Hi.

During RE this week the classes were learning about the trinity. The teachers taught this very well and the children seemed to understand.

My problem is that they stated 'christians believe in the trinity' making it sound like all christians do in fact believe in the trinity.

I feel it should have been worded SOME christians believe......

What do you think? Should I quietly mention? Or should I just leave it?

Not being particularly religious, and being somewhat forgetful, I had to check on a couple of things, but;

It would appear that the concept of the trinity is not accepted by 100% of Christians... (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here - and I'm assuming I'm not from your question)

Code:

Supporting the doctrine of the Trinity is known as Trinitarianism. The majority of Christians are Trinitarian and regard belief in the Trinity as a test of orthodoxy. Opposing, nontrinitarian positions that are held by some groups including Binitarianism (two deities/persons/aspects), Unitarianism (one deity/person/aspect), the Godhead (Latter Day Saints) (three separate beings) and Modalism (Oneness).

Now you don't mention what age range we're dealing with, so I looked over (very briefly) the entire RE QCA units of work (up to year 9) and didn't see anywhere specifically assigned to the differences between orthodox and 'other' Christian beliefs...

Code:

Why do some people think Jesus is inspirational? Christianity - Year 3 What do places of worship teach us about religions? Christianity and Islam - Year 5 How can beliefs and values serve as a guide for moral decision making? Part A: Individuals - Year 6 How can beliefs and values serve as a guide for moral decision making? Part B: Communities - Year 7 How can we answer questions about creation and origins? Learning from religion and science: Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Atheism - Year 9

From my, admittedly cursory, glance over those units, all references to Christianity impy orthodox Christianity... which, possibly combined with a lack of knowledge regarding non-trinitarian christian faiths, could explain the omission.

Or, the topic may have been kept deliberately 'simple' to minimise confusion / time constraints.

Obviously the final decision is going to have to be up to you - but it might be interesting to enquire (nicely) about this to the RE coordinator.

Thanks for that. It was really interesting.

I work in Year 4.

I will ask the RE coordinator, she might be biased though as her husband is a vicar

Don't get me wrong I'm not offended by it in any way, just wondering the procedure thats all. Thanks for looking up the information for me.

Cheers