Your RE and chaplain experiences?

[Dane]

Assuming you had them, what was your experience during religious education at school, or with chaplains? I have three distinct experiences, as someone whose parents told me to not attend at all costs.

1. In grade 2, I left the room to go do things unsupervised in the small room in between each classroom. I mainly made paper planes and drew things.

2. Around grade 5 and 6, I used to just play on the computer. Mainly Freecell and Maths Circus, both unsupervised again. I wondered if I would get Easter eggs too, and I did. Score!

3. The last time I ever had it again was in grade 7. I didn't bother leaving the room, so I simply drew. I was (again) the only one who didn't do it. Ironically, I was the only one who answered the guy's questions, and the best thing I got out of it was his explanation for Jebus feeding people with a couple of fish and bread loaves.

It was an analogy for people catching fish: I caught a fish -this- big! Then it's relayed on to someone else, where he caught a fish --this-- big! Then it eventually became ----this---- big.

Regarding the chaplain, he was only there for about half of the beginning of grade 8 in high school. No-one would fund him, but he usually organised on Friday lunches activities, like music and movies and stuff. We also had a qualified child counsellor who did a good job, so I guess no-one bothered with the chaplain. Knowing our principal, I'm sure she had a hand in keeping that counsellor...


That's basically my experience. Did I miss out by doing nothing but draw? Probably not... I always drew for half my classes because I always finished my work early, so I didn't miss out on any of the curriculum. I'm sure that my time drawing stick people in absurd situations coupled with plenty of Calvin & Hobbes books developed my sense of humour, at least.

[ABridgeTooFar]

Generally nice people. But some of them were extremely unprofessional when dealing with students, preached without question. The most sickening thing was how they recruited vulnerable kids for their "shine" programs.

$40k a years worth of value? God-no.

[Xeno]

When I was in primary school, before the discovery of steam wireless, the deputy principal gave the RE lessons. We were all pretty bored, for which I offer as evidence that I do not recall any of it beyond that they happened.

[RealityRules]

Went to school overseas - never had it.

Had been to Sunday School until 12 yrs of age, but never believed.

[Threat]

Never went in primary school, it was rare, I went to the library instead with about 5 other students. We read books. I discovered my love for the dragonlance series.

Went once or twice in yr7, but it wasn't regular so there was no organisation around it. I knew the 'preacher' - I was friends with his son, so wasn't bad, just ridiculous. Coluring in, in yr7? What was that about?

My eldest has had it once or twice in yr 2 I think, but has not been offered for his yrs since (now yr5). His school only runs a program for prep-yr2. My younger (yr2) decided this year, on his own, that he'd rather not go (although that may be due to one of his mates not going ;-).

Had an issue at school with my eldest recently. The principal offered the services of the school Chaplain. My wife very much wanted any help at all. She knew I was uncomfortable, but she was very stressed, so I didn't make a fuss. He's 'chatted' with him once, I asked him about it, he said he didn't mention anything religious even once. I'll just have to keep an eye on it for now. He's also going to see an independant counsellor, but I'd much rather there was no chaplain involved.

[Emmy]

I dont remember it in primary school, but I went to a christian school and then a catholic school in high school. I dont much remember the RE part of it, although of course it was present, which must mean it wasnt that memorable. It was part of my life anyway, as I also went to church (first with my parents, then by myself after they stopped going) and to school camps, which I loved and where everyone was having sex and swearing and doing all sorts of crazy things.

I must say my most memorable moment was when I wrote a beautiful poem about the crucifiction of Jesus, on a gorgeous poster that was all bloody and appropriate. I was so proud of it and the teacher said it was lovely. Until I took it home and showed my parents and my sister who all fell on the ground laughing at the part where I said "I know it must have hurt so much when they speared you in the crutch".

Good times.

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

My experience is that the most constructive part of religious education was the aftermath of somebody emitting a small (but audible) blast of methane from their behind. :p

although having said that; I have been to chapel services before and they sing songs that basically drill the "I'm an absolute fucking piece of worthless shit, but God makes me not as worthless as those other absolute fucking unimportant worthless cunts out there" concept in peoples' heads) - Oh yes we had a choice and the reason the world is fux0r3d is because we made the choice... if I had a choice I'd have asked to be aborted.

When in religious education (I was at Christian school so it was mandatory) whoopee cushions were a good method of backup in case concentrated methane blasts were not feasible. :)

[Jez]

I went to RE once, the old dude up the front decided that the best possible way to get a bunch of pre-pubescent boys interested in the bible would be to graphically describe an old medieval torture technique (which I would rather not recount). Had a couple of nightmares and never went again.

[GenericBox]

As per my intro post: my RE class is one of my earliest memories of actively being an atheist.

Grade 5 our RE was preaching to us Creationism, and I asked her (with an arrogant smugness) if the "days" in Genesis were real days or metaphorical days stretched over long periods of time.

She answered me they were 24 hour days.

So I asked, well how come there is scientific proof Dinosaurs lived millions of years apart from each other. She looked at me and said "I'd like to see that evidence."

The next week I bought her my dinosaur books and after asking her again several times she told me "I'll get back to you on that one."

.. Never got back to me.

[askegg]

I went to a private Christian school which delivered an RE class every week during my 5 year attendance. I suppose I took the classses with equal mixture of wonderment and astonishment - usually at the flimsy arguments provided.

We were told all religions were different views of the same god, that apparent design proved design therefore Yahweh was real, that each of us had a sense of morality which obviously derived from the supernatural, or seeing your dead pet again would make you feel wonderful so we should give our lives to Jesus. Or something.

I seemed to spend an awful amount of time annoying the pastor who lead these classes. Highlighting violent passages, drawing angels in the margins, or reciting Billy Idol poetry inside the front cover. The lyrics from "The Dead Next Door" haunt me to this day:

"One error, silent terror, and we're the dead next door."

Teacher was not amused and I found myself in detention. Again.

As I look back I can easily tear apart all of the arguments which seemed so convincing at the time. I only wish I had the additional 25 years experience to tackle these philosophies at the time. Not to worry, my children will benefit from my increased knowledge and awareness.

[Darwinsbulldog]

I woz a religious genius, and got 100% for my finals in the RE exam. Which means in reality that I have an IQ of an Amoeba! :o:p:p:p:p

[Loki]

By the time I finished RE I could reliably colour within the lines.

My colouring skills would have been much better except I also spent a lot of time sitting on the verandah. Asking questions is bad. :)

Still took me another 10 odd years to shake of the conditioning. :mad:

[DanDare]

Public school. My then 10 year old daughter placed illegally in RE class without our consent.

Batshit Insane Teacher: Adam and Eve were thus the first people, 6,000 years ago.

Highly Intelligent Daughter: But if there were just two people only a few generations ago then we would suffer from inbreeding. The DNA combinations would be too few wouldn't they?

Batshit Insane Teacher: They didn't have DNA back then.

[askegg]

DanDare, Don't forget the magic spell which protected Adam from the dinosaurs.

http://www.news.com.au/national/creationists-hijack-lessons-and-teach-schoolkids-man-and-dinosaurs-walked-together/story-e6frfkvr-1225899497234