Children as young as four to be educated in atheism

School pupils aged just four are to be taught atheism in a move schools hope will equip them to be 'citizens of the world'.

Education bosses in Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire, have radically restructured the RE syllabus to accommodate non-religious beliefs.

Youngsters will continue to learn about the six major faiths - Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism - but they will also be taught humanism, the belief that there is no God or Gods, and that moral values are founded on human nature and experience.

(Non-)religious education: Children as young as four will be taught the doctrines of humanism, alongside the six major faiths

The move recognises that more than 10,000 people in the borough do not have any religious beliefs. Both primary and secondary school pupils will be included in the shake-up.

WHAT IS HUMANISM? Humanists reject religious and superstitious beliefs. Instead, they believe we can make sense of the world using reason, experience and shared values. They say we can make the best of life by creating meaning and purpose for ourselves, and choosing to take responsibility for our actions. Humanists do not believe the universe needs a divine power to determine its value.

It is important to act morally towards others, not because of a divine imperative, but because people have inherent dignity, they say. Humanists believe that we have only one life, it is our responsibility to make it a good life, and to live it well.



Fiona Moss, from RE Today, which helped create the new syllabus, said: 'We really must recognise that some people do not believe in God and do not have a religious background.

'We have to make children aware of non beliefs.

'We want to support children to engage and enthuse them about RE to become good citizens in Blackburn and the world.

'The aim is for them to be confident wherever they settle.' But Salim Mulla, chair of Lancashire Council of Mosques, is concerned about the outcome of these teachings.

'We believe it is important to have faith values whether that is Christian, Islamic or any other religion,' he said.

'The values are very, very important. I don't think the non God aspect should be introduced into the curriculum.

'I don't think it is right. People are born into faiths and are brought up in that faith and that's how it should stay.

'The non-faith beliefs send a wrong message to the children and confuse them.'

The new syllabus was drawn up after reviewing the 2001 census results, which revealed that, although the borough has representatives from all of the six major faiths, there were more than 10,000 people who stated they did not follow a religion.

At its launch Dot Thomson, Blackburn with Darwen school improvement officer, said: 'I would not describe the syllabus as radical but it is disassociated from what went before in Blackburn with Darwen.

'This is the first time we have given respect for non-religious life stances.

'It is an important area. We expect this year's census to show the diverse faiths and beliefs in the area and we need to reflect this when teaching RE in schools.

'This syllabus is more imaginative and creative.' The new syllabus will be taught in all the borough's 28 schools from September.

Social change: The syllabus comes after a review of the 2001 census revealed more than 10,000 people in the borough do not follow a religion

Councillor Chris Thayne, chair of Blackburn with Darwen Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education, said: 'We don't want the future to be blind. We want it to be illuminated. We need understanding without prejudice.'

Reverend Kevin Logan, a local journalist, author and religious community leader, said: 'It is quite a change but it is completely right to recognise atheism and humanism.

'They are religions like any others. It is just that people worship man instead of a god.

'I am certainly not worried about Christianity. It can stand against any belief and come out in a good light.'

Voluntary aided CofE schools must use the Diocese's RE syllabus but the areas voluntary-controlled schools can opt to use the new syllabus.

A spokeswoman for Blackburn Diocese education department, said: 'We fully support the use of the syllabus in Blackburn with Darwen.' The scheme has already been trialled in Leicester.

