There’s no reason RS, when taught well, can’t be secular. In fact, in order to be taught well it really has to be. A good teacher explaining all the world’s religions, their beliefs, and looking at the reasons people believe what they do, should at least encourage agnosticism in the students.
This is exactly what I had at school. They called it 'Core ‘RE’. I learned about hindus, islam, christianity and all sorts of other stuff. It was not a mandatory GCSE though, but you could take an RE GCSE, I did not.
This is exactly what my RS was like, very inclusive and secular and my teacher was an Anglican priest. He didn’t let his own views impact his teaching. I didn’t appreciate it at the time but he was a great teacher.
I was speaking to my wife about our schooling and saying how much I enjoyed RS. We had a teacher who made a point of plainly, and without bias explaining all the mysterys of human beliefs. It was truly a fascinating subject. Whereas my wife’s RS consisted of a minister coming in and reading the bible. We’re the same age, from the same country.
There’s no reason RS, when taught well, can’t be secular. In fact, in order to be taught well it really has to be. A good teacher explaining all the world’s religions, their beliefs, and looking at the reasons people believe what they do, should at least encourage agnosticism in the students.
This is exactly what I had at school. They called it 'Core ‘RE’. I learned about hindus, islam, christianity and all sorts of other stuff. It was not a mandatory GCSE though, but you could take an RE GCSE, I did not.
This is exactly what my RS was like, very inclusive and secular and my teacher was an Anglican priest. He didn’t let his own views impact his teaching. I didn’t appreciate it at the time but he was a great teacher.
Mine was similar, but my RS teacher was a cool goth lady. Also perfect for RS.
Meanwhile in Catholic school, we did an entire year on the Gospel of John. Couldn’t ask for a better way to convert everyone to atheism.
Going to a CofE school made me an atheist. If their god exists he had forsaken that place.
My Dad was taught in a school run by Jesuits - he learned a similar lesson.
I was speaking to my wife about our schooling and saying how much I enjoyed RS. We had a teacher who made a point of plainly, and without bias explaining all the mysterys of human beliefs. It was truly a fascinating subject. Whereas my wife’s RS consisted of a minister coming in and reading the bible. We’re the same age, from the same country.