Québec has them conceited Christians, too

What, Americans? You think you're the only ones who have to put up with the nonsense and self-centered idiocy from Christians and such zealots? Well, Québec has 'em, too! (Only they're a lot calmer here, admittedly ... Thank God ^[sic] for the Quiet Revolution!)

One of the basic courses in Primary School (equivalent to your Elementary Schools) curricula is the Éducation Morale et Religieuse courses, if I remember correctly (or Moral and Religious Education for you Yanks). This course doesn't teach religion, but teaches about religion (the only way religion should be taught in schools). In my days a few years ago (before the notorious Educational Reform), the only religion being taught about was Christianity (namely Catholicism), but it seems that since I've left they've now begun teaching about all sorts of faiths, from Islam to Buddhism and anything in between. I encourage this, of course; more you know about the world and its cultures, the better off you are.

But of course, don't expect whiny Christofascists to be happy with having their (and others') kids taught about other religions than theirs – they sued to try and contest. Thankfully, the courts here aren't full of religiots like so many in the U.S. are, and the silly lawsuit was quickly thrown out:

MONTREAL -- Christian parents who objected to their children being taught about other religions in a mandatory new Quebec school course have suffered a serious setback with a ruling this week that the teachings do not infringe their religious freedoms.

Quebec Superior Court Justice Jean-Guy Dubois dismissed a bid by parents in Drummondville, Que., who said the course on ethics and religious culture introduced across the province last year was undermining their efforts to instill Christian faith in their children.

"In light of all the evidence presented, the court does not see how the ... course limits the plaintiff's freedom of conscience and of religion for the children when it provides an overall presentation of various religions without obliging the children to adhere to them," Judge Dubois wrote.

Didn't you just know they (Christian zealots) would be dredging up that pathetic old "Freedom of Religion" excuse again? We may not have as many religious nutcases here, but damned if they don't use the same tired arguments and fallacies. *Sigh*

Sébastien Lebel-Grenier, a law professor at Université de Sherbrooke, said he is not surprised that the new course survived a challenge under the Charter of Rights.

"What parents were demanding was the right to ignorance, the right to protect their children from being exposed to the existence of other religions," he said. "This right to ignorance is certainly not protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Freedom of religion does not protect the right not to know what is going on in our universe."

He said the course is aimed not at instilling religious values but at trying "to explain to these children the diversity in which we now live in Quebec."

Leave it to a law professor to say it as it is. This isn't about teaching children religion, but again, teaching them about religion – it's the same thing as teaching them about other cultures, without actually imposing said cultures unto them.

The Concerned parents in question have already spent nearly $100,000 fighting their case, so it's unlikely they'll be able to launch an appeal. Which is good. Here's how the side opposed to teaching children about other religions rationalizes their position:

"The course shouldn't be compulsory, because it changes completely how parents keep their moral authority over the education of their children," said Mr. Décarie, of the Coalition for Freedom in Education. "We're not talking about mathematics or French or English here. We're talking about something that involves the essence of the culture of people."

Yes, and that's exactly why the instruction about culture and other religions needs to rest in the hands of schools, not parents who are mostly more than happy to fashion their kids' morality and beliefs after their own rather than to encourage them to explore the world with an open mind, seeking new ideas. Most things are taught by parents, yes, but some things can only be learned by going out there and experiencing them – such as in schools.

(via Friendly Atheist)

Technorati tags: christians · christianity · québec · school courses · religions · lawsuits