Brighton school's "outrage" at country's religious education neglect (From The Argus)

No subject is an island. RE can be integrated into the teaching of History, English literature, even science.

Zeta Function wrote:
No subject is an island. RE can be integrated into the teaching of History, English literature, even science.

No it bloody can't! Religion shouldn't be taught anywhere that is supposed to trade in education.
Religion might have been the cause for a hell of a lot of history but it surely shouldn't be taught AS history, it might creep its way into literature but since there are so many different versions of the bible it's a rubbish reading resource and putting religion ANYWHERE NEAR science is an outrage that offends any kind of common sense and any kind of scientific process.
If people want to teach their children to worship their imaginary friends then they should do it in the home or their chosen church but keep it out of institutes of actual learning where people deal in facts.

dhamallamafarmer wrote:

Zeta Function wrote:
No subject is an island. RE can be integrated into the teaching of History, English literature, even science.

No it bloody can't! Religion shouldn't be taught anywhere that is supposed to trade in education.
Religion might have been the cause for a hell of a lot of history but it surely shouldn't be taught AS history, it might creep its way into literature but since there are so many different versions of the bible it's a rubbish reading resource and putting religion ANYWHERE NEAR science is an outrage that offends any kind of common sense and any kind of scientific process.
If people want to teach their children to worship their imaginary friends then they should do it in the home or their chosen church but keep it out of institutes of actual learning where people deal in facts.

Well said. They should rename the subject to MB, Make Believe.

Science teaches kids all they need to know about religion.

Are they having a laugh? There's more faith schools than ever since the Victorian age!
You can't move without Christians whinging that they're side-lined, they're ignored, they're not listened to, they're picked on.
Nonsense! Religion has no place in education other than "Muslims believe this, Jews believe that, Christians believe the other & they all hate & kill each other for it. Hindus & Sikhs believe this & that & Buddhists believe something else. Sundry religions can be googled if you're really interested".

Surely the term 'religious education' is an oxymoron.

If they stopped state support for faith schools we'd quickly find out how many parents genuinely want a religious education for their children and how many just pick a fiath school because they think their kids will get a better standard of teaching.

I'm please to say that the RE brainwashing didn't work on me and I hope that this applies to many more children that the god-botherers try to bring to their ridiculous cause. Religion prevents human progress.

Beware, cases of RTS (Religious Trauma Syndrome) are valid and growing, ie people who have been affected by the abusive nature of various faiths and suffer when they deconvert back into reality. Therefore schools should be wary of being the first cause of indoctrination in this increasingly litigious society.

Christianity! COME ON!

The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a 'rib-woman' was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree... yeah, makes perfect sense. It is this sort of belief that will make us all Americans if we are not careful!

Beaver Hunter wrote:
Christianity! COME ON!

The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a 'rib-woman' was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree... yeah, makes perfect sense. It is this sort of belief that will make us all Americans if we are not careful!

lol now THAT is concise. THough you missed out the penchant their god has for condoning genocide, slavery, rape and so on but still, good work.

Beaver Hunter wrote:
Christianity! COME ON! The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a 'rib-woman' was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree... yeah, makes perfect sense. It is this sort of belief that will make us all Americans if we are not careful!

LOL! Nice post.

I do think kids should be taught ABOUT religion because it exists and it's better to understand it than not. But they also need to understand some people don't have a faith and the arguments for and against.

I don't like the ideas of forcing kids into religion when they're young because they totally believe it and can feel cheated when they get older and realise it's just a story in a book that's been taken a bit too far.

My CoE school and brownies/guides in the late 80s/early 90s was heavily rooted in religion and I never realised I had a choice and that there were other theories out there, like every other child I blindly believed what I was told. It was only in my late teens, early 20s that I realised that believing in 'god' was a choice and that other people didn't believe at all.

I think education ABOUT religion is one thing but I don't think schools should be themed around it.

I don't think anyone is particularly missing out by not being taught this and I think it's right that it's not a core subject. As a child you might not know what religion might take your fancy as you haven't really experienced life, and would just be a sheeple following what people in power tell you is correct. If people choose to adopt it later in life that's their call, but the point is that they choose it rather than being forced into it.

