Religion classes in school - Megathread

Chloe Roberts2 said:I mean, they clearly didn't realize that showing up to Mass would actually impact their kid's grade, so—get this—now they’re just pulling them out of the class altogether.

😲

You really can't compare standard academics to religious studies.

Surely a parent can tell their child, "Look, if you aren't feeling the choir practice anymore, you don't have to go since it isn't mandatory, but you still have to show up for school."😕

So, get this—apparently, showing up to Mass actually counts toward your grade in church religious ed classes, but it doesn't mean a lick to the school system? Like, seriously? Even though they’re both technically "religious education," there's absolutely zero overlap between the two... it’s like they’re living in two different universes or something. Why does one care about your attendance while the other just couldn't care less?
Quincy:

😲 I mean, honestly, can we even put school and religion in the same category? It’s like comparing apples to oranges, right? You’ve got your standard academic curriculum—math, science, history—which is all about facts and logic, and then you have religious studies, which is an entirely different beast altogether. They operate on completely different wavelengths, so trying to weigh one against the other just feels totally off base. Why would anyone even try to make that comparison? School is mandatory, period. It’s that one universal equalizer where it honestly doesn't matter if you're a devout Muslim, a hardcore atheist, a lifelong Christian, or just someone who couldn't care less about religion if your life depended on it. It's just the baseline for everyone, right? That’s also the spot where you pick up all those actual scientific facts, you know?

Oh, give me a break! Seriously?😁Look, religion class is just another credit on the transcript, plain and simple. You want to talk about whether it’s "equal" to something like math? Just try telling your kid they don't have to show up to religion class and see if the school lets them slide with an unexcused absence. It’s a requirement, isn't it? And if that kid finishes the year without passing, well, that’s a failing grade on their record just like any other subject. So, does it really matter how you categorize it when the consequences for skipping or failing are exactly the same as anything else on the schedule?😁

Quincy:

Religious studies classes are basically just a playground for teaching baseless theories and drilling kids on the idea that they need to go out there and "spread the faith," which is really just a polite way of saying they should be badgering people into converting.

Honestly, if you think about it, theology is kind of just like history, isn't it? It’s basically this massive collection of narratives that might be absolute truths, or they might just be nothing more than unproven assumptions floating around in the ether... who's really to say?
And honestly, if there’s any kind of twist or distortion happening at all, isn't it just baked into the very nature of every single thing we look at? It’s like, you can try to find something pure, but if a little bit of warping exists, doesn't it just seep into everything else too?

Quincy:

I mean, isn't it about time we started asking if a person actually has the right to just stand up and say, "Look, this whole thing isn't mandatory, so I'm officially opting out"? Is it really that much to ask? 😕

Look, nobody's disputing that you have every right to speak your mind—no one’s even going there. I was just trying to get at the bigger picture here... what kind of message are we actually sending to our kids by doing this? And honestly, what happens when tomorrow that same kid walks up to us and says, "Yeah, actually, I'm done. I don't want to go to school anymore"? What then?

It’s not even the same thing.
Religious studies is an elective from the jump.
Just like computer science, English, or ethics class.

Kids know damn well the difference between "you have to" and "you can." And honestly, I don't think we're teaching them anything wrong if they give something a shot and realize it's not their thing. Doesn't mean they're gonna be switching things up every single week...

It just occurred to me while I was thinking about school schedules... for those of you who enroll your kids in religious education classes... do you actually frame it as an elective? Like, do you explain to them that alongside their mandatory core subjects, they have the option to take an elective course centered around your faith and values
Do you make sure they understand it’s a choice? That while math is a requirement, this particular subject is something they get to decide on—whether they want to participate or not?

