AtheismUk - download Religious Education in State Schools report

source: http://www.atheismuk.com/campaigns/religious-education/

Religious Education

We adopt a ground-breaking approach to the state-sponsored propagation of faith.

Atheism’s sole object is the advancement of atheism. Our ultimate goal is the end of faith – the false and irrational belief that God exists – and of religion, the social manifestation of faith. The world would be a better place without them. We aim to achieve this by opposing the propagation of faith.

The most substantial propagation of faith is from parent to child. Whilst this cannot be interfered with directly in a free society, it can be modified by education of both parent and child.

Religious education in schools is one of our main areas of concern. Schools stand in loco parentis, in a real (not just a legal) sense. And, today’s children are tomorrow’s parents.

We will campaign for the abolition of compulsory religious education (except as a branch of anthropology), collective worship and ‘faith’ schools – on the grounds that they are founded on a falsehood: God exists. We are also developing strategies to advance atheism within existing RE law.

Our report, Religious Education in State Schools, contains an in-depth study of the current regime, from an atheist standpoint. It makes a number of recommendations, upon which we base our policies and from which our campaigns will emerge.

They emphasise a “bottom-up” reform, under which parents and schools are encouraged to exploit the existing law and resources are provided to enable them to do so. However, such action may, in itself bring about changes in government and LEA policy and hasten changes in the law.

Religious Education in State Schools can be downloaded here.