religious education in schools

[kryptic]

A letter in my local paper tonight, laments that the government are proposing to delete RE from the school curriculum. The correspondent believes that RE gives children an insight into other belief systems and cultures and can give children a 'moral backbone.' He also believes that teaching religion can be harmonious to all, regardless of race, colour or creed.
I was just wondering what other ABers thought about the teaching of RE in school.
Good thing or bad thing?
Thanks.

[beso]

Religion is a political ideology and some do have quite fascist attitudes. Any religion that demands that everyone live by their arbitrary rules without any say in it is fascist.

Judaism, Christianity and Islam all have long histories of fascist enforcement of their dogma.

[modeller]

No one has mentioned the time to be allocated to each religion and how many religions should be covered. Unless equal time is given to each one how can you claim that the children will aquire a balanced view.

[jomifl]

What does 'religious education ' really cover, are we talking just religion ie. with a god or religious politics or philosophy or belief systems or moral codes/