Should Religion Be Taught in Public Schools?

I don't think they should teach it in public schools. There are plenty more important things to educate youth on and I really don't think religion is one of them, it is up to the parents to do that. I also think it's a personal thing, I know at school I hated it when they got on the religion band wagon, even at a young age I knew I didn't believe it and didn't have time for it, but still I was forced to sit there and listen.

If it is such a must, three should be a complete choice by the child to take it or not.

Abhorrent:

even at a young age I knew I didn't believe it and didn't have time for it, but still I was forced to sit there and listen.

It's important to know what other people believe in. Understanding only the culture you're familiar with would make very narrowminded people.

I go to public school, but in our history books there are plenty of things about religion. i think that's fine, but I don't think that teachers should be teaching us about religon, that's not historical or part of the lesson. If our parents wanted us to learn about religion then we'd be sent to private schools.

No. Public schools are not there to teach religion. I don't see how teaching religion is different to practising religion - how can the religion itself not get in the way of the education?

Kurtni Monroe:

Abhorrent:

even at a young age I knew I didn't believe it and didn't have time for it, but still I was forced to sit there and listen.

It's important to know what other people believe in. Understanding only the culture you're familiar with would make very narrowminded people.

I'm not one for really caring what other people believe in what culture they came from or what race they, I see people as people and nothing more, it's not how I base my opinion's on others and it never will be. I am just saying that making children sit there and have to listen about who's going to hell and who's not is not up to the school, it's up to the parents and child.

But it wouldn't be teaching you a specific religion and forcing you to follow it, it would be teaching you about the beliefs and customs of other religions so you can know and respect them even though you don't follow them.

I think, yes.

1. not teaching it will probably lead to racism.
2. But current lessons are far from brilliant.
3. We should teach the modern religion, not how that religion was 100 years ago.

For example, when teaching christianity, please explain how our views are relevant to today e.g homosexuality, sex before marriage, abortion etc.

And include other religions like paganism! I'm sure it's much more interesting than what the hebrews were doing in 4000bc. Entirely relevant in some situations, but not in an RE lesson, I think.

Abhorrent:

I am just saying that making children sit there and have to listen about who's going to hell and who's not is not up to the school, it's up to the parents and child.

I don't consider that teaching, but discussing things like what religions are practiced where and how they have shaped different aspects of the world is. Teaching religion isn't the same as preaching it.

xXGreyWingsXx:

I think, yes.

1. not teaching it will probably lead to racism.

Why racism? :shifty

GlitzGlam.:

No. Public schools are not there to teach religion. I don't see how teaching religion is different to practising religion - how can the religion itself not get in the way of the education?

If your not preaching it. We're not bringing in the pope to teach about religion. It's a teacher that has to tell you about Buddah and Jesus. They're not up there to convince you that Buddah was a sham and Jesus is your personal savior. There's a big ass difference.

They should teach world relgion. It's such an interesting topic.

I heard of schools that is mandatory to take bible studies. Because most of American early literatures are based around christianity and you can get a better understanding of it.

But public shouldn't just teach one religion.
I personally think churches are out to get children. My little cousin who is 11 thinks that evolution didn't happen but came simply Adam and Eve.
I mean how absurd is that?! She holds to that idea so strongly too.

WantingYouBadly:

But public shouldn't just teach one religion.
I personally think churches are out to get children. My little cousin who is 11 thinks that evolution didn't happen but came simply Adam and Eve.
I mean how absurd is that?! She holds to that idea so strongly too.

It wouldn't be preaching it though. It would be teaching you about it even if you didn't follow them, so you can respect other people's beliefs and not call them absurd.

I think it should be taught in a way that dosent force the religon on other people, just a small intro into what the religon actually believes. I think that way people can respect others and know how to respcet other people from diffrent religons.

I know here in Sydney, most of the religious classes are taught once a week by people from the local church on a voluntary basis. They teach it because they think they are helping the children and giving them different options. (I know this cos my church would talk about it often).
And I also know that the people who teach it (from my church at least) would teach it knowing that not everyone believes, so they would teach it from more of an informative way rather than in the way of making them believe. If that makes sense...

I think it's alright for them to teach it, as long as it's an optional course, and the teacher is open minded.

I've been to three different schools and they all teach religion.
my first school (age 4-9) was a very christian school, we went to church lots.
my middle school (age 9-13) was religious too, we went to church occasionally and had RE lessons once a week.
and my upper school (13-18 ) teaches RE but isnt really a religious school, we didnt pray or go to church or anything like that. That upper school sucked I may add.

You should have a choice. Personally, I think religion is just a way to control people.

DevilslilAngel:

I've been to three different schools and they all teach religion.

I've been to seven and I was never taught religion at any of them.

ChemicallyImbalanced:

I think that it should be open as an elective. More like a religious studies class so that students who do want to learn about other faiths and religions can take it if they would like to, and other students don't have to worry about it being pushed onto them.

^I agree.
But yeah, thats what Religion Schools are for.
And If they just started to Teach them in History, Science, etc, then It would cause lots Of arguing.

omfgz J E S S:

^I agree.
But yeah, thats what Religion Schools are for.
And If they just started to Teach them in History, Science, etc, then It would cause lots Of arguing.

What?

Are you trying to say that at a religious school, they do not teach any other subject?

Again, I do think a basis of moral and philosophical understanding should be taught, even at just one hour a week.

I don't have a problem with religious courses being elective, but I don't believe they should be required.

School is meant to prepare you for the real word, yes, but I don't believe that a lack of religious teaching is going to hurt you. I was never taught religion in school. And I didn't start screaming and crying and freaking out when I got my diploma. I functioned decently. And when I didn't function, it had nothing to do with not being taught religion in high school.