Lawrence Torres56 said:.
I mean, look, church religion is all about evaluation, right? Like, if you don't know the specific verses or you skip communion or confirmation, you're basically out in the cold—kind of like how you can't get into certain clubs unless you've got enough social clout for those Sunday services...😉 whereas what they teach in public school is more about the basics of faith mixed with just being a decent human being. In elementary school, nobody is going to fail you just because you haven't memorized a prayer yet, but trust me, you'll get flagged in a heartbeat if you start acting like a jerk or swearing in class.
Quinn:

I've been thinking about this more and more lately, and honestly? Religious ed stays in the school system only because there are parents who choose to send their kids there. It's not because the system itself is actually good. I find myself feeling way more frustrated with other parents than I do with the Vatican agreements, the teachers, the school boards, or the government agencies.

In my book, having religion in the school curriculum should be about introducing kids to spiritual concepts and teaching them how to treat the people around them with basic respect... and honestly, I wouldn't even mind if they touched on a bit of different faiths too.
But church-based religion? That's almost exclusively about rote memorization of prayers and songs just to make sure the congregants look "devout" while they're inside the building, without any of it actually carrying over once they walk out the doors.
I signed my little girl up for the school program, even though I'm still undecided about whether she'll attend the church sessions... First Communion and Confirmation aren't really my priority, especially since I've seen how much kids get pressured and bullied through faith in those settings.

Oh, yeah, but usually only leading up to big holidays like Easter or Christmas, or during those kid-focused blessings... Though, let's be real, it's pretty much the same as a regular service, except the priests smile at the kids a little more. Although, in some parishes, they just call the standard Sunday services "children's Mass" when all the kids getting their first communion or confirmation are required to show up just to collect their little trinkets and rewards...😁

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? 😛

Lawrence Torres56 said:So, get this—apparently, showing up to Mass actually counts toward your grade in church religious ed classes, but it doesn't mean a lick to the school system? Like, seriously? Even though they’re both technically "religious education," there's absolutely zero overlap between the two... it’s like they’re living in two different universes or something. Why does one care about your attendance while the other just couldn't care less?
Quincy:

😲 I mean, honestly, can we even put school and religion in the same category? It’s like comparing apples to oranges, right? You’ve got your standard academic curriculum—math, science, history—which is all about facts and logic, and then you have religious studies, which is an entirely different beast altogether. They operate on completely different wavelengths, so trying to weigh one against the other just feels totally off base. Why would anyone even try to make that comparison? School is mandatory, period. It’s that one universal equalizer where it honestly doesn't matter if you're a devout Muslim, a hardcore atheist, a lifelong Christian, or just someone who couldn't care less about religion if your life depended on it. It's just the baseline for everyone, right? That’s also the spot where you pick up all those actual scientific facts, you know?

Oh, give me a break! Seriously?😁Look, religion class is just another credit on the transcript, plain and simple. You want to talk about whether it’s "equal" to something like math? Just try telling your kid they don't have to show up to religion class and see if the school lets them slide with an unexcused absence. It’s a requirement, isn't it? And if that kid finishes the year without passing, well, that’s a failing grade on their record just like any other subject. So, does it really matter how you categorize it when the consequences for skipping or failing are exactly the same as anything else on the schedule?😁

Quincy:

Religious studies classes are basically just a playground for teaching baseless theories and drilling kids on the idea that they need to go out there and "spread the faith," which is really just a polite way of saying they should be badgering people into converting.

Honestly, if you think about it, theology is kind of just like history, isn't it? It’s basically this massive collection of narratives that might be absolute truths, or they might just be nothing more than unproven assumptions floating around in the ether... who's really to say?
And honestly, if there’s any kind of twist or distortion happening at all, isn't it just baked into the very nature of every single thing we look at? It’s like, you can try to find something pure, but if a little bit of warping exists, doesn't it just seep into everything else too?

Quincy:

I mean, isn't it about time we started asking if a person actually has the right to just stand up and say, "Look, this whole thing isn't mandatory, so I'm officially opting out"? Is it really that much to ask? 😕

Look, nobody's disputing that you have every right to speak your mind—no one’s even going there. I was just trying to get at the bigger picture here... what kind of message are we actually sending to our kids by doing this? And honestly, what happens when tomorrow that same kid walks up to us and says, "Yeah, actually, I'm done. I don't want to go to school anymore"? What then?

