While we may wish to not offend, those determined to subjugate the minds of children are not so polite. They will take advantage of our reticence to promote their personal brand of belief and present it as fact to minds too young to critically examine it.

People do indeed pay for private education, but are children in private education any less entitled to an honest and factual education? Should those parents not get their money's worth?

By: jessielmays

jessielmays — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:41:14 +0000

I think that's going too far. The measure is a great thing for public schools; taxpayer money should never be used to advance the personal beliefs of any faith group. But private schools? If you are paying for your child's education, you should be able to choose what is included in that price.

By: B.G

B.G — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:43:59 +0000

Once theists can bring any good evidence that isn't completely faith based then we can talk. It's not like by this we're promoting atheism, we're promoting science which although they have a common tie (reasoning skills) aren't the same. I compare this law to one stating it is illegal for schools to teach that bananas are the only food source.

By: B.G

B.G — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:36:36 +0000

only problem is that this isn't how it is. In school it shouldn't be allowed to teach anything without significant evidence and even then make sure the children know there are alternatives. By no means is that forcing someone's beliefs on your child. What it seems to me you seem scared of is that if your child gets to hear a different viewpoint and “God forbid” make their own choice on the matter. Kids shouldn't be forced to take on the belief of their parents, even if it's only until they leave the house. It's already been said in a perfect world kids would see all points of view and all evidence and make their own decision. The closest you're going to get is school and adding a religious tilt to it completely destroys that as that one religion will be taught as complete fact.

By: B.G

B.G — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:17:46 +0000

On the one hand I agree that people should be allowed to believe what they will but at the same time this isn't expected to be stretched to desctructive beliefs which let's face it religion is. It is a huge obstruction to an increase in overall human intelligence and causes many more wars than it has stopped. While many of the morals and such are good in religion people eventually need to be weaned from the fairy tales that go along with it. There's nothing wrong with giving children all the evidence we have towards something, but to tell them that whatever religious scripture is simply right with no evidence is just wrong. Give children all the evidence and let them make up their own minds.

By: JD

JD — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:30:13 +0000

My friend used to go to the catholic school Holy Family, when he first enrolled he was given a test. One of the Questions was whether or not extra terrestrial life existed. He said yes and got the question wrong. This is one of the first steps to a religious free world.

By: James_Smith

James_Smith — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:13:34 +0000

Gee, an intelligent decision about Intelligent Design! From a government no less!

Next thing we know, They'll declare that people use facts when voting instead of political nonsense. Wait, what am I saying? No, let's be rational…

By: Joakim

Joakim — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:49:44 +0000

Very well written!
"The parents are always right" is so deeply rooted in us humans that it sometimes harms us.

As a Swedish citizen, I am somewhat puzzled about some of the comments here. Sweden is a country where we value democracy, human rights, equality etc. very highly. This has been proven through several studies at many different occasions that we are pretty good at it.

We would never pass a law that points fingers at a specific group and say "hey, you are not allowed to believe that!". It is a major difference in believing something and teaching belief in school. You can believe whatever you want even if you are lacking evidence, but you may never teach this to children who are unable to apply critical thinking. The school teaches facts that can be proven, and that is the way it should be in a sane world.

I also see no reason to justify the existence of private religious schools. Think about it, do we really need MORE labels to put on our children in a world filled with ethnicity (with ethnicity comes racism and xenophobia), prejudice, subcultures, etc. that seperates them from one another? I think private religious schools will just increase the segregation further by adding other labels than they are born with. A child can not belong to a religion, it's just a worthless label.