Do you think religion should be taught at schools?

The Parakeet said:

Yes. Just look at all the atheist mobs in the streets lynching people for fun...wait a second...that's not right. Well obviously its the atheists who are the most warlike, right? If everyone just learned about the bible there wouldn't be any violence in the world?

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Well, as majority of people are following some religion, so they include more war-like people. But the problem lies in that most people have read their religious scriptures but either do not understand it or don't care about it.

There are millions of Muslims who have learned Quran by heart in Arabic but don't understand a word, so they do certain actions prohibiteds in their religion.

So the problem is not reading Quran or any other religiopus scripture, rather not understanding it is the basic problem!

Then their religion should really work on sorting that out (or the people don't really want to follow the religion and are just in it for cultural reasons or Pascal's wager).

Still no reason in the world for it to be taught in school. Religion is just a bunch of arbitrary rules that are barely relevant. At the young school level, they'd just read stories and make them repeat rules. Let the kids work down their own path to maturity, form beliefs, etc. They can listen to their parents and their minister, or they can just nod and pretend like they're listening. No reason to subject us all to that boring torture. It takes everything I have to not yell during a long prayer (Jesus did nothing to help me to be valedictorian, I'm pretty sure it was all that studying I did).

Like I said, it also opens a can of worms. If they started teaching religion in public schools, I would join the Pastafarian church in Britain by mail. I could then legally demand to have relevant classes and be allowed to wear pirate clothing. I'd also get national "Talk like a Pirate Day" off. They'd have to allow it too, because it is a religion (they've had similar issues with some African religious rights and the schools buckled). I really love America!

It is not a good idea to teach religion in school, what if there is a person in a class who is another religion? Bad, between religion is good but not to be tought in school.

I am in favor of religion taught in the class room, but not as a worshiping-belief system. America has always been known for it's ability to be the melting-pot of all cultures, and the ability to coexist. Well in theory. Stick with me. With different cultures come different religions. IF religion is going to be a part of the program, then is shouldn't JUST be Christianity. If schools are doing their jobs correctly, presumably they are teaching students about other cultures. One of the things that make cultures different are they're religious believes. If religion can be taught without bias, just stating the core facts on what that culture believes in, then I'm all for religion being a topic. BUT if the class is just another Sunday School lesson, then no! That's what church is for! That's what parents are for! School is about education, not doctrinarian. Personal beliefs should be something explored something more spiritual than the same place you watch cute girls hop around in short skirts at football games. But that's just my view.

Exactly what I was thinking Glee. One of the most educational classes I had was my World History class where we actually explored all the different religions objectively. The teacher was an agnostic, so that sorta helped. It was great to take a lot at Christianity's history, the foundations of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism (and some of its offshoots), and the various Chinese philosophies. That kind of stuff really is great for kids to learn, especially if they haven't really been exposed to it before.

I really wish our schools would do more to actually get kids thinking. All mine did was shelter the drunks and potheads while they cheated their way to B's , so I'm a little more jaded than usual.

Teach religion in schools as a truth?

How many people here would trust their child's teacher to teach religion correctly? People carefully select pastors, priests, monks etc. they seek out a Temple that they believe will bring them closer to their own version of God. Why would randomly hired teachers be capable of helping your children understand that kind of thing?

If the religion was taught in a comparative sense though, I could see some benefit.

For example. Teaching children in school differences between the religions they practice within the class, or in their communities, would work to allow kids a better understanding of others.

I doubt there's a way to find a perfectly balanced teacher, but without the teachings I recieved, I'd be clueless when it came to other faiths, and would probably end up offending a lot by accident.

I am glad they have Religious Education, and long may the continue.

aqua said:

I feel there should be optional classes on religions in schools. Because if both the parents are working professionals they hardly get time to talk or preach their children about religion. So schools would be better options for teaching religion. What do you guys think?

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Optional religious classes in public schools - yes. Mandatory classes? Absolutely not.

You can't force religion on people - especially not in a sense that those nuts want to teach creationism in science class.

However, optional classes would be great. I'm atheist but I'm still considering taking a religious class in University, simply to learn more.