Schools are for education and facts, not brainwashing and fantasy about a community of dead people living in the sky.

People can't wait to get their kids into faith schools when they realise the levels of achievement are higher than sone of the crappy state schools.
All of a sudden lapsed Catholics try and break their way back into the fold and non Christians sign up for the Alpha course.
Anyway as for make believe, does that mean we aren't allowed to have Santa either?

What a waste of tine teaching RE at school..... Look at most wars and world troubles. Religion!!

Wake up an smell the coffee, please

same as football, all tribalism

Beaver Hunter wrote:
Christianity! COME ON!

The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a 'rib-woman' was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree... yeah, makes perfect sense. It is this sort of belief that will make us all Americans if we are not careful!

has to be comment of the year thankyou I almost spat tea over my keyboard when I read this one :)

Beaver Hunter wrote:
Christianity! COME ON!

The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a 'rib-woman' was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree... yeah, makes perfect sense. It is this sort of belief that will make us all Americans if we are not careful!

How very true.
religion = hate. It should be a crime to fill the heads of innocent children with such bile. God is a Father Christmas for adults promising presents in an afterlife if you fill the collection dish of your local sect on a sunday.
Total garbage for people that are afraid of death.

I do need some advice regarding some elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to French, but not Spanish. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Spanish slaves?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws?(Lev.20:14)
Thank you for all your help

"My CoE school and brownies/guides in the late 80s/early 90s was heavily rooted in religion and I never realised I had a choice and that there were other theories out there, like every other child I blindly believed what I was told. It was only in my late teens, early 20s that I realised that believing in 'god' was a choice and that other people didn't believe at all."

I was reading about an atheist society in a high school in Texas where there were non members who didn't even realise that it was possible NOT to believe in god. Do we really want to end up with the educational standards of a Texan? (FYI George W. has a degree from a Texan university. need I say more?)

It is outrageous that public money is used to fund church schools and academies which have a religious bent. The actual funding contribution that the church or sponsor puts in is relatively small and yet they get to dictate how the school is run. If people want to have beliefs, good luck to them provided that they don't try to ram them down anyone elses throat, but don't expect the public to pay. People should remember this when they are being told how fantastic academies and free schools are - they are a licence for all sorts of dangerous nonsense, all at the taxpayers expense. The French have got the right idea on this one. (There's something you don't hear very often!)

Religion is a scam. Teach our children to love one another for the sake of love not for the sake of an imaginary god.
How about the priests and nun s who have abused children,surely they were taught religious education.
Churches get away without paying taxes lets bring this subject up and change things.

What a load of tripe has been written in the comments on this story. Proof if ever it was needed that MORE religious education is needed in schools, not less. Just love the cut-and-paste jobs by people like Beaver Hunter and AngryOldMan, passing it off as their own work. The rest? Most ridiculous misunderstandings and generalisations.

JoeBlow wrote:
What a load of tripe has been written in the comments on this story. Proof if ever it was needed that MORE religious education is needed in schools, not less. Just love the cut-and-paste jobs by people like Beaver Hunter and AngryOldMan, passing it off as their own work. The rest? Most ridiculous misunderstandings and generalisations.

Proof? Well, if you're coming from a thiestic point of view then I suppose the unsupported scribblings of ill informed, generalizing writers with an axe to grind is all the 'proof' you need!
Since it's our taxes that are being spent and so many of us appear to be very much against the idea, why should we pay to support their lies and ideological state apparatus propaganda?
Look it up JoeBlow, you might actually learn something

JoeBlow wrote:
What a load of tripe has been written in the comments on this story. Proof if ever it was needed that MORE religious education is needed in schools, not less. Just love the cut-and-paste jobs by people like Beaver Hunter and AngryOldMan, passing it off as their own work. The rest? Most ridiculous misunderstandings and generalisations.

If you want to live your life obeying the bronze age scribblings of war hungry nomadic desert tribes then do so. But don’t abuse our children’s minds with your ridiculous beliefs or expect my taxes to pay for their indoctrination. You only have to look at the so called holy lands drenched in the blood of millions to see what religion brings. Sky fairy’s? Perleeeeese.