What I was trying to get at is that religion classes should be treated as an elective, plain and simple, rather than being given the same academic weight as something like Calculus.

Lawrence Torres56 said:So, get this—apparently, showing up to Mass actually counts toward your grade in church religious ed classes, but it doesn't mean a lick to the school system? Like, seriously? Even though they’re both technically "religious education," there's absolutely zero overlap between the two... it’s like they’re living in two different universes or something. Why does one care about your attendance while the other just couldn't care less?
Quincy:

😲 I mean, honestly, can we even put school and religion in the same category? It’s like comparing apples to oranges, right? You’ve got your standard academic curriculum—math, science, history—which is all about facts and logic, and then you have religious studies, which is an entirely different beast altogether. They operate on completely different wavelengths, so trying to weigh one against the other just feels totally off base. Why would anyone even try to make that comparison? School is mandatory, period. It’s that one universal equalizer where it honestly doesn't matter if you're a devout Muslim, a hardcore atheist, a lifelong Christian, or just someone who couldn't care less about religion if your life depended on it. It's just the baseline for everyone, right? That’s also the spot where you pick up all those actual scientific facts, you know?

Oh, give me a break! Seriously?😁Look, religion class is just another credit on the transcript, plain and simple. You want to talk about whether it’s "equal" to something like math? Just try telling your kid they don't have to show up to religion class and see if the school lets them slide with an unexcused absence. It’s a requirement, isn't it? And if that kid finishes the year without passing, well, that’s a failing grade on their record just like any other subject. So, does it really matter how you categorize it when the consequences for skipping or failing are exactly the same as anything else on the schedule?😁

Quincy:

Religious studies classes are basically just a playground for teaching baseless theories and drilling kids on the idea that they need to go out there and "spread the faith," which is really just a polite way of saying they should be badgering people into converting.

Honestly, if you think about it, theology is kind of just like history, isn't it? It’s basically this massive collection of narratives that might be absolute truths, or they might just be nothing more than unproven assumptions floating around in the ether... who's really to say?
And honestly, if there’s any kind of twist or distortion happening at all, isn't it just baked into the very nature of every single thing we look at? It’s like, you can try to find something pure, but if a little bit of warping exists, doesn't it just seep into everything else too?

Quincy:

I mean, isn't it about time we started asking if a person actually has the right to just stand up and say, "Look, this whole thing isn't mandatory, so I'm officially opting out"? Is it really that much to ask? 😕

Look, nobody's disputing that you have every right to speak your mind—no one’s even going there. I was just trying to get at the bigger picture here... what kind of message are we actually sending to our kids by doing this? And honestly, what happens when tomorrow that same kid walks up to us and says, "Yeah, actually, I'm done. I don't want to go to school anymore"? What then?

Look, just because some rabbi was spinning yarns while Babylon was sitting right there in front of him—which, let's face it, was two millennia ago—doesn't mean those stories actually have any basis in historical fact.
You could honestly make the case that the Divine Comedy is basically built on a foundation of history, mostly because Dante wove in so many actual facts from his own era.

Lawrence Torres56 said:So, get this—apparently, showing up to Mass actually counts toward your grade in church religious ed classes, but it doesn't mean a lick to the school system? Like, seriously? Even though they’re both technically "religious education," there's absolutely zero overlap between the two... it’s like they’re living in two different universes or something. Why does one care about your attendance while the other just couldn't care less?
Quincy:

😲 I mean, honestly, can we even put school and religion in the same category? It’s like comparing apples to oranges, right? You’ve got your standard academic curriculum—math, science, history—which is all about facts and logic, and then you have religious studies, which is an entirely different beast altogether. They operate on completely different wavelengths, so trying to weigh one against the other just feels totally off base. Why would anyone even try to make that comparison? School is mandatory, period. It’s that one universal equalizer where it honestly doesn't matter if you're a devout Muslim, a hardcore atheist, a lifelong Christian, or just someone who couldn't care less about religion if your life depended on it. It's just the baseline for everyone, right? That’s also the spot where you pick up all those actual scientific facts, you know?

