Faking Catholicism so my kid can go to the Catholic school

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by AcGold

As well as the students ability to think critically. Religion is one of the most fascinating subjects to study because it's so complex, historied and full of areas to explore. I agree, it should be taught. The school system completely ignores one of the most influential institutions in the history of man.

I find this comment interesting. I'm not religious, and this is completely anecdotal, but my discussions with a lot of religious people have led me to believe that they lack critical thinking skills.

They seem very willing to ignore substantial evidence that shows that Earth is more than 6,000 years old, for example.

I would be fine with my child learning history (and including religion in there), but I would be very not fine with her being taught that homosexuality is a sin and that the Earth is only 6000 years old.

However, I would be willing to allow it if they also taught that Jesus rode a Tyrannosaurus.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I find this comment interesting. I'm not religious, and this is completely anecdotal, but my discussions with a lot of religious people have led me to believe that they lack critical thinking skills.

They seem very willing to ignore substantial evidence that shows that Earth is more than 6,000 years old, for example.

I would be fine with my child learning history (and including religion in there), but I would be very not fine with her being taught that homosexuality is a sin and that the Earth is only 6000 years old.

However, I would be willing to allow it if they also taught that Jesus rode a Tyrannosaurus.

[Jude]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I find this comment interesting. I'm not religious, and this is completely anecdotal, but my discussions with a lot of religious people have led me to believe that they lack critical thinking skills.

They seem very willing to ignore substantial evidence that shows that Earth is more than 6,000 years old, for example.

As someone who was raised catholic but no longer practices, I don't think I have ever actually met someone who insisted the earth is only 6,000 years old...

To suggest that religious people lack critical thinking skills is pretty silly. I know plenty of professionals who practice one faith or another (and to one degree to another). Likewise, I have met people that practice religion who are bigoted and are just vile human-beings but that's probably just what you get when you look at any large group of people.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Jude

As someone who was raised catholic but no longer practices, I don't think I have ever actually met someone who insisted the earth is only 6,000 years old...

To suggest that religious people lack critical thinking skills is pretty silly. I know plenty of professionals who practice one faith or another (and to one degree to another). Likewise, I have met people that practice religion who are bigoted and are just vile human-beings but that's probably just what you get when you look at any large group of people.

I agree it is almost as ridiculous as suggesting that religious people have better critical thinking skills.

[Two Fivenagame]

I would worry about the indoctrination of my children into life-long beliefs based around what amounts to unicorns and pixies.

Agree religions are a very interesting topic of study, but at no point would I ever want my child to hear "Because God made it that way".

[cracher]

Yeah, I haven't been catholic since around age 9 (more of a pragmatic antitheist now) so i don't know if i'm completely right. catholics don't do literal creation. you're probably thinking some evangelical fundies or the like. catholics do a watered-down evolution (replace big bang with god and add a soul type deal).

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I agree it is almost as ridiculous as suggesting that religious people have better critical thinking skills.

My wife went to Catholic school. She used to get in a lot of trouble because she would question the religeon and things that weren't logical with it. They say they give you good critical thinking skills teaching religeon they just don't want you to think critically or question religeon.


My mother in law is an old school brainwashed catholic who spends her weekend watching mass. She absolutly lacks critical thinking skill and is very gullable. She called us after watching the movie 2012 and thought it was real and was going to happen next year. All I can do is /facepalm 80% of our conversations.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I would be fine with my child learning history (and including religion in there), but I would be very not fine with her being taught that homosexuality is a sin and that the Earth is only 6000 years old.

As a parent of a kid in Junior High at a Calgary Catholic school, I can assure you that neither of those is being taught. I recently had to help my son with his science homework in Evolution. He also came to me with questions about homosexuality a while ago; from discussion at school. (And the questions were quite positive.)

[Locke]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

My wife went to Catholic school. She used to get in a lot of trouble because she would question the religeon and things that weren't logical with it. They say they give you good critical thinking skills teaching religeon they just don't want you to think critically or question religeon.


My mother in law is an old school brainwashed catholic who spends her weekend watching mass. She absolutly lacks critical thinking skill and is very gullable. She called us after watching the movie 2012 and thought it was real and was going to happen next year. All I can do is /facepalm 80% of our conversations.

I dont see what correlation you find between your mother-in-law being a moron and religion.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by AcGold

As well as the students ability to think critically. Religion is one of the most fascinating subjects to study because it's so complex, historied and full of areas to explore. I agree, it should be taught. The school system completely ignores one of the most influential institutions in the history of man.

I asked this question earlier but nobody answered: do public schools in Alberta teach about world religions as part of the history/social studies curriculum? If not, then I agree that's a big gap that should absolutely be part of every student's education.

I don't know what that has to do with developing critical thinking skills, though.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

I asked this question earlier but nobody answered: do public schools in Alberta teach about world religions as part of the history/social studies curriculum? If not, then I agree that's a big gap that should absolutely be part of every student's education.

I don't know what that has to do with developing critical thinking skills, though.

They can take religous studies in university. I don't think world religeon should be a section of social studies but I think social studies itself should be more focused on teaching history and religous groups would be discussed in the historical context instead of dogma.

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I find this comment interesting. I'm not religious, and this is completely anecdotal, but my discussions with a lot of religious people have led me to believe that they lack critical thinking skills.

They seem very willing to ignore substantial evidence that shows that Earth is more than 6,000 years old, for example.

I would be fine with my child learning history (and including religion in there), but I would be very not fine with her being taught that homosexuality is a sin and that the Earth is only 6000 years old.

However, I would be willing to allow it if they also taught that Jesus rode a Tyrannosaurus.

I'm not talking about teaching theosophy and enforcing dogma, I'm talking about teaching the history and complexity of religion.

