Nativity Plays - Good or bad?

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

There has been a lot on the news recently about some schools opting not to do a nativity play, so I thought I'd raise this topical subject with my favourite on-line community.

Is it something that should be phased out so as not to offend people of other or no religion? Or should there be room for this Christian tradition alongside traditional celebrations from other religions?

I am a Christian and I prefer the second option and remember my kids making Divali lights in school and fasting for a few days with their Muslim friends so do not see why we can't all embrace each other's religious traditions without getting our knickers in a twist!

[Mark]

I think it's fine for children to perform a nativity play as long as they're told that it's a made up story. It's when they're told it's history that I find it offensive.

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

Or it could be said that some people believe this to be true but others don't.

[LizzygotDizzy]

Aren't all religions made up stories then? But you tell that to someone of the Muslim faith and I bet they won't be too happy about it. I believe there is a God out there, (and not the blond jesus depicted in many of the stories our children get to hear about), (Jewish - Blond and fair skinned, I think not!)I believe we are all responsible and accountable for the lives we lead, but I actually believe that this is where we learn from/make our mistakes/deal with our crap and then have to answer for the mistakes we make, choices we take, lives we lead in the next life.

No harm in nativity plays whatsoever though, or learning/experiencing any other religious celebrations of other faiths.

[Brendan]

This has been very openly and maturely discussed in the press recently:

http://tinyurl.com/35jmxs

[Brendan]

Gggnnnrraagh! It won?t let me link directly to the article.

I have done it for you my child - The Administrator

[Mark]

LizzygotDizzy Wrote:

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> But you tell that to someone of the Muslim faith and you would have your head chopped off!

Jesus, it's people like you that give non-muslims a bad name. May I suggest you make yourself a bit more Islam savvy http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/. God help your soul.

[Mark]

ChavWivaLawDegree Wrote:

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> Or it could be said that some people believe this to be true but others don't.

yeah, but a school's for academia, not teaching that religious beliefs are true. You can teach that people have different beliefs and what they mean etc etc but it shouldn't be taught that they are true.

[Brendan]

LizzygotDizzy Wrote:

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> But you tell that to someone of the Muslim faith and you would have your head chopped off!

Of all the Muslim people I know not one of them has ever tried to chop my head off. I am a terrible infidel you know.

My dentist has hurt me on a few occasions but he, by his own admission, is not very religious and my tennis partner once served and hit me on the back of the head but I?m pretty sure it was an accident.

[Alan Dale]

I think it's ok to tell them what people claim to believe but you have to also note that the most likely hypothesis was that Mary was cheating and Joseph was in denial.

2000 years on Mary's little white lie is still part of the bedrock of Western civilisation. I think the kids have a right to know.

Christians might not chop people's heads off very often these days but they did blow up pubs and shopping centres in the not too distant past and they do still regularly electrocute people and give them lethal injections.

It's not all wine and tambourines.

[Ultraconsultancy]

my Wee Guy will be doing his Christmas show this afternoon, and I'll be proud to see him take part in a production that the kid's have put together largely themselves, for their families, and I think that's undeniably a good thing.

Yes, it's on a Christian theme, but that's the celebration of this time of year, and Christianity bis one of the better represented faiths round our way. He celebrates divali too, and makes me an Eid card at the end of Ramadan. He understands all religions equally well for a four-year old, which is usefull, as he'll grow up in a much less presbyterian world than I did.

It strikes me that the angelic message of Christmas - Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men - is actually a pause from the evangelism practiced at other times, and is still a call for fellowship that we could do well to adopt.

God Bless Us Every One!

Ultraconsultancy

[Alan Dale]

And God bless Mister Scrooge. The founder of the feast.

[Asset]

Muslims celebrate christmas too as they believe Jesus was a prophet of Mohammed or summing.

Anyway nowt wrong with a bit of fairy tale telling.

[*Bob*]

I was "Third King" in my nativity. Or as I prefer to remember it - "First King".

And here is the photographic proof - though for purposes of continuity my face is being played as per my 'sitcom' thread suggestion.

[Jeremy]

Nothing wrong with nativity plays, just as there's nothing wrong with mythology in general. As long as it isn't taught as the definitive truth!

[KalamityKel]

Wot is the definitive truth tho?

[Keef]

I think that it's fine for a CoE or Catholic school to do a Nativity. I know not all the kids are from Christian backgrounds, but the parents knew the school was a Christian school before sending their kids there, and so. for me, have to accept things like this. I went to CoE primary, and did Nativities and Harvest festival and all that, but as Chav said above, we also learnt about lots of other religious festivals, and did things for them.

In non religious schools it is obviously more of a contentious issue, but I think all parents should be happy for their children to learn about various religious stories, whether they believe in them or not.

I don't think the God bit should be flogged too much, but at the end of the day, I think it's nicer for the kids to learn about the Nativity story than to just think christmas is when the fat bloke in red will bring me an xbox.

[Alan Dale]

KalamityKel Wrote:

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> Wot is the definitive truth tho?

Humanity will always exist because Dave Lister's life is a causal loop in which he is his own father.

[TillieTrotter]

I would have loved to have had a little weep at a nativity this year. I took my place in the lovely St Barnabas Church and had an hour of African songs and wait for it.......rapping! I was really disappointed and quietly angry over this. My son has really enjoyed visiting mosques and temples and learning about different religions but even he said that he didnt feel one bit christmasy after their performance. NOT ONE christmas carol was sung. Wrong Wrong Wrong.:(

[Alan Dale]

Absolutely all these wobbly religions and third world christianity are fine for a day trip but not for Christmas.

I'm sure he'll feel Chritmassy enough when he's opened his Scalextric and eaten his Cadbury's selection box. After all that's what Christmas is really about.

[TillieTrotter]

Thats true Alan, you've made me feel so much better now. Cant wait for the prezzies and overeating.>:D

[SeanMacGabhann]

On the other hand - some people don't like ANYTHING Christmasy at all (I'm not one of them, I'm a sucker for much of it. Not the religious bits obviously)

I think Mark said everything best at the beginning - nothing wrong with it as such and if people want to do it and if people want to watch it then by all means. As long as it's not presented as fact.

I'm still bitter about my indoctrination when I was young, not to mention 5 years as an Altar Boy. As you can tell

I had more written about religion but I've deleted it because the thread is about Nativity Plays.... As Ultraconsultancy said, as long as the kids are involved and doing something together then thats A Good Thing. Even if it's rapping

[KalamityKel]

As an agnostic member of society I always enjoy reflecting back on times at primary school when we did the Navity, the whole Chinese New Year wiv a dragon made by us wee kids, the Easter Parade, Harvest festival, Divali celebrations with sweets... the list goes on... surely it's important to experience all festivals and all that. It may not be a true representation but it teaches kids the basics and gives a foundation for children to build on wot ever religion they either follow (family beliefs) or later choose to follow.

The Christmas story is a wonderful thing to be a part of!

[Keef]

Exactly what Kel said!!!!

[Alan Dale]

Lost its gloss for me. Immaculate conception is commonplace these days.

And everyone knows it's hard to get a decent hotel at Christmas.