@James Alvarez2, regarding that point about religious studies: if we actually managed to strip those classes out of the public school system entirely, what kind of career paths would even be left for those teachers? Would they even have anything left in their field to actually work in?
I mean, where do theologians typically find work these days? I’m completely in the dark here—no background in this at all.
You don't even need a specific topic to figure out why they’re signing up. Real life tells you everything you need to know.
The whole point isn't that kids don't know how to check a box—if they don't, they can learn.
It’s really just the perfect little litmus test for any religious studies teacher. Within the first five minutes of that very first class in freshman year, they get a clear look at just how far these kids have drifted from the light. 😁
Honestly, I’m a little baffled here—how does a kid reach school age without even knowing how to make the Sign of the Cross?
I mean, look, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen grandmothers sitting there with their grandkids on their laps—you know, during that stage where everything is all "twinkle twinkle little star" and soft lullabies—teaching them to cross themselves or reciting a quick prayer to an angel. I just assumed that was basically standard practice for every grandma out there. 😁
And then you have the families who actually take their kids to Mass; usually, by then, the child has already picked up the gesture instinctively.
So, if you ask me, a kid not knowing how to cross themselves is a pretty clear sign that they haven't had any real contact with faith within their family circle during their first seven years of life.
Regarding this whole debate about enrolling non-religious kids in religion classes for various reasons—here’s a little anecdote. At the start of the school year, my kid was telling me how their teacher asked the class who knew how to make the Sign of the Cross. Some kids jumped up knowing exactly what to do, while others... well, they didn't. I couldn't quite get a clear sense from her regarding the actual split—how many were prepared and how many were totally lost.
Honestly, I half expected her to say that it was just the teacher and maybe one or two other kids who actually understood the gesture. But clearly, there were more of them 😬
James Alvarez2 said:I don't support having religion classes in public schools, and I don't really vibe with most of the instructors at the church where I volunteer, but obviously, that change isn't coming anytime soon. Not that I think it should, either. They're just protecting their jobs, just like I protect mine. I'd never tell an investor not to show up to my office just because they aren't interested—especially since I rely on them to pay the bills.
But seriously, that's exactly why the parents' role here is way, way, WAY more important than whatever the instructor or priest is doing.
I’d actually argue that parental influence isn't even the deciding factor in whether a kid eventually buys into the dominant religion or decides to walk away from it entirely.
In my humble opinion, that whole thing usually crystallizes during those post-puberty "formative years"—it becomes such an intensely personal matter that it often has nothing to do with whatever beliefs parents tried to shove down their throats earlier on.
But look, everyone has their own reasons for enrolling their kid in religious education in the first place. They had the baby baptized, too—mostly just out of tradition, because of where they live, or because Grandma insisted, or one parent wanted it while the other just didn't want to make a scene.
I honestly wish someone would experience a situation where, at a parent-teacher meeting regarding kindergarten enrollment—with the principal and the teacher both present—someone actually had the guts to speak up. I mean, if a religious instructor were there, wouldn't they appeal to common sense? They should be saying that we shouldn't be enrolling kids in religious education classes unless they are truly believers, or if living out those faith-based values is actually a struggle for them... especially when you consider things like the Eucharist and all that.
🙂
Why even bother bringing up the ceremony? Because let’s face it—no one is ever going to actually see that happen.
Honestly, when I was sitting through religion classes back in elementary school, things felt... different. It wasn't some intense academic grind—we mostly just colored, drew pictures, and shared stories or thoughts. There was even this weird little system where you got extra credit points based on church attendance; if you went to confession that Saturday, boom, you got a plus. They call it "living your faith."
What we have now feels more like a dry lecture. A textbook approach. A workbook. Just a bunch of people masquerading as "presenting facts."
Look, I wasn't exactly an overachiever in those classes, nor could I recite scripture word-for-word if my life depended on it. But the whole point of learning this "doctrine"... well, it’s because so many people believe in all sorts of nonsense that isn't even true, yet they can't be bothered to actually think about it or double-check anything. So, I suppose I'll just have to rely on my own sense of reason regarding that part...
There’s this one line in an American sociology textbook—one of those sections on family structures—that basically says, "My father, who is also my mother's husband." Honestly? Total nonsense. It completely ignores reality; at least 30% of families out there don't function that way at all, dammit.
I was asking my little girl how her religion class went today. She told me the teacher asked if they actually go to church—or rather, if anyone even attends. Turns out, nobody goes. A few kids claimed they’ve been "once or twice," if you can believe that. 😬
Consequences? What consequences are we even talking about here? What's he actually going to conclude—that it’s all just a waste of time and decide to walk away?