Oh, give me a break! Seriously?😁Look, religion class is just another credit on the transcript, plain and simple. You want to talk about whether it’s "equal" to something like math? Just try telling your kid they don't have to show up to religion class and see if the school lets them slide with an unexcused absence. It’s a requirement, isn't it? And if that kid finishes the year without passing, well, that’s a failing grade on their record just like any other subject. So, does it really matter how you categorize it when the consequences for skipping or failing are exactly the same as anything else on the schedule?😁

Quincy:

Religious studies classes are basically just a playground for teaching baseless theories and drilling kids on the idea that they need to go out there and "spread the faith," which is really just a polite way of saying they should be badgering people into converting.

Honestly, if you think about it, theology is kind of just like history, isn't it? It’s basically this massive collection of narratives that might be absolute truths, or they might just be nothing more than unproven assumptions floating around in the ether... who's really to say?
And honestly, if there’s any kind of twist or distortion happening at all, isn't it just baked into the very nature of every single thing we look at? It’s like, you can try to find something pure, but if a little bit of warping exists, doesn't it just seep into everything else too?

Quincy:

I mean, isn't it about time we started asking if a person actually has the right to just stand up and say, "Look, this whole thing isn't mandatory, so I'm officially opting out"? Is it really that much to ask? 😕

Look, nobody's disputing that you have every right to speak your mind—no one’s even going there. I was just trying to get at the bigger picture here... what kind of message are we actually sending to our kids by doing this? And honestly, what happens when tomorrow that same kid walks up to us and says, "Yeah, actually, I'm done. I don't want to go to school anymore"? What then?

The bottom line is pretty simple: if it isn't mandatory, you don't have to do it.
If my kid ever tried to tell me they weren't going to school, I wouldn't just sit there; I’d give them the full lecture on why it’s non-negotiable, how it's actually beneficial for their future, and that if they decide to skip out, there will be some very real consequences waiting for them at home.
If I had a ten-year-old who wanted to quit advanced math just so they could catch a few extra hours of sleep, honestly, I’d probably let them. It wouldn't be the end of the world, would it? Besides, there’ll be plenty of time later on to actually learn the math once they aren't so exhausted.

Lawrence Torres56 said:So, get this—apparently, showing up to Mass actually counts toward your grade in church religious ed classes, but it doesn't mean a lick to the school system? Like, seriously? Even though they’re both technically "religious education," there's absolutely zero overlap between the two... it’s like they’re living in two different universes or something. Why does one care about your attendance while the other just couldn't care less?
Quincy:

😲 I mean, honestly, can we even put school and religion in the same category? It’s like comparing apples to oranges, right? You’ve got your standard academic curriculum—math, science, history—which is all about facts and logic, and then you have religious studies, which is an entirely different beast altogether. They operate on completely different wavelengths, so trying to weigh one against the other just feels totally off base. Why would anyone even try to make that comparison? School is mandatory, period. It’s that one universal equalizer where it honestly doesn't matter if you're a devout Muslim, a hardcore atheist, a lifelong Christian, or just someone who couldn't care less about religion if your life depended on it. It's just the baseline for everyone, right? That’s also the spot where you pick up all those actual scientific facts, you know?

Oh, give me a break! Seriously?😁Look, religion class is just another credit on the transcript, plain and simple. You want to talk about whether it’s "equal" to something like math? Just try telling your kid they don't have to show up to religion class and see if the school lets them slide with an unexcused absence. It’s a requirement, isn't it? And if that kid finishes the year without passing, well, that’s a failing grade on their record just like any other subject. So, does it really matter how you categorize it when the consequences for skipping or failing are exactly the same as anything else on the schedule?😁

Quincy:

Religious studies classes are basically just a playground for teaching baseless theories and drilling kids on the idea that they need to go out there and "spread the faith," which is really just a polite way of saying they should be badgering people into converting.