The problem then would be - what religions are you going to offer classes in? Buddhism? Christianity? Islam? I live in Canada and we are culturally diverse so you could not discriminate and include one religion and not another.

Definitely yes! Since Philippines is a Christian country, most of the schools here teaches religion and values education. And it's still being taught even in college. We should learn more about God.

Religion really influences Christian life. Your belief in God will make one strong.

I believe that people should really stop treating religion as taboo nor as of great importance in this context. Religious teachings should be an optional class within philosophy class or any other forms of that class if the student wishes to learn the religion. Children are not really using their free will to choose their beliefs, from which most religions advocate, if they remain ignorant of another religion's practices or are not allowed to learn of them afterall.

Quintessence said:

I believe that people should really stop treating religion as taboo nor as of great importance in this context. Religious teachings should be an optional class within philosophy class or any other forms of that class if the student wishes to learn the religion. Children are not really using their free will to choose their beliefs, from which most religions advocate, if they remain ignorant of another religion's practices or are not allowed to learn of them afterall.

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There are other places to learn religion though - e.g. in a church. That's what places like that are there for. Children aren't using free will to choose their beliefs because most parents force on their children their beliefs - by the time they're old enough to decide what they want to believe, they've probably already been to church every sunday for the last 12 years of their lives. By then it's pretty much ingrained in them. That isn't exactly free will either so I don't see how churches are advocating for free choice.

A lot schools don't have philosophy classes - at least not public schools. So you'd still have the problem of where all the extra funding is going to come from to fund all these various optional religion classes.

Delta said:

There are other places to learn religion though - e.g. in a church. That's what places like that are there for. Children aren't using free will to choose their beliefs because most parents force on their children their beliefs - by the time they're old enough to decide what they want to believe, they've probably already been to church every sunday for the last 12 years of their lives. By then it's pretty much ingrained in them. That isn't exactly free will either so I don't see how churches are advocating for free choice.

A lot schools don't have philosophy classes - at least not public schools. So you'd still have the problem of where all the extra funding is going to come from to fund all these various optional religion classes.

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The thing about learning a religion from a church or religious institution is that the learner might feel rather uncomfortable being that he or she is sitting within a place where everyone else believes in something different than he or she, and the teachings there would obviously be very subjective or biased. You might learn about Jesus' ministry but not of the history of the Crusades or the Inquisition. You might learn about Allah saving you if you follow him, but you might not learn about the condemnation of all those that don't believe in him to hell. There is no offense intended for any of those examples. Basically, you could learn about that religion in their respective religious houses, but you won't get the full story or get it in a format of objective teaching.

As for parents pushing their beliefs down their children's throats, that is exactly why I want other religious or philosophical teachings to be taught in schools. However, the fact that parents do that is not a religion's fault. Though some religions just tell their followers to force beliefs onto people, most religions really don't ask people to force those beliefs -- they just ask their current followers to preach and inform people of their beliefs. People are the ones that complicate that idea into forceful evangelization or any other form of preaching a belief. As for philosophy not being taught in schools, I also want all forms of philosophy, religion, etc. taught in schools quite simply.

If it is not for the value of philosophy in and of itself, then it is for its pertinence towards the history of all mankind. The past philosophies and religions are usually the main components in a justification of a historical action, the destruction of a whole nation, or the rise of a new nation such as the Holy Roman Empire. In that way, philosophy and religion are probably even more important than most of the teachings in history classes in this day and age. We should at least know what those philosophical or religious practices are by being taught it in an objective and factual manner.

Quintessence said:

The thing about learning a religion from a church or religious institution is that the learner might feel rather uncomfortable being that he or she is sitting within a place where everyone else believes in something different than he or she, and the teachings there would obviously be very subjective or biased. You might learn about Jesus' ministry but not of the history of the Crusades or the Inquisition. You might learn about Allah saving you if you follow him, but you might not learn about the condemnation of all those that don't believe in him to hell. There is no offense intended for any of those examples. Basically, you could learn about that religion in their respective religious houses, but you won't get the full story or get it in a format of objective teaching.

