Jason Ortiz5 said:So, you get an F for insulting a friend? Maybe that only applies if you're insulting someone else in the congregation. 🤔 Or is saying "you're going to hell because you don't believe" considered constructive criticism? 😛
I’m not entirely sure, but in the religious families I know, going to Mass is just a normal part of life. It might get a little tedious when they're four or five, but kids actually seem to enjoy the community aspect and being there. 🤷 Besides, I wouldn't let my daughter attend religious education any more than I'd let her watch Big Brother.
Yeah, there are plenty of schools where attending Sunday Mass is a regular requirement And honestly, I don't see an issue with that. A colleague of mine is quite religious and goes to church every single week, so meeting those kinds of expectations wouldn't be a problem for her at all.
From what I gather, a sacrament isn't just something you check off a list to acquire; it's more of a confirmation of your spiritual growth—just one step in your faith journey and a way to affirm your commitment.
I agree. Religious education classes should really only be for kids who actually attend church on Sundays—families where faith and religious traditions are a genuine part of their daily lives.
But since that isn't the case, most kids are enrolled by parents who haven't stepped foot in a church since their own baptism or maybe a wedding years ago. Because of that, they just pull the kids out of the program as soon as anyone starts asking them to actually show up for services.
You didn't actually have to take religion class; thankfully, it was never a mandatory subject I think it was presented that way, but you could always opt out
It wasn't a lie, really. Dad was just rubbing her back, nothing more. Some things just sound way worse than they actually were when you say them out loud. The same thing happened with my aunts; what sounded like being pushed into something turned out to just be some subtle suggestion.
Yeah, we thought it was hilarious at first too. Honestly, our friends are still making jokes about it 😂 but then you realize it’s actually not funny at all. In a more paranoid country, you could end up in serious trouble for something like this
My mom said something way more intense 😂 that if we were living in the States, I’d probably be facing jail time and my daughter would be taken into social services by CPS. "I don't like it when dad puts me to sleep, he always touches me, I don't like it." 😂
I can't speak for smaller towns, but I see how things work here in Washington, D.C. In more rural areas, people probably go to church just because it's expected—it's almost a scandal if you don't. You see those older folks get all worked up when they try to tell the kids they have to show up on Sunday.
That’s exactly why I mentioned it—it seems like so many kids are dropping out during second or especially third grade. First off, parents notice that not all the kids are actually attending. Plus, the requirements start getting pretty intense for anyone who isn't deeply religious or just shows up for Christmas and Easter.
From what I can tell, most of these feel more like little school assemblies or seasonal events—like stuff for the holidays or harvest festivals... And then they’ll bring in a priest to address the whole student body.
Anyway, just a side note... It feels way too much. http://s30.postimg.org/3tg946t5t/118...50005651_n.jpg
I suppose letting people stay in the libraries is okay for now, even if it isn't the perfect long-term fix.
However, I really can't get on board with the blessings. Seriously, guys—let’s just skip the school celebration before the priest starts spraying everyone with holy water. The rest of the kids will be at the party while you all just hang out in the library.
It’s fine within the regular school schedule, maybe just first or last period for the older kids 😁 We really need to organize something meaningful for the exchange students instead of just letting them hang around and get bored
Actually, what I meant was that back when I was in elementary school, we had Latin and Greek as electives—two separate subjects. They were always scheduled during the first or last period.
I think we need to be realistic here. The agreements with the Vatican are already in place; a single school can't just unilaterally cancel them. I won't get into the politics of that, but I hope it's clear to everyone here that I don't support religious education in public schools, nor do I think it belongs in a secular nation. But it is what it is, and we should find a practical solution. Religious ed teachers are paid for those hours, so they’re going to teach the kids who show up, just like an elective German class or an IT instructor would teach the students enrolled in those electives.
The real issue we need to tackle is making sure these electives actually feel optional—meaning there should be other real choices available during that time slot. In the lower grades, having it scheduled during after-school care isn't a fix, whether it's the first or last period. Every school should offer a genuine alternative so that kids who don't want religious studies have somewhere else to go, rather than just sitting around. For the older students, it really needs to be scheduled as the first or last period, or perhaps during a different shift entirely.
It’s not really about kids skipping religion class; the real issue is how disorganized the schools are. Let’s call it what it is.
If there was actually something else available for those students during that period, I think everyone could live with it. Like maybe a drama club or something.
Well, look, it’s pretty straightforward—religious teachings have a very clear stance on contraception, just like they do on masturbation and other topics. But then you have health class, where the curriculum is going to be something completely different. So, what happens? Is the same teacher going to tell you in one period that masturbation is wrong because it's "degrading," only to turn around in the next hour and say it's perfectly natural and normal?
It seems like so many parents pull their kids out of school by second or third grade once they realize they’re expected to bring them to church on Sundays or deal with things like First Communion... The non-religious parents who originally enrolled their kids just so they wouldn't feel left out eventually get fed up and withdraw them entirely.
I’d love to see them offer an extra foreign language during religious studies 😁 or maybe astronomy. Or even a photography workshop, or calligraphy. Or even something like step aerobics. Honestly, just anything at all. 😁