Honestly, if you think about it, theology is kind of just like history, isn't it? It’s basically this massive collection of narratives that might be absolute truths, or they might just be nothing more than unproven assumptions floating around in the ether... who's really to say?
And honestly, if there’s any kind of twist or distortion happening at all, isn't it just baked into the very nature of every single thing we look at? It’s like, you can try to find something pure, but if a little bit of warping exists, doesn't it just seep into everything else too?

Quincy:

I mean, isn't it about time we started asking if a person actually has the right to just stand up and say, "Look, this whole thing isn't mandatory, so I'm officially opting out"? Is it really that much to ask? 😕

Look, nobody's disputing that you have every right to speak your mind—no one’s even going there. I was just trying to get at the bigger picture here... what kind of message are we actually sending to our kids by doing this? And honestly, what happens when tomorrow that same kid walks up to us and says, "Yeah, actually, I'm done. I don't want to go to school anymore"? What then?

What kind of "distortions" are we even talking about in other disciplines? I mean, once you accept Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in physics or move into non-Euclidean geometry in math, things get complicated too, right? 🤦
Most academic subjects are—believe it or not—grounded in hard facts, rigorous science, and empirical research. Religion just doesn't operate on those same foundations. The end.

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? 😛

Just a suggestion, not a critique 😉 😁

rowdypanther12 said:Just a suggestion, not a critique 😉 😁

Nah, the only actual "good intentions" I remember was back in middle school when one of my teachers tried to make us all say grace before eating lunch in the cafeteria... 😉 🙂

Susan James said:It just occurred to me while I was thinking about school schedules... for those of you who enroll your kids in religious education classes... do you actually frame it as an elective? Like, do you explain to them that alongside their mandatory core subjects, they have the option to take an elective course centered around your faith and values
Do you make sure they understand it’s a choice? That while math is a requirement, this particular subject is something they get to decide on—whether they want to participate or not?

Honestly, before I signed my little one up for her religious studies at school, I made sure to ask if she actually wanted to go, much like how we handle after-school activities or any other extracurricular stuff. I gave her a rough rundown of what she’d be learning and emphasized that if she chose to do it, she couldn't just quit halfway through... just like how she has the choice to opt out entirely, which would mean getting home an hour earlier since it's during that last period of the day.😁

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? 😛

Look, anyone judging people based on their faith isn't actually practicing that faith, just like someone shouldn't be picking their friends based on what they believe... that's pretty much the golden rule in every religion, isn't it?😁

Alright, fine, whatever, but why is there no option to just quit?
Like, you aren't allowed to just walk away from basketball if you realize you're actually more into tennis?

Lawrence Torres56 said:Honestly, before I signed my little one up for her religious studies at school, I made sure to ask if she actually wanted to go, much like how we handle after-school activities or any other extracurricular stuff. I gave her a rough rundown of what she’d be learning and emphasized that if she chose to do it, she couldn't just quit halfway through... just like how she has the choice to opt out entirely, which would mean getting home an hour earlier since it's during that last period of the day.😁

Look, anyone judging people based on their faith isn't actually practicing that faith, just like someone shouldn't be picking their friends based on what they believe... that's pretty much the golden rule in every religion, isn't it?😁

Not really. If you look at what faith actually teaches, it’s kind of the exact opposite. From a theological standpoint, the whole idea that non-believers end up in hell definitely holds water. But honestly, whatever. My daughter just thinks the whole thing is hilarious anyway... 😉

Michelle Nelson4 said:What kind of "distortions" are we even talking about in other disciplines? I mean, once you accept Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in physics or move into non-Euclidean geometry in math, things get complicated too, right? 🤦
Most academic subjects are—believe it or not—grounded in hard facts, rigorous science, and empirical research. Religion just doesn't operate on those same foundations. The end.