I’ve already pointed this out a few times now in this thread—whether we delay things or not, it feels like it doesn't even matter. It all leads to the same place anyway.
I think it’s pretty obvious at this point—if you look back from the fourth post onward (you know, once we started drifting into those old stories about the former regime and all that nonsense about experts and doctors ditching their professional attire)—that Mom is clearly having some issues, which explains why she's bringing up USA Swimming. Honestly.
Oh, absolutely. Plusic—who even attended Mass? It seems they only "tolerated" one Senada and one Busolajdzica skipping service. Even those two actually sat through religious studies class, believe it or not. Muslims. (Refugees, just arrived from Canada, I suppose—probably trying too hard to blend in)
What kind of dresses are we even talking about for these little crisis-makers? That just wasn't a thing back in my day. We used to actually get dolled up—full makeup, hair done, wearing our best outfits. And those first pairs of high heels... 🙈
And who even needs a DVD recording anymore? It’s just throwing money $27 straight out of your pocket.
I’m with you there—honestly, looking at something like religion class, I see a massive opportunity to actually encourage some critical thinking. I mean, what's the harm in just asking her what they discussed and getting her take on it? It shouldn't be a big deal.
Small tangent here—we ended up buying one of those "princess" accessory sets today; you know, a tiara, a ring, and some earrings. Total junk, honestly. The tiara keeps sliding right off her head, and the earrings snapped almost immediately.
She actually called it out herself—said it was a stupid thing to make, designed just so some kid wants it, leaving parents to waste money on nothing.
It feels like a much better teaching moment to let her experience that than to just refuse to buy it and try to lecture her about why the product is garbage.
Growing up, I was constantly questioning everything—it was a total "WTF" moment for me (and honestly, I can't speak for everyone else, but I was lost). I’d just sit there wondering, how is it even possible to walk on water? Like, how did he just feed an entire crowd with five loaves and two fish? It makes zero sense when you think about it. If prayer actually worked, then why is the world still full of sickness, accidents, and pure evil?
I vividly remember hearing that "those who don't believe won't make it to heaven," and man, I went through this massive internal struggle when I was maybe nine or ten years old. I was wrestling with myself, thinking: if I don't believe, but He *does* exist, then I'm totally screwed—I'll just burn in hell. But if I don't believe and He doesn't exist, then everything is fine. I used to tell myself, "Forgive me, God, but I really don't think You're real because this is just impossible." I even tried explaining to my mom that I didn't think any of it was true, and she just told me to shut up.
That's probably why it might be best for kids to actually be exposed to all these stories anyway—so they can decide for themselves whether they want to listen or believe. With a little bit of luck, you might even stumble upon a decent religion class teacher.
We’re still debating whether or not to sign our kid up for religion class. She hasn't been baptized—honestly, she’s never even stepped foot inside a church, doesn't pray, and we don't really talk about God at home. We just tell her that some people believe in things.
I feel like there’s some kind of value in letting her experience what goes on in those classrooms firsthand—you know, so she can actually form her own opinion instead of just hearing us talk about it. But then again... I can't help but wonder if that's a valid excuse to expose a child to all that nonsense.
Do parents have to make that choice during enrollment, or does it happen later in September?
It’s pretty wild when you think about it—it’s basically the only subject where they teach things that aren't even factually true, yet nobody seems to give a damn. 😍
Morning. Yeah, I was actually thinking about school enrollment delays.
But look, if the kid is doing fine, then they’re probably ready. Why do you think otherwise? I mean, unless there's some specific diagnosis or major struggle—and they're at the right age—then they should be good to go.
My therapist once told me that no parent ever truly feels their child is ready. Everyone always thinks they aren't prepared enough. My little one is... well, emotionally immature, let's put it that way—but she’s going to have to navigate life and figure things out as she goes. Some people just have to learn lessons the hard way. She's shy, sensitive, easily overwhelmed... she loses her cool quickly and stays mad for ages. She doesn't handle losing well, struggles with following rules, isn't great at "selling herself," lacks social charm, and can't really express herself verbally. Plus, she gets completely fixated on the tiniest little details...
If the school psychologist—who actually knows her, knows me, and understands her developmental stage and level of independence—thinks she's ready for elementary school, then honestly, I’d advocate for a delay based on those facts. Just saying "but I feel like..." isn't a valid argument in this situation. 🙂