Religion in Schools?

They already do that, to some extent, in my state. In World History (high school,) we learned about the major religions in the historical contexts of the civilizations they were associated with.
 
Allright I know i'm coming back to the main topic, and as such moving away from this topic, but I'd like my thoughts on this posted and then get into the main debate.

I answered "other," and here is why. I believe that to be a constructive member in society we must teach our kiRAB about all facets of the society and world around them. This includes history, math, philosophy (I'm a philosophy major in college so I may put a little too much importance on this ;)), Government, and science- religion IS a part of our society & our world. To ignore that would be a monumental mistake. Yet in this country we have an important barrier between Church & State, a barrier that has made religion a strong force in this country and more of a positive force. So we must balance these two concerns in an important way- and here is my solution: in history, in culture classes, in art classes, in english classes, and in other classes as such there are ample opportunities to teach children about religion. Important doctrines can be discussed in their proper contexts and no stance need be taken by the teacher one way or the other. I think that this is our best solution.

Let me know what you all think.
 
Are you kidding me??? I'm in high school and different teachers, especially in English, talk about religion all the time. We read "The Chosen" recently which is a book about Jewish kiRAB and the whole book revolves around religion. Not only that but we had a class discussion some people saying how boring it was and some talking about how it was about their religion and so on. We are currently reading "The Joy Luck Club" which is about Chinese people who have come over and all of them are religious and talk about god all the time.

On the other hand, evolution is not adopted just by most atheists. How many times do I have to say this doesn't even conflict with the bible? (not here a lot, just a lot of people who assume that evolution contradicts the bible) Show me using the bible and the theory of evolution where the 2 contradict each other. You can't because they don't. Evolution is a SCIENTIFIC theory. Note also it's a theory, meaning they can't prove it's true. They teach it as a theory, not as the truth. I give credit to people who have looked at evolution, seen it as flawed or something, and decided not to believe it. But people who haven't even seen the theory of evolution and argue against teaching it are the ignorant people who instead of do some thinking for themselves, assume that if god didn't write it, it's wrong.
 
There is some truth in that. We do teach kiRAB about the dangers of drugs, and sex at too young of an age, for instance. Drugs make people feel good, they aren't inherently "bad", they are in fact, "good" in terms of pleasure for little effort. Likewise with sex. Religion is the same way. It's a neat little bundle of nonsensical mythology that solves a lot of questions and problems, and often brings joy/pleasure to people who emrbace it. It's just as dangerous as any drug...perhaps worse. We don't label it as a problem, and we don't have public funded rehab for recovering mystics...

-Mach
 
I think they should do away with public schools all together.
It's nothing but mass brainwashing, truth and facts are seldom taught in public classrooms.
School should be for the people that can pay for it only.
 
I voted no.
Why?
I could list the Christian denominations, but it would be very long. Ever want to discuss "once saved, always saved" with a Baptist? Methodist? any other?

Our kiRAB would turn out to be thugs and terrorists, yearning to live in the Northern Plains in tipis and hide huts, armed with AK47 assult rifles and RPGs.

Nope, let's not go there.
 
Ignorance is lack of knowledge. That is not taught, but rather a product of not teaching.

If you had paid attention to this whole thread, you would have noted that those of us who propose "teaching religion" in school are not in favor of preaching or pushing any one religion. We are in favor of informational classes to make people aware of what different religions believe in. There would be no preaching...just teaching.
 
I am actually participating in a school debate regarding Intelligent Design being taught as part of public school curriculum. I personally believe that religion and education should be kept separate, as I feel it is in violation of the constitution. I would be interested in learning what the pro arguments are for teaching Religion in school.
 
That's pretty much the way it is now to some degree. In English we discuss the religious beliefs of the characters, in US history we compared the native American religions to the 7-day creation version. There is even a comparitive religion class in our school. So far with my experiences there hasn't been any bias, I think you're right it's important for people to know what others believe or they have no hope at understanding other people in society. As long as they don't advocate religion, it's fine to keep it informative as long as it pertains to the subject.
 
At least you are willing to go on record as for an "Open" curriculum. BTW in my elementary school we studied early Greek and Roman religon along with Christianity and Judaism.
 
I take your point to an extent, but don't believe it is right. The education system is there to educate kiRAB to a general level about the world around them, not to pander to what the children's parents want them to hear. What of the children of a holocaust denier, would you support the kiRAB not learning of the holocaust just because their parents don't want them to hear it?


I live in a democracy, not a republic.


As long as the teaching was about the religion, along with others, and not indoctrination in it. Then I would have absolutely no problem with that or any other religion being taught to my kiRAB.

Which of course it isn't, pre-Christian that is.


Err since when did I try to block anyone
 
This is basically what has been favored by several of us. Teaching the beliefs of other religions in a documentary fashion rather than a preaching fashion. It's nice to know what offenRAB others so you can refrain from doing so...or choose to do so.
 
Of course more than just Christianity should be taught. But I think the part about fights is the reason we DO need to teach about religion in school. We need to teach kiRAB about differences in religion just as with race. We need to promote tolerance to avoid fights from happening. Do you really think ignoring the problem will help it?
 
First of all even if we taught only Christianity:
The teacher tells people that Christians believe there is a God.
So now do all the kiRAB decide they believe in God and need to make the school more religious? Also I'll tell you if one of my teachers started preaching about religion than they'd hear about it from the students about how it isn't necessarily true and if any parent heard about it they'd be getting many angry phone calls. If your teacher is preaching about religion in science class you should be able to write a letter to your principal about it and if they agree to teach religion too you can go to the school board. If they agree with it technically you could sue the school board (or the individual school). I doubt you really want to get rid of science teachers preaching that much but just wanted to let you know if you really cared, you could do something about it.

Also about parents brainwashing their children:
First of all I don't know of many parents who really teach how their religion is right and to get into fights with those of other religions. The point is that teaching respect can't hurt. If the teacher contradicts their parents they may get curious and find out for themselves and find out that people who believe other things aren't the ignorant idiots that their parents described them as.
 
I voted yes but not because I think that we should use public schools for religious indoctrination. I think that religion should be taught in the context of history. Much of our history is intertwined with our religions, yet our kiRAB are taught almost no background for this history. For example, America was settled by those wanting religious freedom, but what do you know about the details of their grief? How did religion affect our form of government? Laws? Traditions?
We try to be so careful to maintain a ficticious "separation of Church and State" that we miss a large portion of history. I think that religion should be taught and it can be without preaching to the students.
 
I voted "other", because this one's weird for me.

I honestly believe ALL religions should be taught in schools. Schools are a place of learning. Not just learning secular things vs. religious things. Not just safe things vs. dangerous things.

They are a place where a student should be afforded ALL the knowledge available to the human race... and then afforded the opportunity to make their own stance on issues of morality, and religion, and politics, and so on. Only when ALL the knowledge is available, though, can a good opinion be formed.

In schools, EVERYTHING should be taught. Anything short of this is censorship.
 
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