You’ve gotta be kidding me, right?😉
History is supposedly founded on hard facts... and all that jazz? Especially more recent history?😁
Like American English, where they seem to tweak the style guides every single year?
Or biology and physics, where they're constantly dropping new theories on us?

By the way, principles and theories aren't "facts"—Heisenberg or non-Euclidean geometry could be totally debunked next year for all we know.
And it took over a century for non-Euclidean geometry to even get accepted, effectively challenging Euclidean geometry; so why on earth should we assume that some other set of rules won't just come along tomorrow and flip the script again?

Also, how can you be so absolutely certain that God doesn't exist and that everything taught in religious studies is just empty talk? Has science actually proven that God isn't real?

James Alvarez2 said:Alright, fine, whatever, but why is there no option to just quit?
Like, you aren't allowed to just walk away from basketball if you realize you're actually more into tennis?

Look, I don’t force my kid into anything, but I also refuse to let her just drift through life like some headless chicken wandering aimlessly around. If she sets her mind on something, she’s going to see it through to the bitter end before she’s even allowed to think about walking away. To me, this constant hopping from one hobby to the next, jumping from activity to activity without ever sticking the landing, is just a massive waste of time—honestly, I think it’s how you actually end up messing up your kid's head. You know the drill: today she doesn't want to go to Sunday School, tomorrow she’s over the after-school programs, the day after that she’s refusing to go to class... where does it stop? Where does that even lead us? Now, don't get me wrong, I’m not claiming to have all the answers or saying my way is the only way to raise a human being, but here in the States, this approach really works for us. It’s what we’ve always done since day one, and we’ve never run into a single issue with it. Then I look at my friend's situation, and man, it's a different world. Her house is basically a warehouse filled with soccer jerseys, gymnastics gear, art kits, and every gadget imaginable, yet the kid loses interest in everything after maybe three days. He's only in second grade and he's already acting like school is beneath him because nothing catches his interest anymore; he’s practically begging to stay home every Friday for a long weekend. It’s just wild to watch.

I don't know about you guys, but I’ve been sitting here staring at my screen for what feels like an eternity, just trying to make sense of everything being thrown our way lately. Is it just me, or does it feel like we're all just collectively spinning our wheels while the world moves at a hundred miles an hour? Honestly, I can't tell if I'm just overthinking things or if there's actually some kind of pattern emerging here that everyone else is somehow missing. Does anyone else get that weird, nagging feeling that we're all just reacting to the chaos instead of actually navigating it? It's exhausting, really. I mean, how are we even supposed to stay grounded when the ground itself feels like it's constantly shifting under our feet? I'm just curious if anyone else is feeling this specific brand of existential burnout, or if I should just go grab a massive coffee and pretend everything is totally fine. kaže:
Not really, though. If you actually look at what they teach in Church, it’s basically the exact opposite, and from a strictly theological standpoint, the whole idea that non-believers are headed for hell definitely holds water. But honestly, whatever... my daughter just thinks the whole thing is hilarious anyway. 😉

I mean, honestly, isn't it obvious that every single religion out there is supposed to be teaching kids how to actually respect one another? It’s right there in the core of it, isn't it? But then you have these total weirdos—these absolute creeps—who spend all their time scaring people by dragging up some twisted, evil version of God just to threaten them with hellfire. Like, seriously, why would anyone even go there?😉

Lawrence Torres56 said:You’ve gotta be kidding me, right?😉
History is supposedly founded on hard facts... and all that jazz? Especially more recent history?😁
Like American English, where they seem to tweak the style guides every single year?
Or biology and physics, where they're constantly dropping new theories on us?