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Excellent point - I think I took your initial argument the wrong way. So often it is people wanting religion to be taught in schools in the same biased way that it would be taught in a church. I think this would cause a lot of problems. I can just imagine a 10 year old coming home and telling their deeply religious parents about all the people murdered and "converted" in the name of Christianity.

they just ask their current followers to preach and inform people of their beliefs. People are the ones that complicate that idea into forceful evangelization or any other form of preaching a belief.

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To me, preaching your beliefs to your child and making them go to church with you is the same as forcing them into that belief. At such a young age they are going to believe what their parents say. I mean, I'm not talking about high school students (which is likely where religion classes like the ones you talk about would be taught), but when they are very young - I think it closes a lot of doors as far as beliefs go. What's even worse is being home schooled in the name of religion. I guess there really is nothing to be done, I mean it is the parents who choose how to raise their children. I just don't like it, which is why I'll wait until my kids are old enough to make their own decision on religion.

As for philosophy not being taught in schools, I also want all forms of philosophy, religion, etc. taught in schools quite simply.

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I agree, I would have loved to take some philosophy courses in high school. They would be a great asset for going into university.

If it is not for the value of philosophy in and of itself, then it is for its pertinence towards the history of all mankind. The past philosophies and religions are usually the main components in a justification of a historical action, the destruction of a whole nation, or the rise of a new nation such as the Holy Roman Empire. In that way, philosophy and religion are probably even more important than most of the teachings in history classes in this day and age. We should at least know what those philosophical or religious practices are by being taught it in an objective and factual manner.

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That is true. Often I would assume that pretty much all historical events have an underlying religious or philosophical component - so it could be beneficial include some teachings in existing history classes.

Well... We all have different opinions on this matter depending on where we came from. Since I came from a Christian country and studied at a Christian studied at a Christian school, we were likely thought of religion everyday at school. Subjects that includes are Christian Living and Values Education.

I remember that I have a classmate in elementary and high school who is a Muslim. We both studied at the same school above. When the school held a mass, instead of staying in the classroom, he teld to join us. We don't forced him to join since he have a different religion.

GekiDan said:

Well... We all have different opinions on this matter depending on where we came from. Since I came from a Christian country and studied at a Christian studied at a Christian school, we were likely thought of religion everyday at school. Subjects that includes are Christian Living and Values Education.

I remember that I have a classmate in elementary and high school who is a Muslim. We both studied at the same school above. When the school held a mass, instead of staying in the classroom, he teld to join us. We don't forced him to join since he have a different religion.

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Just out of curiosity, did you learn about the history of Christianity? I mean the actual spread of Christianity and not just what's in the bible.

Delta said:

Just out of curiosity, did you learn about the history of Christianity? I mean the actual spread of Christianity and not just what's in the bible.

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I remember that they definitely taught us that. But I can't remember how they spread it. I already have graduated on that school four years ago so there're only a couple of things I remember. But I can say I learned a lot on that school. If not from them, I'm not here.

I think religious culture and ethics should be taught in schools but a certain religion should not be advertised in that classes.

Part of the USA history was deeply influenced by religion, doom mistakes were made due to religion run amuck. But as far as practice and prayer, no.

aqua said:

I feel there should be optional classes on religions in schools. Because if both the parents are working professionals they hardly get time to talk or preach their children about religion. So schools would be better options for teaching religion. What do you guys think?

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I'm against this. There are plenty of options available within your church of choice to teach your kids about religion. Taking your kids to church and enrolling them in Sunday school isn't difficult to do and if a couple can't manage to do those things then I have to wonder how deeply held their beliefs are. A professional couple shouldn't have any problems sending their children to a "religious" school if that is what they wish to do, and I'm dead set against "religion" being taught in a public school system.

I attended a Church of England school to the age of 11 but we had prayers and a hymn each morning in secondary school as well. Catholic girls were not allowed to attend that and had to file out before we began 'assembly' I used to wonder what is was that we said or sang that was considered so upsetting that they could not join in...still don't know

In answer to the question, if ALL religions were given the same amount of teaching and if it was made clear how often wars have been fought due to religious conflicts then yes. Sadly neither is the case here.