Telegraph explains why critics are saying that this would be a "betrayal of children":
[T]he Campaign for Real Education said the teaching of non-religious beliefs would "deny children their Christian heritage". [A] spokesman for the CRE attacked the report, saying: "Atheism is not a religion. To change religious education into spiritual education would be quite wrong. We would deny children their Christian heritage. RE lessons should be about the teachings of Christianity, and possibly other religions, but not secular beliefs. It's straying down the road of philosophy."
Explaining that some people don't believe in any gods and explaining what they do believe would "deny children their Christian heritage"? Perhaps that would be the case if the classes were designed merely to promote and instill religion, but if they exist as a way to explain different religious beliefs, then CRE is just spouting nonsense. Well, except for the part about "straying down the road of philosophy." I agree with that, but think it's a good thing.
I should note that not all religious leaders object - some think that this report is a good thing because atheism is already discussed in these classes and it's important to address just how much and what should be said:
Canon John Hall, the Church of England's chief education officer, said: "It is very important that other faiths are taught as well [as Christianity] because we need to respect and take into account other world views. It's entirely appropriate that religious education recognises that some people do not believe in God." ... Tahir Alam, chairman of the Muslim Council of Britain's education committee, said atheism was already discussed in religious lessons. "It's a reflection of our society," he said. "The question we should ask is how religion is taught and how much time is spent discussing atheism."
I can hardly imagine national religious figures in America saying such things - they'd be much more likely to sound like CRE, quoted above. It is true that there are religious leaders who wouldn't say such thing, but they don't generally have a national platform and national name-recognition. Pity.
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