Teaching religion in school.

mikhail · 06-22-08, 01:38 PM

Im an atheist however im in favour of teaching religion in school i was taught religion in school but religious education was learning about all religions though it was treated as about of a mickey mouse lesson.

Im not in favour of religion in the science class but religion is relevant in the world and its important to be able to view people through the lens of what they believe.

1069 · 06-22-08, 01:41 PM

I was taught religion in school, too, but it was a parochial school.
I am not in favor of religion in public schools.
For those who wish their children to be indoctrinated into a particular religion, there are private schools. While not all are accessible to everyone pricewise, many offer discounted tuition rates, sliding scale or even free tuition for parishioners.

metreon · 06-22-08, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikhail

Im an atheist however im in favour of teaching religion in school i was taught religion in school but religious education was learning about all religions though it was treated as about of a mickey mouse lesson.

Im not in favour of religion in the science class but religion is relevant in the world and its important to be able to view people through the lens of what they believe.

Teaching about religion is very different from teaching religion in school. Typically the study of religion is a matter of history and philosophy, and it is why fudamentalist religious types often get frustrated in university classes about religion, since those classes are more about secular interest in it than proselytizing belief.

So sure, as part of the human history of belief, religion is worthy of study, as long as all other major belief systems are compared in detail, from shamanistic mysticisms through buddhism. However, given the scope of historical detail and philosophic depth of the world's religions, it is unlikely to get any decent treatment at a grade school level. High schools might be able to pull it off better, but civic histories and other basic studies take up so much curriculum space it is hard to imagine how it could be squeezed in except as an elective. So as a separate study religion is probably better left to history classes and theologic studies at a university level.

mikhail · 06-22-08, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1069

I was taught religion in school, too, but it was a parochial school.
I am not in favor of religion in public schools.
For those who wish their children to be indoctrinated into a particular religion, there are private schools. While not all are accessible to everyone pricewise, many offer discounted tuition rates, sliding scale or even free tuition for parishioners.

Im not for the teaching of one religion but merely about the different origins and practises of all the main religions to some degree its also a lesson in critical thinking because even if a kid goes in as a christian fundamentalist im sure he/she will be keen to pick apart other faiths and may turn that kind of thinking to their own.

Cephus · 06-22-08, 04:07 PM

I wouldn't mind seeing a comparative religions class taught, so long as it was done strictly from a secular perspective. Teach the facts about religions, teach how they are similar and how they are different. Do not teach that any of them are true.

However, I have no confidence whatsoever that any school district could actually do this, therefore it's probably a good idea not to do it at all.

mikhail · 06-22-08, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cephus

I wouldn't mind seeing a comparative religions class taught, so long as it was done strictly from a secular perspective. Teach the facts about religions, teach how they are similar and how they are different. Do not teach that any of them are true.

However, I have no confidence whatsoever that any school district could actually do this, therefore it's probably a good idea not to do it at all.

It would ignite a debate though you many kids would apply the same critical thinking to their own religion they get taught about others.

jfuh · 06-22-08, 07:39 PM

Teaching about religion? No problem, good thing.
Teaching religion - no thanks, I'll indoctrinate my own kids thank you.

Cephus · 06-23-08, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikhail

It would ignite a debate though you many kids would apply the same critical thinking to their own religion they get taught about others.

It's the religions themselves and the parents that would object to their kids actually being taught to think critically. Religions, like cockroaches, run away when the light of day (and critical thinking) is shone upon them.

DarkWizard12 · 06-23-08, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cephus

It's the religions themselves and the parents that would object to their kids actually being taught to think critically. Religions, like cockroaches, run away when the light of day (and critical thinking) is shone upon them.

They have to be taught about religion. If not, they lose half of all reasons history happened. Q. Why did Constatine build the christian church? A. church? christianity? wth is that?

Besides, if you don't teach them about religion, they will only get curious...*wink wink*...

winston53660 · 06-23-08, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkWizard12

Besides, if you don't teach them about religion, they will only get curious...*wink wink*...

Kinda like drugs?