How things have changed....
When I was a child divorce was something I'd heard of but hadn't encountered. Parents in the 60's were married and stayed that way. Maybe your experience was different to mine, but that's how it seemed to me.
I went to Catholic schools where I learnt about guilt, sins, prejudice and intolerance. All these came under the umbrella of the one Holy Roman Apolistic Church. Some teachers made the experience of learning difficult for me particularly when I questioned specific points. Rather than answer, they frequently encouraged my peers to ridicule me for questioning.
For example:-
I remember one particular occasion when I was about 13 years old. I was then attending a Girls only High School for Catholics.
At the beginning of that academic year we'd been given a small booklet. I was told the 6th formers (during typing classes) had produced these for the school, and they were to form part of our Religious Education class.
Within the booklets were various topics and each was to be discussed, in turn, during the term.
I read through it and was particularly interested in discussing Euthanasia in view of the description provided via this booklet.
Eventually our Religious Education class turned to this page and the teacher read to us....
.... it went something like this....
' There are two sides to the debate over Euthanasia and both these arguments are provided below...
For Euthanasia...
"Well old and sick people are a drain on society. They have served their purpose. Euthanasia provides the obvious and easy solution to the problem. Allowing society to reduce the numbers of old and infirm individuals by reducing their burden on society. Once people have reached an age where they're no longer productive members by employment and ability, we should put them out of their misery and concentrate on youth."
Against Euthanasia....
"I think we should respect our elders. Even after they've finished making a useful contribution by employment they still have a place within society. They're wiser and have considerable experience in a range of matters which they can share with friends and family. Old age shouldn't be a reason to murder and Euthanasia is something we should never tolerate. As a christian I am opposed to it and glad that Medical Professionals are subject to the hypocratic oath which prevents them from murdering the elderly patients within their care. We should treat our Elders (older relatives) with due care and respect. They are not a burden, they're a blessing."
Following this was a summary of the legalities and the Catholic church's overview in relation to Euthanasia.
This largely amounted to ....' it's not allowed '.
My teacher asked if anyone in the class had a question.... my hand shot up. She looked away and asked the rest of the class again, "Is there Anyone Else with a question or comment to make regarding this subject?"
Only my hand in the air....
She started to ask individual students, "What about you Margaret?" who shook her head in response. She looked to another of her favourites, "Carmel, do you have any questions?" Carmel shook her head in response.
No help there... then...
The teacher started to walk around her desk saying, "In that case, let's look at the next subject...turn to..."
She was intending to ignore me?
"Miss?" I still had my hand up...
she gave a resigned sigh ... "Yes Barbara?"
.... at last!
"I thought we were going to be learning about Euthanasia today?"
She half laughed and said, "That's what we have just done!" looking around the class... who, in turn, smirked and tittered.
"It's not" I said, " you've read something to the class, that I'm reading here. It refers to Euthanasia but these so called 'arguments' actually have little or nothing to do with Euthanasia."
................................................................................................
If you can't do these at school....
Where can you question and learn?
When can you trust the information you're given?
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What I learnt from that class....
I was the only one who actually understood the subject.
Everyone else accepted, without question, the misinformation they were provided
Religion was/is an important subject, there are reasons why it's generally not specialist teachers who teach it.
There are hidden agendas within school environments, which undermine the process of educating children.
An Adult, with authority, can and often will encourage peer pressure/bullying for the sake of ego.
It's difficult to have any respect, trust and regard for Catholicism following this and similar experiences
Faith, Hope, Charity.... these things are lacking today and you're ridiculed if you have them.
We live in a huge glass house where people throw stones of various shapes and sizes all day. The only object, it seems, is to create as much damage and hurt as possible.
I listen to my children's ideas on faith and they've not learnt to be dismissive from me. This is Science at work along with the lack of examples elsewhere.
Scientific method explains that if a theory could be wrong but can't be proven to be wrong then it probably is true.
So, if Science can't prove God doesn't exist, even if it claims there is no such thing, by it's own method, God probably Does exist but isn't appreciated, respected or given credit.
And what IS God anyway?
Something that Science says doesn't exist but ... what is that?
What has 21st Century Science actually proven doesn't exist that could be God?
Does it matter if there's a God?
What matters if there is no God?
Who really decides?
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