Schools replacing baby Jesus with Sheep...

[katty]

more:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/6809709/Schools-criticised-for-replacing-baby-Jesus-with-sheep-in-nativity-plays.html

EXCERPT:

Others have removed explicitly religious messages from their re-enactments of the birth of Christ for fear of upsetting pupils of other faiths.

"I have seen performances where the central character has not been Jesus. Instead he is replaced by an angel or a sheep, and I think that's a shame," said Rev Roger Widdecombe, vicar of St Paul's in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

"I'm a big fan of keeping the nativity as a nativity, although I realise the performance has to engage youngsters and there aren't that many well-written nativities out there."

Recent Christmas plays put on by schools near Rev Widdecombe's parish include Jack and the Beanstalk, Whoops a Daisy Angel and The Grumpy Sheep.

[Warpy]

1. I don't think the majority needs to bend over backwards

to accommodate the minority, and I say that as a stone atheist.

The nativity reenactments might go a bit far over the line of church and state, but seasonal celebrations that include some of the Christian carols really don't. Let the kids sing "Silent Night" in a program that also features secular stuff like "Frosty the Snowman," in other words.

Pretending the season has nothing to do with the majority Christians is as silly as pretending they're the only ones who own it.

[enlightenment]

4. Of course, you're talking about a nation where

religious instruction is still part of the educational curriculum and there is an officially sanctioned religion. Despite all that, Brits are refreshingly secular for the most part - perhaps having religion crammed down their throats in school and knowing that there *is* a state sanctioned sect makes the entire argument for in-your-face faith less relevant . . .

(which is not to say that they don't have their fair share of loons)

[emilyg]

10. Agree.

[MNDemNY]

2. At least sheep are real.

Baaaaa

[ElboRuum]

3. More proof that the "polar conjecture" is true.

Between the two poles lies the truth, it is never found otherwise. Unfortunately, a reasoned approach seems to be as endangered as the polar bears.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. on is make believe, the other, a great source of fiber and food.

[katty]

6. i vote for jack in the beanstalk takin' a break in the manger

[FSogol]

7. "The part of Baby Jesus was played by a 60 watt light bulb" - Gary Trudeau n/t

[Tutankhamun]

8. I'm offended that the Flying Spaghetti Monster gets ignored.

After all, he created sheep, and he created Jesus! Until the FSM gets his due, I'm not attending any of these plays.

[BB1]

9. REPLACE JESUS WITH OWEN MEANY!

That will teach the bastards... :)