And the really scary thing about zealots... it doesn't matter that the overwhelming amount of posts here are against religion in schools. The one pro post rubbishes everyone else, not with facts but with unfocused dismissals. Do they intend to educate children in the same way? My point about funding in schools is a fact, not a misunderstanding.

@The Gnome: "The one pro post rubbishes everyone else, not with facts but with unfocused dismissals"

Religion in action!

perhaps Joe is a member of the Westboro baptist church .............

To be fair, an understanding of religions is probably going to be of more use to most than an understanding of Geography.

Angryoldman wrote:
I do need some advice regarding some elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to French, but not Spanish. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Spanish slaves?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws?(Lev.20:14)
Thank you for all your help

Father Christmas died so you could get presents and eat chocolate rabbits and write this stuff.

relegion helped make sense of world that was very scary. the belief that somebody was in charge was comforting and helped to keep people together.
Science came along explained most of how the world and its place in the universe so not leaving any room for god.
People think we need to belive in a god because if we don't belive we will kill rape and be bad. Unfortunatly people do this stuff regardless of being belivers or not.
We don't even use Bible based morality anymore. Otherwise slavery would be acceptable wife beating homosexuals being killed etc etc.

JoeBlow wrote:
What a load of tripe has been written in the comments on this story. Proof if ever it was needed that MORE religious education is needed in schools, not less. Just love the cut-and-paste jobs by people like Beaver Hunter and AngryOldMan, passing it off as their own work. The rest? Most ridiculous misunderstandings and generalisations.

Can you explain away the following verses from your precious bible as 'misunderstandings' then? Here god orders or approves of the slaughter of children, rape of young girls and death to any living thing:

Numbers 31:17: “Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who is not a virgin. “

Psalm 137:9: “Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.”

Numbers 31:18: “But all the young girls who have not known a man by lying with him keep alive for yourselves.”

l Samuel 15:2-3: "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ****."

I await your answer.

Hotbeans wrote:

JoeBlow wrote:
What a load of tripe has been written in the comments on this story. Proof if ever it was needed that MORE religious education is needed in schools, not less. Just love the cut-and-paste jobs by people like Beaver Hunter and AngryOldMan, passing it off as their own work. The rest? Most ridiculous misunderstandings and generalisations.

Can you explain away the following verses from your precious bible as 'misunderstandings' then? Here god orders or approves of the slaughter of children, rape of young girls and death to any living thing:

Numbers 31:17: “Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who is not a virgin. “

Psalm 137:9: “Happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.”

Numbers 31:18: “But all the young girls who have not known a man by lying with him keep alive for yourselves.”

l Samuel 15:2-3: "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ****."

I await your answer.

Excellent HOTBEANS!

It is all a load of Smite. Peter O'Toole once said...

"When did I realize I was God? Well, I was praying and I suddenly realized I was talking to myself."

Well Christians happily cherry pick the nice and fluffy bits of the Bible whilst ignoring this kind of stuff or use well worn circular reasoning, or simply try and challenge by asking non believers to prove a negative. It'll fizzle out eventually! There's a proven inverse link between level of belief and level of education..

I am a member of 'Beer-Drinkers And Hell-Burners', which is part of Maranatha! Very Strict Evangelical Baptist Church here in Hove.

I can tell you for a FACT (I have been informed by visions) that if you do not accept Jesus Christ as your true personal saviour, YOU ARE GOING TO BURN IN HELL

I think Mr Stone is a little blinkered in referring to England as a 'Christian country'. Church attendance is the lowest it has ever been, and it is even suggested (although not proven) that we have more practising muslims than christians living in the UK today. However, for a previous post to argue that Religion has caused more bad than good, and therefore our children should not study it, is completely ridiculous. Would you really want your children to grow up watching/ reading the news with barely any understanding of the world that they live in? Like it or not, religion - in one form or another - has shaped the human race since the dawn of time. It is hugely relevant in both a modern and historical context, and covers every step of human evolution from the worship of nature and the sun to the 'invention' of Gods to watch over us.
Perhaps 'Religious & Cultural Studies' would be a much better idea for todays curiculum, and would allow children to be taught in balanced equal measures about how society and belief systems have formed around one another - not just taught about Jesus and Christianity as if it is the truth, with a bit of Judaism thrown in for good measure (as in my 1980s RE class - which incidentally, i'm still quite glad i sat through!).
To those setting out to use the thread as a means of trying to get Christians to defend passages of 'God's word' in the bible (written by the hand of man, not by a God) you are completely missing the point. I don't believe in God, but i have a strong belief that a lot of the kids of today are missing out on an informative education that will give them the ability to ask the right questions. I'd rather that they KNOW why they do or don't believe in something, rather than just believe or dismiss it because of their parents views. Education=Power!

