Ramadan

[claymore]

The leader of the Muslim community here in Australia is saying that if schools celebrate Christmas they must also teach pupils about Ramadan and other Muslim celebrations, does he have a point?

[jomifl]

Yes. but not the one he thinks he has.

[society]

So which one then? ^^

[beso]

If the school has a large proportion of Muslim students perhaps they should. However there are many other religious traditions too. Are we to teach them all?

Also remember that what is now called Christmas was (and still is for many and increasingly so) the celebration of the solstice. This and the fact that Christians tried to take over the festival (as the also did with Easter) should be included in the teaching.

Also note that Ramadan is a very unhealthy tradition. Those who partake forgo food and water all day in the belief that it gives them spiritual insight. What they actually experience is the body's reaction to dehydration and low blood sugar.

If we teach it then it should include discussion of the negative health impacts.

I am all for teaching about religion in schools. However I want the full truth about them taught, rather than the sanitised versions served up by the faithful.

[mike11111]

As far as I am aware Ramadan is not a Muslim celebration but more akin to the Christian observance of Lent, though much more strict in its privations. The celebrations come at the end.

[society]

Eh Mike? You are wrong...

[mike11111]

OK, I'm wrong if you say so, but I always understood it to be a period of penitence, fasting and self-denial, wherein no one, apart from the sick could take sustenance during the hours of daylight. The festival of Eid marked the end of this period, much as Easter marks the end of Lent, but what do I know, I'm just a pig-ignorant Christian.

[boxtops]

Mike is entirely right, my Muslim friends treat as a period of abstinence in the belief that self-denial heightens the senses, and reminds those who have plenty that many of their follows humans don't have enough to eat and drink every day. Although it's not in the spirit of the fast, some people really feast during the hours of darkness. The hardest time is when Ramadan falls in the summer months when daylight lasts so much longer. Those who are ill, pregnant women, small children, are exempt and do not have to fast - those unable to fast can (if they wish) make up the fast at a later date.

[boxtops]

^^many of their fellow humans

[boxtops]

.and PS I think teaching school children about the practices and celebrations of other faiths is an excellent idea - I never knew what Diwali was about until I went to live in Birmingham. Information leads to greater tolerance, and indeed the ability to join in each others' celebrations. My Muslim friends still celebrate the atmosphere at Christmas, they recognise Jesus as a prophet, so we still have jolly parties and they can wish us Happy Christmas in the same way that we can (and do) wish them Eid Mubarak.

[jomifl]

Society..The point being that if religion was kept out of schools the world would be a happier place. I am an atheist and quite happy, and I suspect that if I was religious I would not be any happier. Prove otherwise if you can.

[jomifl]

Going without food for 12 hours is not such a big deal, I wouldn't say that it amounts to very much, what does it demonstrate? could try harder?

[wildwood]

No, he doesn't have a point. Islam in it's present form as a religion is degrading to women and should not be tolerated anywhere.

[mike11111]

I would venture to suggest that going without food for 12 hours whilst trying to do a full day's work IS a big deal. Unions and 'elf'n safety' wouldn't stand for it.

[jomifl]

Mike.. it is just a matter of missing out lunch. I've done that many times and hardly noticed, I believe muslims are allowed to drink during the day over ramadan ( I've seen them do it and a couple of pints of guiness works wonders ).

[Ankou]

i would be happy for religious rituals/festivities (e.g. ramadan) to be taught in schools, much like any other. that way it can be learnt, understood, questioned, and debated.

lack of understanding just leads to numptiness and daftoutbursts. so the better informed, the better the debates.

[piggynose]

ding dong!!

[Ankou]

piggynose, have you morphed into leslie philips?..., i say!

[piggynose]

sorry ankou, it seemed the most obvious thing to say, and now all hell has let loose on a similar thread, cuz some joker asked what is ramadan a ding dong?

[jomifl]

Boxtops..I can't quite see the point of celebrating something you don't believe in, It seems faintly patronising and possibly hypocritical in some cases. oh by the way Happy Christmas to all!

[naomi24]

piggynose, I don't know what thread you've been reading, but if it's the same one as me, then your idea of all hell being let loose and my idea of it must be two entirely different things. A slight exaggeration there I'd say - to say the least.