Sure religious people are close-minded, they don't want to challenge their worldview most of the time. I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about the symbolism, the history, the esotericism, the influence, the foundations of one of the most influential aspects of society for thousands of years. I find it absolutely fascinating; the tree of life, kabbalism, the upside down cross, Jesuits, Templars, the Vatican, Kali and Kali. How does it all fit together? I don't know but I sure as heck wish they'd have taught some of it in school over some of the other wasted hours because when you look into the complexities of it it expands the minds ability to think critically and ability to identify patterns.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by AcGold

I'm not talking about teaching theosophy and enforcing dogma, I'm talking about teaching the history and complexity of religion.

Sure religious people are close-minded, they don't want to challenge their worldview most of the time. I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about the symbolism, the history, the esotericism, the influence, the foundations of one of the most influential aspects of society for thousands of years. I find it absolutely fascinating; the tree of life, kabbalism, the upside down cross, Jesuits, Templars, the Vatican, Kali and Kali. How does it all fit together? I don't know but I sure as heck wish they'd have taught some of it in school over some of the other wasted hours because when you look into the complexities of it it expands the minds ability to think critically and ability to identify patterns.

Here is the thing, and I really don't know, but is the highschool mind able to process these thoughts? Do they have the cognitive skills needed to study these types of things?

To my mind, school (gr 1 - 12) is about teaching children how to learn, not so much about what they are learning (to some degree), so that when they go to post secondary school they have the ability to actually learn.

I might be way off on this though.

[Jude]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I agree it is almost as ridiculous as suggesting that religious people have better critical thinking skills.

Haha I never suggested that and I certainly don't believe it.

My point was that when you look at a large enough group of people you will find all walks of life in it. Suggesting religious individuals, a group that numbers in the billions, lack critical thinking skills is surely silly, no?

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Here is the thing, and I really don't know, but is the highschool mind able to process these thoughts? Do they have the cognitive skills needed to study these types of things?

To my mind, school (gr 1 - 12) is about teaching children how to learn, not so much about what they are learning (to some degree), so that when they go to post secondary school they have the ability to actually learn.

I might be way off on this though.

Do they now? Probably not but that's not because the mind is incapable of it, it's because society and the education system teaches people to be drone like regurgitators of data without actually processing it. If you teach people about religion it forces them to question their worldview and it reduces close-mindedness because of how complex it is and how unlikely it is that any one perspective is the absolute truth.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I find this comment interesting. I'm not religious, and this is completely anecdotal, but my discussions with a lot of religious people have led me to believe that they lack critical thinking skills.

They seem very willing to ignore substantial evidence that shows that Earth is more than 6,000 years old, for example.

I would be fine with my child learning history (and including religion in there), but I would be very not fine with her being taught that homosexuality is a sin and that the Earth is only 6000 years old.

However, I would be willing to allow it if they also taught that Jesus rode a Tyrannosaurus.

I see it was already addressed, but neither of those things are taught in Catholic schools. Evolution in particular is part of the curriculum just like any other school. Homosexuality isn't really discussed either (sadly, it is ignored), but the truth is, you can find anti-homosexual bigots everywhere (I know atheists who are just as bad as anyone in that regard).

It sounds like you are thinking more of Calvinist, Baptist and Anabaptist Protestant conservative Christians. Understandable, as they are probably more visible in Alberta than other places in Canada, but they are hardly the voice for Catholics.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Seeing as most Catholics fake Catholicism anyway, I don't see what the big deal is.

As I mentioned earlier neither of my kids are Catholic nor are my wife and I. Meaning none of us are Catholic baptized or have taken the steps to become Catholic. But we are Christians, not Bible thumpers but privately we are Christians, but this forum is not the place to discuss faith I'm going down that path here.
But understand taking religion class is a mandatory curriculum in Catholic schools. Even when they attended ND they could not graduate if they did not have enough credits from Religion.
You could not play on the Football team if you did not attend religion.
A Catholic school is not for everyone I get that.
Also all teachers have to be Catholic in order to teach this not a myth this is a fact. Now whether they "fake it" who can say.
I do know that I have 3 teachers in my family and all of them have tried in the past to work at Catholic schools due to being close to their home or when they were trying to get something permanent instead of being in the sub rotation.
All were told they could if they were willing to become Catholic they would be accepted.

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

As I mentioned earlier neither of my kids are Catholic nor are my wife and I. Meaning none of us are Catholic baptized or have taken the steps to become Catholic. But we are Christians, not Bible thumpers but privately we are Christians, but this forum is not the place to discuss faith I'm going down that path here.
But understand taking religion class is a mandatory curriculum in Catholic schools. Even when they attended ND they could not graduate if they did not have enough credits from Religion.
You could not play on the Football team if you did not attend religion.
A Catholic school is not for everyone I get that.
Also all teachers have to be Catholic in order to teach this not a myth this is a fact. Now whether they "fake it" who can say.
I do know that I have 3 teachers in my family and all of them have tried in the past to work at Catholic schools due to being close to their home or when they were trying to get something permanent instead of being in the sub rotation.
All were told they could if they were willing to become Catholic they would be accepted.

They can still graduate they are just not allowed to walk the stage. There is no requirement in Alberta for religious studies to graduate.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by cSpooge

They can still graduate they are just not allowed to walk the stage. There is no requirement in Alberta for religious studies to graduate.

yes you are correct I asked my Son and he said the same thing you could graduate but you could not walk the stage.
He said that on his Football team at ND you had to attend religion. Now I assume that probably varies from school to school.
I may not have mentioned it but I grew up in Public school but I found this header of the thread interesting since we put our kids in Catholic.

[Locke]

Am I the only one that finds this hilarious?

"God I hate those stupid Catholics but I really want to send my kid to their school and I'm willing to lie and cheat to make it happen!"