C of E School - "Brainwashing"

[clairey-s]

On a placement in my old C of E School, I overheard a conversation (I was in the staffroom - they knew I was there!!) between a Science teacher and an assistant - the teacher basically saying the children where kind of brainwashed into thinking God (directly) does everything! (They were talking about electricity - the teacher had asked "what is making the bulb light up?" or something, and had had more than one anwer of "God!")

I myself am a Christian, but I don't remember thinking God made light bulbs glow!

...It's not brainwashing is it?

It's a great school - but what do you think?

=s me x

[gobbledegeek]

It would only be brainwashing if the pupils had been told (eg by a teacher) that electricity was created by god. Misinformation would be a better explanation. Unfortunately our kids are subjected to a lot of religious poppycock in 'faith' schools (funded by the taxpayer, let us not forget) instead of being encouraged to investigate natural phenomenon using solid scientific discovery.

[clairey-s]

Nonono, I'm not suggesting they're brainwashing the students! It just seems strange that the kids are so SURE about God! I left there 6 years ago and I'M not that sure x

[Ice.Maiden]

The children were either very young, or having a laugh when they echoed that God makes light bulbs light up! However, I haven't heard of any C of E schools which brainwash children into thinking that God does everything - certainly not in such a literal way! I'm not religious, but I can see a trend starting, whereby the very idea of there being a "God" is fast disappearing, due to scientific explanations. However, because there are many unexplained things in this life, and because worship brings comfort to those who wish to believe in a higher entity, who's to say that they're wrong?

[mibn2cweus]

. . . I will. Neither God nor any of his professed spokespersons explain anything about the nature of reality or offer a rational explanation of how to live in it.

If an individual chooses to numb their mind to the pain that accompanies an incomplete knowledge rather than chip away at the philosophers stone that is their business but when children are praised for falling back on pseudo explanations at the peak of their mental development is it any wonder they grow up addicted to the intellectual poison of substituting faith for reason, and end up perpetuating the mythology of a God who only allows others to speak on his own behalf.

[chakka35]

Very well said, mib

[Octavius]

That ^^^ is a kinda poppycock answer for simply saying, they didn't know the answer and said the first thing that came into their heads.

I very much doubt the kids were SURE that God created the light in the lightbulb. They just couldn't scientifically explain it.

Don't need to bumble on about perpetuating myths and pseudo psychology to arrive at that idea.

[jake-the-peg]

I don't know how old they were but this sounds to me like a great game for kids.

Wind up the teachers in a CofE school - every time a science teacher asks you something reply "God does it"

It's not brainwashing it's kids taking the mick - if they can't spot that they need a quick course in child psychology.

[Ice.Maiden]

Well exactly!

[Octavius]

Ha, yes I can see the merit in that!
Also, if the teacher was so appalled, what are they doing teaching in a faith school (funded for by all tax payers alike, let us not forget)?

[Gromit]

God created the world and is therefore responsible for everything on this earth...

Starvation
Drug Addiction
Terrorism
Genocide
Murder
Anti-Social Behaviour
Islamic fundamentalism
James Blunt

[Octavius]

And of course cynical reiteration.
He made you write that Gromit.

[mibn2cweus]

If in our wildest dreams we should all awaken to find that all (or even most) who profess a belief in god and see god as an explanation for anything were in fact "taking the mick" I would say "What a wonderful prank on us" and be delighted to find that it was I who had been the fool all this time.

Even if it turned out that the incident in question was simply kids pulling the leg of their 'teachers' this would provide me with greater hope for humanity. If I am proved wrong in this case so much the better!

Wake up now . . . before its too late

[Octavius]

Ere, who's this preacher ^^^^ ?

Anyone'd think they were trying to start a new religion.

[Gromit]

So, all the rubbish I write on here is Gods doing.

Is it the devil's fault I never get any *stars?*

[Octavius]

No, I would say your writing is satanic and therefore God is witholding the stars until you repent.

[Gromit]

Luckily, I do not believe in Satan so I will have to take all the blame myself.

It must be great to offload all your responsibilities for your actions onto Beelzebub.

[clairey-s]

woah-ho. Goodness, I didn't mean it as literally as it sounds - and I don't think the kids where old enough to be having a laugh! (Not that we used to do that!) I feel quite bad, actually. x

[whiffey]

I am all in favour of Christian faith schools. Nobody yet has been able to disprove the existence of God, nor to explain the appearance by pure material chance of the sentient human race, with its complex moral systems and creativity. Mozart appeared purely by chance ??

Science itself is as reliant upon Faith as is religion. There are many questions science cannot answer (where did the universe come from), but it has faith that it will be able to one day. It also has the arrogance to refute the existence of God and the occurrence of miracles as being ' unscientific'.

Get proving is what I say !!

[Octavius]

Not mine Gromit, my posts are all devout. So no burden for me. I am sure you can live with the blame but don�t be too hard on yourself. If it gets too much for you, why not post another anti-religious anti-Christian thread to make yourself feel better.