By the way, principles and theories aren't "facts"—Heisenberg or non-Euclidean geometry could be totally debunked next year for all we know.
And it took over a century for non-Euclidean geometry to even get accepted, effectively challenging Euclidean geometry; so why on earth should we assume that some other set of rules won't just come along tomorrow and flip the script again?

Also, how can you be so absolutely certain that God doesn't exist and that everything taught in religious studies is just empty talk? Has science actually proven that God isn't real?

Consider this—science isn't a static monument; it’s an ongoing upgrade. Theories evolve as new data hits the desk—nothing is sacred, and everything remains up for debate if the facts simply don't hold up. 🎉

Lawrence Torres56 said:Look, I don’t force my kid into anything, but I also refuse to let her just drift through life like some headless chicken wandering aimlessly around. If she sets her mind on something, she’s going to see it through to the bitter end before she’s even allowed to think about walking away. To me, this constant hopping from one hobby to the next, jumping from activity to activity without ever sticking the landing, is just a massive waste of time—honestly, I think it’s how you actually end up messing up your kid's head. You know the drill: today she doesn't want to go to Sunday School, tomorrow she’s over the after-school programs, the day after that she’s refusing to go to class... where does it stop? Where does that even lead us? Now, don't get me wrong, I’m not claiming to have all the answers or saying my way is the only way to raise a human being, but here in the States, this approach really works for us. It’s what we’ve always done since day one, and we’ve never run into a single issue with it. Then I look at my friend's situation, and man, it's a different world. Her house is basically a warehouse filled with soccer jerseys, gymnastics gear, art kits, and every gadget imaginable, yet the kid loses interest in everything after maybe three days. He's only in second grade and he's already acting like school is beneath him because nothing catches his interest anymore; he’s practically begging to stay home every Friday for a long weekend. It’s just wild to watch.

I don't know about you guys, but I’ve been sitting here staring at my screen for what feels like an eternity, just trying to make sense of everything being thrown our way lately. Is it just me, or does it feel like we're all just collectively spinning our wheels while the world moves at a hundred miles an hour? Honestly, I can't tell if I'm just overthinking things or if there's actually some kind of pattern emerging here that everyone else is somehow missing. Does anyone else get that weird, nagging feeling that we're all just reacting to the chaos instead of actually navigating it? It's exhausting, really. I mean, how are we even supposed to stay grounded when the ground itself feels like it's constantly shifting under our feet? I'm just curious if anyone else is feeling this specific brand of existential burnout, or if I should just go grab a massive coffee and pretend everything is totally fine. kaže:
Not really, though. If you actually look at what they teach in Church, it’s basically the exact opposite, and from a strictly theological standpoint, the whole idea that non-believers are headed for hell definitely holds water. But honestly, whatever... my daughter just thinks the whole thing is hilarious anyway. 😉

I mean, honestly, isn't it obvious that every single religion out there is supposed to be teaching kids how to actually respect one another? It’s right there in the core of it, isn't it? But then you have these total weirdos—these absolute creeps—who spend all their time scaring people by dragging up some twisted, evil version of God just to threaten them with hellfire. Like, seriously, why would anyone even go there?😉

Are you suggesting that according to Catholic doctrine, non-believers simply bypass hell entirely?

Why don't posts have a like button? 😢

Susan James said:On the other hand, I know some kids who absolutely love it.
They usually end up being altar servers (that's the right term, right?🤔)
standing right next to the priest, helping him out while wearing those special robes.
It makes them feel useful and important.
I also know kids who sing in the choir, and they have a blast.
There is so much more we could do to engage kids in the Church beyond just attending Mass. If people approach it that way, it can be such a great sense of community.

And yeah, those are usually the kids whose families all go to church together.
Most of the time, it's a weekly thing for them, almost like a core family ritual.

Back when we played in the school band, the priest invited us to play during Sunday Mass. There were seven of us, just in 7th and 8th grade. We’d hang out at the Church on Saturday nights to practice. I loved it—great crew, lots of laughs, and honestly, it kept me motivated. What more could you want? 🤣

Err, I just wanted to clear up a common misconception people have on this thread regarding why religious studies isn't scheduled as either the first or last period of the day.