Very true I suppose - it should be taught in an objective way rather like teaching a child the dangers of crossing a road or talking to strangers. I remember when I was at primary school all those fluffy bible stories were taught as though they really happened!

Angryoldman wrote:
I do need some advice regarding some elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to French, but not Spanish. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Spanish slaves?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is, my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev.21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws?(Lev.20:14)
Thank you for all your help

a fair attempt at observational comedy, but Eddie Izzard would have done it in ancient Hebrew.

To me, the most laughable thing about this story is the fact that Mr Stone has written on behalf of primary school children calling them "young Catholic people" -- as if these kids had actually thought things through and come to the conclusion that they wanted to be Catholics. These kids aren't Catholics, they're children of Catholics or parents pretending to be Catholics to get their children into the school in the first place. If Mr Stone had argued that schools need RE to give children the information to CHOOSE their own faith (or to choose not to follow any religion) then I might have some sympathy for his complaint, but in fact he's saying he's worried the school will lose its opportunity to fully indoctrinate its pupils into Catholicism before those lucky enough to start to think for themselves (which won't be as a result of their early education) start to question what they're being told.

Hotbeans wrote:
Very true I suppose - it should be taught in an objective way rather like teaching a child the dangers of crossing a road or talking to strangers. I remember when I was at primary school all those fluffy bible stories were taught as though they really happened!

Well, yes, but it doesn't need to be a core subject. I think it probably qualifies for inclusion somewhere in the sociology curriculum.

wow...all these nasty and ignorant insults directed at people who have a faith and who choose to believe in God.
Pretty sad really - why so full of hatred?
Anyway, keep up the great job of living up to the "angry atheist" stereotype."

ForeverLostTear wrote:
wow...all these nasty and ignorant insults directed at people who have a faith and who choose to believe in God.
Pretty sad really - why so full of hatred?
Anyway, keep up the great job of living up to the "angry atheist" stereotype."

"Nasty"? "Ignorant"? "Insults"? Stop being such a bleeding heart Christian-Victim! So far as I can see all the comments are simply saying that religion shouldn't be taught and if it is, only as part of comparative sociology or a historical factor. Shame you see that as ignorant hatred and anger. But I suppose it helps you feel validated, doesn't it?

ForeverLostTear wrote:
wow...all these nasty and ignorant insults directed at people who have a faith and who choose to believe in God.
Pretty sad really - why so full of hatred?
Anyway, keep up the great job of living up to the "angry atheist" stereotype."

Isn't this typical of the hand wringing bleating that the religious zealots turn to when outnumbered, in larger groups it is usually violence..

bladesboy wrote:
Wake up an smell the coffee, please

Mr Stone would probably reply - wake up an smell the brimstone, please...but anyway, who dubbed B&H "Britain's most Godless city"???

ForeverLostTear wrote:
wow...all these nasty and ignorant insults directed at people who have a faith and who choose to believe in God.
Pretty sad really - why so full of hatred?
Anyway, keep up the great job of living up to the "angry atheist" stereotype."

Atheists if they are angry are so probably because they have been abused in some way by religion, suffer post traumatic stress disorder having deconverted, or simply care about the human race and are sick of the tragedy and evil religions have brought to the world.

I can't find anything above that could be described as 'nasty', nor any 'ignorant insults'.

Except maybe Joeblow's comments.

But as above, that's how religious nutters see themselves, as persecuted victims. I wonder if it takes a state of paranoia to be religious?

I've never heard of the "angry atheist" stereotype either. There's only one post that expresses anger.

