>>I think it's a fine thing that our children are being taught about other races and religions, helps foster tolerance and understanding in these troubled times.
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>>Last night my daughters were telling me all about muslims. They demonstrated the 4 stages of getting down to prayer: the stances and meanings of each action - stuff i didn't know. They correctly answered all my questions, such as "And which direction do you face?". Most impressive. Then I asked my elder to demonstrate how a Catholic genuflects on enetering a church. "I dunNO!" she answered.
>>
>>Me: "OK, how do you cross yourself?"
>>Grace: "I dunNO!"
>>Me: "What does each touch mean when crossing yourself?"
>>Grace: "I dunNO!"
>>
>>etc.
>>
>>They've come home from school full of info and paraphenalia on Divali, Hannuhka (sp), etc. but can't ell me squat about their own religion. Are we missing something here?
>
>Most of the following, I am stating as an "outside observer" - I am a member of the Bahá'í Faith.
>
>I have noticed something similar over here; most Catholics over here don't know much about their own religion. When I ask them some question, similar to the one you asked, about the meaning of something, nary a person knows a thing.
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>Over here (Latin America in general, I think), the majority of the population is, by tradition, Catholic. Sometimes they start to investigate more about religion. It is usually then that they change their faith, usually some branch of Protestantism. Of the two events, I have no idea which is the cause, and which is the effect...
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>It seems, then, that people consider themselves Catholic "by tradition", and don't really care about real spirituality, etc. (I have the impression that this indifference is more common amongst Catholics than amongst Protestants.)
>
>As to "missing something" - yes, I think this is definitely the case. Religion can be a powerful force of good - alas, also of evil, as we all know. The positive aspects of religion, I think, can only become visible if people are informed about it, if they really care.
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>I would say that both parents and outsiders (school? church?) should get involved here. BTW, do they have some sort activities of this sort at church? I.e., some education about the fundamentals of your religion.

Aye there is, of course RE in church but we're the typical non-practising C of E heathens :-)

The thing is we used to get this info in school - hymns and prayers would be voiced in morning assembly, for ex. - now the kids do presentations demonstrating electrical currents or what-have-you. If they're going to be instructed in other religions, to foster understanding, and the predominant religion won't be focused on, cos there are kids from different faiths, then at least their own religious sects and flavours, and practices, should be given equal air-time

BTW, isn't it a recent "Happy new year" to you and your lot? :-)