School Task - Conversion To Islam

[agchristie]

Is this wise?

http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/02/20/school-sets-children-task-of-writing-letter-explaining-their-conversion-to-islam/

[naomi24]

vetuste_ennemi, //if a thread were started about this [Muslim children being given the task of explaining their conversion to Christianity] on AB everybody who has defended the Guernsey school on this thread would take the opposite position on that one.//

That is a distinct probability.

[Old_Geezer]

Must be a very short exercise.

Dear Xxxxx,

My school has brainwashed me so I'm changing religions.

Yours sincerely,
Yyyyy

[I] Very good Yyyyy. You have understood the only possible reason. 10/10. Gold star. [I]

[naomi24]

OG, //Must be a very short exercise.//

It is indeed. All that is required for conversion to Islam is for the subject to declare, "I bear witness that there is no God worthy to be worshiped but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

In order to ensure that I’d typed the wording of that declaration accurately, I searched a Muslim website designed to offer advice on conversion and among the many gems of dubious wisdom to be found there, happened upon this:

//If you are a Small child you can still become a Muslim without your parents permission If you fear they may harm, you can become Muslim in secret and tell them when you are ready.//

Admirable!!!

http://www.muslimconverts.com/howtoconvert/

[naomi24]

I was rather hoping that some of the people who think this exercise is a good idea would comment on my post above but it's been there all day ... and nothing. Oh well.....

[vetuste_ennemi]

"I was rather hoping that some of the people who think this exercise is a good idea...".

Odd isn't it, Naomi? Not one of them knows anything about the religion or its founder, nor as far as I can see have made any effort to learn something about either.

[naomi24]

…. and yet they are not only perfectly willing to allow other people to expose their children to it – they actively encourage such exposure and call it 'education'. ‘Odd’, I think, is an understatement.

[agchristie]

Naomi > If you fear they may harm, you can become Muslim in secret.

Interesting! How does a child become a Muslim in secret? Surely it would be too restrictive and very difficult to conceal? Very strange.

[pixie374]

Why would anyone take the opposite approach? Learning and being aware of what others think is never a disadvantage.

[naomi24]

ag, "I bear witness that there is no God worthy to be worshiped but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

They say that^ - and continue to communicate either outside the home or via the internet - or both - to the people who encouraged them initially.

[naomi24]

Pixie, //Why would anyone take the opposite approach? //

What opposite approach?

//Learning and being aware of what others think is never a disadvantage.//

No? Think about that.

[naomi24]

ag, *with* the people.

[pixie374]

I was referring to, //if a thread were started about this [Muslim children being given the task of explaining their conversion to Christianity] on AB everybody who has defended the Guernsey school on this thread would take the opposite position on that one.//


I don't need to think about it... we should only teach children about things we approve of?

[naomi24]

Pixie, //we should only teach children about things we approve of? //

No, but you choose your subjects and teach them wisely.

[jourdain2]

Re: OP... Academically, it is not a bad idea, it demonstrates how much the pupil has understood Islamic teachings and their impact on daily lifestyle and also demands the constraints of the letter form. We are short of information here, however. Most schools 'do' the various religions in turn. If each course ends with the demand that children write a letter explaining their conversion to Judaism, Christianity, Jainism, Hinduism etc. - then I have no problem with it. If not.... well, that's different.

[pixie374]

Teach wisely...definitely! And that is down to the parents too. But I don't think ignorance about any subject is ever helpful.

[vetuste_ennemi]

"But I don't think ignorance about any subject is ever helpful.".

Couldn't agree more, Pixie. On the subject of Islam are you ignorant or knowledgeable?

[pixie374]

Fairly ignorant, V-E.... maybe I should do the homework myself... :-)

[naomi24]

Pixie, //But I don't think ignorance about any subject is ever helpful//

Neither do I, so I would teach a child how to cross the road safely, for example. I wouldn't give him the impression that it's okay to run out under a bus!

[pixie374]

Of course not! You tell them what happens if they do. You don't avoid the subject totally. There is a difference between this role play piece of homework and attempting to convert children to a religion...

[vetuste_ennemi]

"maybe I should do the homework myself.".

Not the homework, Pixie. It has the premise "Islam is a good thing" built into it. That's not the kind of critical thinking that meets my definition of education. If you want to learn something about Islam I think a good starting point would be looking at the life of Mohammed. He is the model of conduct for Muslims. I think most people from a Christian tradition who think that Mohammed is an analogue of Christ would be rather shocked by what they found.