Why is it that children almost always adopt the religion of their parents? What a happy coincidence that is, especially for the vicars, priests, imams and all the other religious ‘leaders’ in the country! In these days of modern enlightenment, with evidence-based science taking over from unproven religious ‘faith’, it’s no wonder the devout are looking for assistance from wherever they can to fill the emptying churches, temples and mosques. And now ‘faith’ leaders have a new best friend: this Conservative government.
The education secretary, Gillian Keegan, has scrapped the rule that says ‘faith’ schools have to offer 50% of their places to pupils of no faith at all. This means, rather obviously, that religious schools will no longer need to recruit the children of non-religious parents. 100% of all pupils at ‘faith’ schools will now be religious.
Let us now examine why schools should be religious in the first place. There is only one reason: proselytisation. The ability to – and these are my words, but tell me I am wrong – brainwash people into a particular faith. The competing religions are losing numbers and by catching people young, they are hoping to build up numbers again.
We all know about catholic schools, don’t we. And we all know about the legions of parents who basically lie and pretend to be catholics in order to get their children into ‘good schools’. If said children then spend the rest of their lives worshipping God’s vicar in the Vatican, well that’s just collateral damage. So, what happens if we end up with more and more religious schools?
Well, we could end up like Northern Ireland where catholics and run of the mill christians have been in competition for years to recruit children. What a good idea that was, in times of Troubles, to separate children on the basis of the God preferred by their parents. Still, catholic and christian schools, eh? What harm can they do, apart from inflict ancient teachings upon pupils about creation and similar such nonsense. But there’s much worse than that.
How about more muslim schools and the Pakistan style Madrassas, where the children of muslims are taught religious gobbledegook instead of scientific fact? In areas of highly concentrated muslim populations, what better way to destroy any prospect of integration than forcing children to learn so called islamic teachings?
Even senior vicars, like frock-wearing clerics like the Archbishop of Canterbury think 100% religious schools are a shit idea, although as you can imagine the hardline extremists in all religions are rubbing their hands together at the prospect of a taxpayer funded recruitment drive for their churches. This is ridiculous. We need less – actually no – religious schools.
We do not allow young children to get married, have sex, watch sweary or violent things on telly and we don’t let them vote. It’s because they are considered to be too young to make their minds up and conceptualise these things. So, why is it different with religion? How come children are deemed to be far too young to get married at the age of, say, 10, but it’s perfectly okay to tell them the school’s God of choice actually exists, despite the complete lack of evidence to prove it?
No one is talking about banning religion. As a secularist, I believe that anyone should be free to worship, so long as it has no effect on how a secular society operates. No one should be compelled to pray, for example, but it’s okay to do so in the mosque, temple, church and so on of their choice. No compulsion, but no special privileges.
More segregation, increased religious discrimination, more racial segregation – just what we need, right? Listen to Andrew Copson from Humanists UK: “Rather than expanding religious selection, a government that cared about cohesion would be seeking to create a single admissions system where all state schools are open to children from any background or belief.”
Support this government policy and say hello to more division in society. And give an inch to the devout and they will take a mile. Keegan’s new policy will further empower the Godwhackers.
To go back to my first point, children usually end up being part of the same religion as their parents. You do not need me to explain how this happens, do you? Just look at the opposite scenario. Those brought up with no religion usually end up with none themselves, or in the rare occasions they ‘find God’ themselves, they do if of their own volition. Isn’t free will better?
