Religion at school events, Creative Minds International

[Anonymous]

Our elementary's whole school morning meeting for March featured Ramadan and Holi with nary a word about Easter, which I found a little odd but rolled with because I'm not a psycho.

Understanding the major world religions—including not just the fact of those religions but their specific lore as well—is critical to understanding history, literature, and art. I'm glad for the exposure my child gets to those things at school.

[Anonymous]

Our gentile offspring has/have become big fans of Hanukkah thanks to school. We think it’s amusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary's whole school morning meeting for March featured Ramadan and Holi with nary a word about Easter, which I found a little odd but rolled with because I'm not a psycho.

Understanding the major world religions—including not just the fact of those religions but their specific lore as well—is critical to understanding history, literature, and art. I'm glad for the exposure my child gets to those things at school.

I agree but would add that it's also critical to understand Easter as well. Just as cultural Christians need to understand non-Christian traditions and references so do cultural non-Christians need to understand Christian traditions and references. In my experience both groups have a shocking lack of basic knowledge about the cultural practices of other faiths and traditions. The rule needs to be all or none.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary's whole school morning meeting for March featured Ramadan and Holi with nary a word about Easter, which I found a little odd but rolled with because I'm not a psycho.

Understanding the major world religions—including not just the fact of those religions but their specific lore as well—is critical to understanding history, literature, and art. I'm glad for the exposure my child gets to those things at school.

I agree but would add that it's also critical to understand Easter as well. Just as cultural Christians need to understand non-Christian traditions and references so do cultural non-Christians need to understand Christian traditions and references. In my experience both groups have a shocking lack of basic knowledge about the cultural practices of other faiths and traditions. The rule needs to be all or none.

Totally! That’s why I was a little nonplussed that they didn’t include it.

[Anonymous]

Responding to the person who called the bunny a form of proselytizing. Maybe you can elaborate? I come from a minority religion and painted Easter eggs as a kid. When I eventually learned Easter bunny celebrates resurrection and santa is for jc’s bday, it was all too comical to take seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Responding to the person who called the bunny a form of proselytizing. Maybe you can elaborate? I come from a minority religion and painted Easter eggs as a kid. When I eventually learned Easter bunny celebrates resurrection and santa is for jc’s bday, it was all too comical to take seriously.

True, it is pretty funny and ironically a manifestation of remnant European animist traditions but it still isn't as comical as lingams and yonis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Responding to the person who called the bunny a form of proselytizing. Maybe you can elaborate? I come from a minority religion and painted Easter eggs as a kid. When I eventually learned Easter bunny celebrates resurrection and santa is for jc’s bday, it was all too comical to take seriously.

Christians recycled the rabbits and eggs from earlier "pagan" religions. So I think they are pretty secular at this point.

I don't give Santa the same free pass because his origin story traces back to a Catholic saint and explicit practitioner of Christianity.

Christmas trees are kinda pagan as far as I understand it. And are a bit of floral seasonal decorating that is something cultures everywhere tend to do with attractive seasonal things from nature.

I am the PP who mentioned we have gotten a lot more Ramadan content at work since DEI took off during the pandemic. I seek out this content which is optional (lunch 'n learns). I just don't feel totally comfortable that some people are getting upset because there is imbalanced airtime. And religion doesn't really belong at secular workplaces.

I just hope everyone can keep trying to be inclusive and if they feel left out to politely help address the situation. I personally can live with imbalanced airtime that doesn't cover my majority culture without getting offended. I understand letting other people have turns.

By the way it's because my mom gave me a Unicef book about other countries when I was a kid, that I kind of became secular early on. There is always the risk to some people that if you admit that other people have different beliefs your kids might not share yours. I think that's where a lot of the conservative outrage comes from. Their identity is threatened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

By the way it's because my mom gave me a Unicef book about other countries when I was a kid, that I kind of became secular early on. There is always the risk to some people that if you admit that other people have different beliefs your kids might not share yours. I think that's where a lot of the conservative outrage comes from. Their identity is threatened.

This insight is honestly helpful, but evolution and carbon dating also threaten these same conservatives, and one shouldn’t be shielded from science or world affairs. And if you do, public school in one of the world’s international epicenters isn’t a great place to land.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

By the way it's because my mom gave me a Unicef book about other countries when I was a kid, that I kind of became secular early on. There is always the risk to some people that if you admit that other people have different beliefs your kids might not share yours. I think that's where a lot of the conservative outrage comes from. Their identity is threatened.

This insight is honestly helpful, but evolution and carbon dating also threaten these same conservatives, and one shouldn’t be shielded from science or world affairs. And if you do, public school in one of the world’s international epicenters isn’t a great place to land.

PP. Yes, you're correct. The issue just is the whole separation of church and state which should keep religion out of school while science isn't similarly prohibited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener is happy to learn about any religious holiday if something delicious is involved. The more shots on goal for special snacks, the better.

Yes, but... people fast for Ramadan. People fast for Yom Kippur and the Ninth of Av. It's not cute to reduce my religion to a coloring page and a snack.

Many people learn about other cultures through food. But by all means, go with scolding. I’m sure it’s just as effective.

Late stage capitalism/dollar store economics reduces everyone's meaningful holidays and belief to the equivalent of a coloring page and a snack. It doesn't discriminate.

One of the things that I've most noticed was the Chinese export business hollowing out locally-made handicrafts from Hungary to Egypt to the American Southwest. I sometimes wonder about how this can really be considered economic progress.

I think you need a snack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kindergartener is happy to learn about any religious holiday if something delicious is involved. The more shots on goal for special snacks, the better.

Yes, but... people fast for Ramadan. People fast for Yom Kippur and the Ninth of Av. It's not cute to reduce my religion to a coloring page and a snack.

Many people learn about other cultures through food. But by all means, go with scolding. I’m sure it’s just as effective.

Late stage capitalism/dollar store economics reduces everyone's meaningful holidays and belief to the equivalent of a coloring page and a snack. It doesn't discriminate.

One of the things that I've most noticed was the Chinese export business hollowing out locally-made handicrafts from Hungary to Egypt to the American Southwest. I sometimes wonder about how this can really be considered economic progress.

I think you need a snack.

Actually, this is true. If you have been to a bazaar anywhere in the world it's the same Chinese imports mostly. Morrocco was fun to visit because people still make local stuff. Not sure what this has to do with Easter, but it was a true observation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

By the way it's because my mom gave me a Unicef book about other countries when I was a kid, that I kind of became secular early on. There is always the risk to some people that if you admit that other people have different beliefs your kids might not share yours. I think that's where a lot of the conservative outrage comes from. Their identity is threatened.

This insight is honestly helpful, but evolution and carbon dating also threaten these same conservatives, and one shouldn’t be shielded from science or world affairs. And if you do, public school in one of the world’s international epicenters isn’t a great place to land.

PP. Yes, you're correct. The issue just is the whole separation of church and state which should keep religion out of school while science isn't similarly prohibited.

Separation of church and state doesn't mean religion can't be mentioned in schools. It doesn't even mean people can't practice their religion in schools. It just means the schools can't mandate the kids practice religion.