For the believers

[sherrardk]

Boy #1 is under-achieving in RE at school. His reason being that he doesn't believe in God (as he can't understand how there could be a God if there are wars, etc). I am not religious myself (or particularly anti-religion - pretty much 'an each to their own' kind of person) but I want him to appreciate other peoples choices and beliefs. I suppose my question is, if you do believe why do you believe? Thanks for any thoughts (and if I have inadvertently offended anyone then I apologise in advance).

[sith123]

naomi, what are you expecting god to do when theres a war? destroy us all? Help one side? really, what do you expect him to do?

[naomi24]

Sith, I have no expectations whatsoever of your invisible God. (I would have said 'your invisible friend', but in the case of the troubles in the Middle East, he isn't your friend, is he?).

[sandyRoe]

He's done a Pontius Pilate act in the Middle East. Washed his hands of the whole affair.

[naomi24]

Yes, indeed. "I started it but I won't finish it." Some Mastermind!

[sandyRoe]

Naomi, he's only God Almighty. There are some problems, such as the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, that are intractable even for him.

[jomifl]

Perhaps if god 'de-selected' the Jews they would all go home,,,as if.

[naomi24]

Deselection? No chance!

[Ankou]

he doesn't sound like he is under achieving then, and everyone has at least one subject at school that they just don't get on with. you can choose to withdraw him from r&e lessons but i imagine since you sent him to a religiously affiliated school this might be considred a bit 'rich'.

why not explain that r&e is about learning from other cultures and beliefs a bit like mythology combined with a little bit of history.

[starone]

He should learn about religion so that he can make his own mind up. It is interesting in itself. I am an atheist but can quote some parts of the bible because it was drummed into me when I was a child. I made my own mind up as I got older and realised what a lot of bunkum it was. My father always referred to the old testament as a history of the Jews.