Looking for a church - sort of...

[Oddmott]

Nope. Try and get permission to hold a prayer session inside a public school cafeteria for any other faith and let me know how that goes. I have no problem with faiths exercising their beliefs but not in a public school. That is why they have houses of worship and homes.

1 ] Are we talking only about elementary schools? Cuz, about that i know nothing... but if you're talking about schools in general, every college and university i've had any first hand (Algonquin, Trent, Fleming, Carleton, Ryerson & Humber) knowledge of has prayer and meeting rooms set aside for ALL beliefs.

2 ] If you want attendance, and you're pulling from an area with specific faith bases... and one of those faiths mandates that daytime prayer MUST happen... you're going to have prayer areas for those students. ON public schools are run as a business. They need students and will take them wherever they can get them.

[Dythbringer]

Long story short... my daughter (5 yrs) attends a public school in Ottawa south, in which she's a white minority. Her school does a pretty good job of educating the students about all the major faiths and doesn't really pander to any one... however, they do a terrible job of cracking down on the Islamic tendency to recruit through social pressure.

When i visit her class (took the pup in last week) i hear a disturbing amount of "Allah this" or "allah that" from the students. And it's rare for a teacher to speak out against it in any way.

As a result, my daughter is often speaking that way at home, lamenting that she doesn't know Arabic and wondering why I/we don't believe in Allah, and who is the God guy who's trying to hurt Allah?

I'm an athiest, but was raised a Catholic (the prudes who outlaw all sorts of fun) and periodically attended a Salem Evangelical Missionary (the crazies who just make up whatever version of Christianity they feel like following this week) church near my house to be in their seasonal plays and concerts.

My experience has been sort of at the extremes of Christianity you could say. But I'm feeling more and more that it's important to somehow combat the religious overtures that are already shaping my kid's mind, by at least offering some sort of balance point.

I'm asking for suggestions of a more middle of the road approach to Christian church that I could take her to, to experience prayer, sermon, hymns, etc. Obviously, for a 5 yr old, shorter services are better than some of the 1+ hr ones.

So.... suggestions?

Oddmott,

My family was involved with the United Church of Canada. I think if you look into it, it might be a good middle of the road approach for the Christian faith. They focus more on a person's relationship with God than actually making sure you are on "the straight and narrow". They are inclusive (from recollection they were the first church to welcome homosexuals into their church). They don't pressure you to be at church every Sunday (which is why a lot of farmers are United). There is no requirement to even be a member of the Church to worship there. It might be something to look into.

Dyth

[Hunter John]

Anyone is allowed to pray or not in this country, it is freedom of religion. The public school system does not have religion classes unless it is to study all religions and they are not to push any 1 religion but stress that all people are different in their beliefs.

I went to Catholic school, biggest pile of BS ever taught to a child. I was actually put into detention because I refused to give confession to some weirdo I had never met before, that is messed up.

Pray all you want at school, no matter what it is, just leave others alone.

When a classroom or gym is set aside for muslim prayers and the boys are at the front and the girls are forced to pray at the back of the room and if a girl has her period she is not allowed in the room at all. This is sharia law and has no place in the public school system

[Fox]

When a classroom or gym is set aside for muslim prayers and the boys are at the front and the girls are forced to pray at the back of the room and if a girl has her period she is not allowed in the room at all. This is sharia law and has no place in the public school system

When and where do they set aside the gym for prayers?

[seabast]

Long story short... my daughter (5 yrs) attends a public school in Ottawa south, in which she's a white minority. Her school does a pretty good job of educating the students about all the major faiths and doesn't really pander to any one... however, they do a terrible job of cracking down on the Islamic tendency to recruit through social pressure.

When i visit her class (took the pup in last week) i hear a disturbing amount of "Allah this" or "allah that" from the students. And it's rare for a teacher to speak out against it in any way.

As a result, my daughter is often speaking that way at home, lamenting that she doesn't know Arabic and wondering why I/we don't believe in Allah, and who is the God guy who's trying to hurt Allah?

I'm an athiest, but was raised a Catholic (the prudes who outlaw all sorts of fun) and periodically attended a Salem Evangelical Missionary (the crazies who just make up whatever version of Christianity they feel like following this week) church near my house to be in their seasonal plays and concerts.

My experience has been sort of at the extremes of Christianity you could say. But I'm feeling more and more that it's important to somehow combat the religious overtures that are already shaping my kid's mind, by at least offering some sort of balance point.

I'm asking for suggestions of a more middle of the road approach to Christian church that I could take her to, to experience prayer, sermon, hymns, etc. Obviously, for a 5 yr old, shorter services are better than some of the 1+ hr ones.

So.... suggestions?

I grow up with the "Allah" in school and it hasn't done anything to me but not believing in anything.
I also went to the Catholic lessons twice a week for a year or so and went to the church with my grand parents and again it hasn't done anything to me but not believing in anything either.

Now, going to church did teach me the spiritual aspect of life, somewhat the respect of other but most of it to listen, stay seat and shut up. Even today when I have to go to church for a confirmation or else, I do enjoy listening to a priest, lots of good thing come from those man.... So I do understand what you are trying to do and it's not a bad idea but you are going to have to be involve too.

Btw, I don't think this forum is the greatest place for your request.

[Hunter John]

When and where do they set aside the gym for prayers?

Cafeteria , Gym Whatever.
http://savingourfuture.com/2013/08/t...ers-cafeteria/

[Fox]

Cafeteria , Gym Whatever.
http://savingourfuture.com/2013/08/t...ers-cafeteria/

The last information on this school is from 2012

[300Sniper]

I'm an athiest, but was raised a Catholic

We share this commonality. Growing up in my neighbourhood in the Soo you either went to catholic school or public school and nothing else in-between. I believed in God until my early teens when questions I asked could not be answered and science seemed to make more sense then religion.

I personally wouldn't think too much about it as I believe that my own kids (twin 7 year old girls) will likely form their own opinions in the same way I did when they're old enough....

If you want to, you could let her know about all the religions and gods that all the people over various centuries have believed in and that at the end of the day it's just best to do more good then bad and playing pretend on Sundays is a waste of time... ;-)

[Hunter John]

The last information on this school is from 2012

So what, The fact that Sharia law is being practiced in public schools is disgusting even more so now that Merry Christmas has been replaced with happy holidays and the freakin Christmas tree is a holiday tree.
I get it Fox, U are a good guy and I agree people can practice any religion they wish and pray to whichever god they want to but not in public school.

[JBen]

You know my church M.
research it.

Theres Aethiest, Agnostics, and much more.
Personally I like what both FM and Trimmer, Jeff Bondar have had to say.

At the end of the day, your child needs to get to a point where she can decide for herself what is right for her or isn't.