On being in a religious country

Hehe..I was also really confused when walking past sports pubs for the first time..friendly-looking ones even..that said in no uncertain terms in huge signs on the windows and doors, 'NO TEAM COLORS.'  lol

And it's true.  I didn't believe it, but people really do like talking about the weather here!

I think it all depends on the school.  My youngest has R.E. but he, like Mindy's kids, has a well-rounded education about ALL religions, not just the "Christian" based ones. 

If you're that concerned, find a different school.  Or maybe ask the questions beforehand...like we did...

The problem with asking questions, I've found, is that 1. official policy does not necessarily reflect practice, and 2. what seems a concern to me doesn't even bat an eyelash with my fellow villagers.  For example, when I as helping make camel costumes for the play, I casually brought up this and that about the fact that they can have the plays and asked questions about it, and from their responses it seemed that it had never occurred to them to even think about it.  I'm not implying that they are unthinking people, I'm just noting that it's difficult to discuss issues in a meaningful way when other people don't see them as 'issues.'  If that made any sense.

As for moving schools, well, it's just never that easy.  I do live in a commuter village with a school that's highly sought after, so I doubt I'd find any other school with so many benefits that it would justify going to a non-local school.  I guess I'll have to trust the experiences of the others here and not worry that my kids' thinking will somehow be permanently screwed up.

I have noticed this as well, on the radio, tv, and in the stores - the theme is not 'holiday' it is the Christian Christmas theme.  When we were at our town's 'light festival', before the procession, the mayor stated, 'CHRISTMAS IS FOR EVERYONE!' and I looked at my husband 'Um, what about the Muslims and the Jews?' 
It is very weird to live in a place so non-PC!

I wonder if the English know about Kwanzaa?    

On a related note, there was an interesting news article this morning: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4102277.stm

Apparently, there has been something of a downturn in Christian-specific celebrations.  I thought it was interesting to note that only 62% of teachers surveyed claim to believe in God.  For comparison, the Harris Poll says of Americans, "The 90% of adults who believe in God include 93% of women, 96% of African-Americans and 93% of Republicans but only 86% of men, 85% of those with postgraduate degrees, and 87% of political independents."

Here's the rub. The majority of people in the UK treat Christianity as soemthing like a social/cultural form, rather than a rapturous belief. So it's mainly a secular country that has a frequent Christian overlay. And that's the problem. If Christmas is a lightly held cultural custom, then it should be very easy to modify it to include non-Xian forms. The fact that it doesn't happen here points to a larger, and now a more important one, about the difficulty people have in enacting inclusive, multiculturalism at the everyday. Expanding Christmas into holiday season should be a no-brainer, and yet it doesn't happen. That's the root problem.

But Christmas IS a Christian festival and like it or not there is no separation of church and state.  The head of the state is also the head of the church.  So whether or not British people are percieved as being less religious it's stilll an official holiday.  I don't see point of making it into an inclusive holiday.  I personally think there's nothing wrong with different religions celebrating seperate holidays. 

But Christmas IS a Christian festival and like it or not there is no separation of church and state. The head of the state is also the head of the church. So whether or not British people are percieved as being less religious it's stilll an official holiday. I don't see point of making it into an inclusive holiday. I personally think there's nothing wrong with different religions celebrating seperate holidays.

What Mindy said. 

Here's the rub. The majority of people in the UK treat Christianity as soemthing like a social/cultural form, rather than a rapturous belief. So it's mainly a secular country that has a frequent Christian overlay. And that's the problem. If Christmas is a lightly held cultural custom, then it should be very easy to modify it to include non-Xian forms. The fact that it doesn't happen here points to a larger, and now a more important one, about the difficulty people have in enacting inclusive, multiculturalism at the everyday. Expanding Christmas into holiday season should be a no-brainer, and yet it doesn't happen. That's the root problem.

Well said! 

What is the big fuss about? I am an atheist and I don't feel like having Xmas holidays and celebrations is thrusting Christianity down my throat. If anyone doesn't want to observe it, they don't have to.  A friend  of mine was brought up (in the UK) without Xmas because her mother is a Jehovah's Witness. This is a free country, people can do what they like. 

What is the big fuss about? I am an atheist and I don't feel like having Xmas holidays and celebrations is thrusting Christianity down my throat. If anyone doesn't want to observe it, they don't have to. A friend of mine was brought up (in the UK) without Xmas because her mother is a Jehovah's Witness. This is a free country, people can do what they like.

Well said.   

I'm not saying Christmas should be exclusive, but if you want to celebrate it, then recognize what you're celebrating-a Christain festival.  And if you don't want to celebrate it, then I've no problem with that either. 

What is the big fuss about? I am an atheist and I don't feel like having Xmas holidays and celebrations is thrusting Christianity down my throat. If anyone doesn't want to observe it, they don't have to. A friend of mine was brought up (in the UK) without Xmas because her mother is a Jehovah's Witness. This is a free country, people can do what they like.

I agree, very well said!

So, it is a simple matter not to have one's child participate in the annual nativity play?  Is it part of the permission waiver related to video taping/photographing/naming one's child in the play?  I'm not familiar with how 'free' these sorts of issues are wrt to religious re enactments.

I don't think the OP brought up things that were shoved down anyone's throat.  She astutely pointed out some very religious things about the UK and we're discussing that.  Is that a 'big fuss' and we should all shut up and do whatever we want because we're 'free'?  I'd rather discuss, but that's just me.

So, it is a simple matter not to have one's child participate in the annual nativity play?  Is it part of the permission waiver related to video taping/photographing/naming one's child in the play?  I'm not familiar with how 'free' these sorts of issues are wrt to religious re enactments.

We're atheists, but our children sang hymns at school, acted in Nativity plays (and Divali) etc. and went to church when they were Cub scouts We also bought them books of Bible stories because it's very hard to understand European history, literature and art history without having some basic background knowledge. I had no problem with them acting out a very traditional myth.  None of them have grown up particularly religious - the oldest has tried various churches and read a lot about Buddhism -the youngest sings in the cathedral choir - loves the music but is completely unimpressed (and unconverted) by the theology. and

aren't most of the Xmas rituals pagan anyway?