I think they should teach the bible in school.
Maybe start with the story of Lot:
Three male Angels arrive in town. Entire town decides they want to rape them. One guy called Lot takes them into his house to protect them. Lot speaks to the **** crazed crowd - tells them they shouldn't rape the three newcomers so... offers them his two virgin daughters to rape instead (no really this is the story). The Angels say don't worry, they've got God on their side and they're calling in the religious equivalent of an airstrike. Tells Lot to get out of town with his wife and daughters, and not to look back. On leaving Lot's wife looks back at town and gets turned into pillar of salt. Lot's upset, takes daughters to cave. Lot's daughters decide they want kids so they get their father very drunk and have sex with him. they get pregnant and have kids.
Overall a charming story. I assume they will also be teaching all these stories to the kids in school - certainly wouldn't want to think they were just cherry picking bits from the Bible or anything.

Weird, the word I entered that was replaced with asterisks started with an 'L' and ended with 'ust'. Didn't realise that was so banned.

To quote Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church; "Good evening, Godless sodomites. GOD HATES TOAST!"

Maybe he's confusing Sodomite with Marmite

+1
IF god was real we'd all be sitting on the cosmic naughty step.
As he isn't and the few belivers left in Brighton can't break out the sticks or start lighting fires atheist kebab anyone?
The mocking will continue

Ashles wrote:
I think they should teach the bible in school. Maybe start with the story of Lot: Three male Angels arrive in town. Entire town decides they want to rape them. One guy called Lot takes them into his house to protect them. Lot speaks to the **** crazed crowd - tells them they shouldn't rape the three newcomers so... offers them his two virgin daughters to rape instead (no really this is the story). The Angels say don't worry, they've got God on their side and they're calling in the religious equivalent of an airstrike. Tells Lot to get out of town with his wife and daughters, and not to look back. On leaving Lot's wife looks back at town and gets turned into pillar of salt. Lot's upset, takes daughters to cave. Lot's daughters decide they want kids so they get their father very drunk and have sex with him. they get pregnant and have kids. Overall a charming story. I assume they will also be teaching all these stories to the kids in school - certainly wouldn't want to think they were just cherry picking bits from the Bible or anything.

Yes, the Bible has lots of stories that are pretty full-on crazy, even by todays standards. This does not mean that children should not be taught about the world's many religions, beliefs and cultures associated with them. It is just as easy for an aetheist to pull a story like this from the bible as it is for a believer to use another one as ammunition in their preaching. They are ancient folk tales, passed down through families and tribes, many of which pre-date Christ (if he existed) by thousands of years. It is therefore completely pointless for both sides of the argument to quote these stories as a reason for or against education, or indeed belief.
As a 14 year old i learned about the Holocaust in my school history class in quite a lot of detail. It was certainly more harrowing than your example of extreme bible verse... if anything, most kids would be completely baffled by the story of Lot. Kids aren't stupid, but reality is a lot harsher than a storybook.

I wonder if Anna Roberts, who obviously took time to research this article and thus publish it, realised what a can of worms she was opening. The vitriol that followed it is quite unbelievable. Why? Is Brighton really so "God-less"? If a Catholic School wants to teach Religious Education, it, surely, is allowed. I do believe, although somebody out there might beg to differ, that a Christian Act of Worship is mandatory in every school in the country. But that is not the point. As far as I see it, and having read the article by Dr. Stewart Norton the following day, we, as an educated and prominent society within the world community, owe it to our children to offer Religious Education as part of a balanced curriculum. Whether we like it or not, religion plays a major part in our world today, and our future generation(s) need to know why and why not people across the world hold their beliefs. This cannot be passed on by those who do not believe. That is 'reverse indoctrination'. Let our children make choices though informed decisions when they are old enough. The fact IS, religions exist, whether we like it or not, and our children need to know that. It is not a question of Christianity, nor Catholicism.

What you're calling for is education about religion - nobody disputes the importance and value of that. Religious Education is a different animal though, and should be banned in schools.

"Kids aren't stupid, but reality is a lot harsher than a storybook."
Exactly - the point being we should teach reality, not storybooks.
Nothing wrong with there being optional courses on the World's religions, but these should be chosen courses not core syllabus.