Under the terms of the so-called "Vatican Accords," it is explicitly stated that religious education isn't merely an elective—it’s a mandatory subject for those who opt into it. Because of that status, it cannot be treated any differently than any other core academic subject, especially when it comes to how it fits into the daily school schedule. So, if you're wondering why schools don't just slot religious studies at the very beginning or the very end of the day—much like they might with a computer science class—the answer is quite simple: they aren't legally allowed to. There have actually been proposals to move things around, but Church representatives have shut them down quite firmly, citing those exact international agreements. Essentially, if you're frustrated because your kids are idling in the hallways or wasting time in the library during those gaps, the reality is that the Church wants it this way, and the government signed off on it on your behalf.

Lawrence Torres56 said:Look, I don’t force my kid into anything, but I also refuse to let her just drift through life like some headless chicken wandering aimlessly around. If she sets her mind on something, she’s going to see it through to the bitter end before she’s even allowed to think about walking away. To me, this constant hopping from one hobby to the next, jumping from activity to activity without ever sticking the landing, is just a massive waste of time—honestly, I think it’s how you actually end up messing up your kid's head. You know the drill: today she doesn't want to go to Sunday School, tomorrow she’s over the after-school programs, the day after that she’s refusing to go to class... where does it stop? Where does that even lead us? Now, don't get me wrong, I’m not claiming to have all the answers or saying my way is the only way to raise a human being, but here in the States, this approach really works for us. It’s what we’ve always done since day one, and we’ve never run into a single issue with it. Then I look at my friend's situation, and man, it's a different world. Her house is basically a warehouse filled with soccer jerseys, gymnastics gear, art kits, and every gadget imaginable, yet the kid loses interest in everything after maybe three days. He's only in second grade and he's already acting like school is beneath him because nothing catches his interest anymore; he’s practically begging to stay home every Friday for a long weekend. It’s just wild to watch.

I don't know about you guys, but I’ve been sitting here staring at my screen for what feels like an eternity, just trying to make sense of everything being thrown our way lately. Is it just me, or does it feel like we're all just collectively spinning our wheels while the world moves at a hundred miles an hour? Honestly, I can't tell if I'm just overthinking things or if there's actually some kind of pattern emerging here that everyone else is somehow missing. Does anyone else get that weird, nagging feeling that we're all just reacting to the chaos instead of actually navigating it? It's exhausting, really. I mean, how are we even supposed to stay grounded when the ground itself feels like it's constantly shifting under our feet? I'm just curious if anyone else is feeling this specific brand of existential burnout, or if I should just go grab a massive coffee and pretend everything is totally fine. kaže:
Not really, though. If you actually look at what they teach in Church, it’s basically the exact opposite, and from a strictly theological standpoint, the whole idea that non-believers are headed for hell definitely holds water. But honestly, whatever... my daughter just thinks the whole thing is hilarious anyway. 😉

I mean, honestly, isn't it obvious that every single religion out there is supposed to be teaching kids how to actually respect one another? It’s right there in the core of it, isn't it? But then you have these total weirdos—these absolute creeps—who spend all their time scaring people by dragging up some twisted, evil version of God just to threaten them with hellfire. Like, seriously, why would anyone even go there?😉

But the kid didn't get a trial run of Sunday school. They could've had a trial practice. Could've had five trial practices before you went out and bought all the gear.

Basically, you asked a 6 or 7-year-old if they wanted to learn about something totally abstract (even if you're a believer living by the teachings of the Church, your kid can't wrap their head around that yet) and then you drag them for eight—not even YEARS, but eight—to do something they don't like, if they don't like it.

I get the idea that you can't try everything and quit after two tries. But religious education is a super sensitive topic for that kind of logic.

rowdypanther12 said:Why don't posts have a like button? 😢

They have it on Tapatalk! 😬