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[Sheb]

Isn't there something similar in Israel with Jews not allowed to pray on the Al-Aqsa mosque ground or something?

[burningpet]

Its slightly different here.

Most of the rabbis maintain that jews shouldn't be even allowed to enter temple mount because its too holy, but yeah, although its legally permitted, jews can't pray in the temple as to not upset the easily offended muslims.

But praying your religion in a different religion temple, well, i find it pretty offensive, and right now, al aqza is a muslim temple.

[Helgoland]

Can they enter?

[MetalSlimeHunt]

daily act of collective worship

All of my WUT.

It's probably different now but when my mother was in school in London they would finish every day with a prayer. It's particularly noticable in English boarding schools where they have "chapel" etc. She was in a working class, ethnically diverse comprehensive though.

Even when I was in High School though every Christmas and Easter the school would organise an "Easter Service" or "Christmas Service" in the assembly hall. A minister would give a sermon and we'd all sing hymns. Some kids were nominated to read out selected bible passages to the whole school. This was pretty much a "done thing" like Sports Day or Prizegiving; everyone went.

All of that is ridiculous and truly repulsive from where I'm standing. Religion becoming a "done thing" is one of the elements a society needs to avoid like the plague.

[MonkeyHead]

Actually, the prevalence of religiously motivated tosh like that probably contributed massively to the huge number of agnostic/atheist individuals in the UK compared to people who still attend CofE. It was a bind on people and a waste of time, so thought of in a negative light by those with no religious conviction and as a result people turned their back on it as soon as given a chance. Not that I am saying that forcing it on people was a good thing - far from it - but at least the long term impact was kind of for the best (assuming you agree with me that secular societies do not need religion).

[burningpet]

Can they enter?

Yes

[Owlbread]

All of that is ridiculous and truly repulsive from where I'm standing. Religion becoming a "done thing" is one of the elements a society needs to avoid like the plague.

Indeed,  though as MonkeyHead says the overall effect seems to have been to the advantage of the secularists like ourselves. When I was going to that same High School I remember that if you actually went to Church on Sundays you would be seen as a Jesus freak. One of the most hated archetypes in the UK is the god-botherer.

[TD1]

Not the trips, but still like prayers seems pretty common at least in Scotland from what Owlbread said. Not sure in England and Wales.

You forgot Northern Ireland.

Just read through the rest. I have to say, I see no problem. I was brought up in that. Assembly has the Lord's Prayer, passage from the bible (Giving a good, morally strong message) and then go off happy as Larry.

Nothing is forced, except attendance to assembly. You don't want to say the Lord's Prayer, you don't. If a country wants to maintain their religious identity, it's up to them. It is a democracy, after all.

And you can't say "All of my WUT." Atheism is as viable as religion. There is no proof there isn't a God. Let people respect their God daily, but maintain the freedom of the individual.

[smirk]

Oldknow’s pupils are mostly but not entirely Muslim

Heh, replace 'Muslim' with 'Christian' and this article would be a little too close to a lot of small rural-American schools. In contrast to what MonkeyHead and Owlbread are describing, the official church/state separation here seems to foster a "let's see what we can get away with, poor persecuted us" mentality. Especially among conversion-happy types like the Baptists. No spending state funds on religious stuff that I can remember, but my high school science teacher was a vehement young-earth creationist...

Given that England is officially Anglican, this type of thing will probably be a recurring problem in Muslim-majority areas. I guess one of the lessons here is 'nothing reinforces an ideology like a persecution complex, even if you're the majority'.

[scrdest]

Oldknow’s pupils are mostly but not entirely Muslim

Heh, replace 'Muslim' with 'Christian' and this article would be a little too close to a lot of small rural-American schools. In contrast to what MonkeyHead and Owlbread are describing, the official church/state separation here seems to foster a "let's see what we can get away with, poor persecuted us" mentality. Especially among conversion-happy types like the Baptists. No spending state funds on religious stuff that I can remember, but my high school science teacher was a vehement young-earth creationist...

Given that England is officially Anglican, this type of thing will probably be a recurring problem in Muslim-majority areas. I guess one of the lessons here is 'nothing reinforces an ideology like a persecution complex, even if you're the majority'.

Not just ideology. Any group. Literally any at all. If you want to make a group cohesive, give them an enemy. Ideologies are the strongest when they have an enemy - be it something specific, or just all unbelievers.

[TD1]

Oldknow’s pupils are mostly but not entirely Muslim

Heh, replace 'Muslim' with 'Christian' and this article would be a little too close to a lot of small rural-American schools. In contrast to what MonkeyHead and Owlbread are describing, the official church/state separation here seems to foster a "let's see what we can get away with, poor persecuted us" mentality. Especially among conversion-happy types like the Baptists. No spending state funds on religious stuff that I can remember, but my high school science teacher was a vehement young-earth creationist...

Given that England is officially Anglican, this type of thing will probably be a recurring problem in Muslim-majority areas. I guess one of the lessons here is 'nothing reinforces an ideology like a persecution complex, even if you're the majority'.

Not just ideology. Any group. Literally any at all. If you want to make a group cohesive, give them an enemy. Ideologies are the strongest when they have an enemy - be it something specific, or just all unbelievers.

That's completely true. Look at those idiots, the EDL. The message is more than a bit over done, despite having a valid fear at the root. Personally, I believe that if you move to a country, you don't try to change its religion. Keep your own, don't force the system. No one minds the Jews, because they don't kick up a religious fuss and act superior.

Suppose I should mention that I'm agnostic, in case I come across as a fanatical Christian or somesuch What I said applies to every religion in every country.

[scriver]

* scriver coughs uneasily and subtly motions towards the ultra-orthodox crowd

[TD1]

I know what I am. Don't insult me.

[scriver]

I know what I am. Don't insult me.

...Er. What? It was referring to the line about "Jews don't kick up a religious fuss and act superior".

[TD1]

Ah, oops, sorry. I took a cursory glance at it and associated it with something someone else said in the RAAGE thread. It had something to do with orthodoxy, and they tried to say (Through a misreading mistake, I think) that I wasn't agnostic.

Sorry about the mix up there.

I responded before I thought