Should Religion Be Taught in Public Schools?

^^ I don't know about that one. =[ I mean... I'm not saying it wouldn't work, but I think there should be a whole lot taught together.

Besides... wouldn't that be boring to take a class on one single religion?

Maybe... different religions plus a mix of religions class... ^_^

Mrs.Bellamy:

^^ I don't know about that one. =[ I mean... I'm not saying it wouldn't work, but I think there should be a whole lot taught together.

Besides... wouldn't that be boring to take a class on one single religion?

Maybe... different religions plus a mix of religions class... ^_^

In public schools here they do one unit that covers an overview of all the major religions, and that seems to work pretty well. I think if you wanted to do more on one specific religion you would have to do it outside of class time- like a club or extracurricular.

^^ Mine doesn't. =[ I wish we did, though. That would be so awesome...

Yeah, or wait til college, because they get specific with religions then. [Which is what I plan to do.]

Mrs.Bellamy:

^^ Even people of different religions at least need the knowledge of other religions. Knowledge is power. I would think, no matter how much you are in to your own religion, you should still have open enough of a mind to recognize and learn about other religions. Like, we live in a democracy and we never intend to change, but we still learn about other types of government.

How many Catholic schools do you know of that are going to want to teach children about other religions. Don't you think they'd fear the children would see other options in the teachings even if it weren't preaching?

ChemicallyImbalanced:

I go to a private religious school and I take a religious studies class.
What do you mean by tackle it?

I just fear that a lot of religious schools would avoid the curriculm, and teach it very biasly to block out information that might threaten their religion.

Scarecrow Angel:

If we're talking about public schools, then private schools wouldn't really be involved. I guess they would just go on doing as they've always done...

Hmm...but don't private schools have to go by some sort of guidlines that are in sinc with the nation? Don't you think if a nation is going to force children in public schools to learn it, they should be forcing those in private schools because it is a value to education? -shrugs- I don't want to argue...but I figured I'd bring that up. It worries me what would be done about that. Kids in private schools need a wholesome education too...so you'd think they should make whatever is madatory for public schools kids also mandatory for private school kids. I'm not quite sure on the rules and boundaries there.

I'm still an advocate of teaching religion (And possibly making it mandatory)...but we'd have to figure out the finer points like that. There's a big difference between teacing and preaching...and I think most people on this board are getting it wrong. They aren't trying to convert you when they teach you religion. They're trying to explain what a religion believes...practices and so on. The teacher doesn't get up there and say "Buddah is who you should be worshipping." They get up there and tell you about Buddah and the philosiphies that belong with that religion....not to tell you how to be a Buddhist (I know i just spelled that wrong).

There's a pretty broad difference between teaching nad preaching. Teahcing about religion is more like teaching about culture and understanding other people. I think it should be mandatory. I think for this world to get along better...we need to understand eachother and the practices of others. Because it's lack of understanding a culture that createds hatred. Understanding is more open-mindedness...and I feel the world lacks that and helping with that would serve for the greater good.

[/soap box] I think my opinion is clear. I'll stop now. Just wanted to clarify that I'm being cynical about something I believe in because if we get to that point...I don't want a bunch of flaws in the system.

Lyzzla:

ChemicallyImbalanced:

I go to a private religious school and I take a religious studies class.
What do you mean by tackle it?

I just fear that a lot of religious schools would avoid the curriculm, and teach it very biasly to block out information that might threaten their religion.

[

Actually, I know that in Christian schools in New South Wales, it's cumpolsory to learn about different religions when you are in year 11 and/or 12. It's part of the curriculum.

^ Yep. True. I'm at an Anglican school in year11, and we study world religion's. I just finished Judaism before the holidays. It was very interesting.

Lyzzla:

Um...question.
If teaching religion in schools became mandatory--even for those who think it should be an elective--how would they tackle that issue in private religious schools?

The way we do it here is fantastic. Good teacher, quick month or two on world religions and headfirst into moral subjects like abortion, euthanasia, drugs, capital punishment and the big questions. (Why are we here? etc).

A mandatory subject until you hit 16. One hour a week. An essay as an exam on the question of your choice. Int 2 "World of Values". Easy qualification. Although you can take Philosophy as a further subject, they ran Psychology this year instead.

RE was one of my favourite classes. I really don't get why everyone gets so tetchy about it. I mean, 99% of my year is atheist and we still got taught the basics of Christianity, Judism, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. They still voted pro-choice for euthanasia and pro-life in abortion. They still had a brilliant debate about Captial Punishment. I really do not see why it would be a bad thing.

Lyzzla:

Mrs.Bellamy:

^^ Even people of different religions at least need the knowledge of other religions. Knowledge is power. I would think, no matter how much you are in to your own religion, you should still have open enough of a mind to recognize and learn about other religions. Like, we live in a democracy and we never intend to change, but we still learn about other types of government.

How many Catholic schools do you know of that are going to want to teach children about other religions. Don't you think they'd fear the children would see other options in the teachings even if it weren't preaching?

First, I just want to say, I like how you point out Catholics first. You know, not all Catholics are narrow-minded individuals.

And I don't think they can very well argue with other religions if they don't understand other religions. I don't even know what Muslims actually believe and therefore I don't go around telling them they are wrong.

You have to understand the world around you, even if you don't agree with it.

Mrs.Bellamy:

I don't even know what Muslims actually believe and therefore I don't go around telling them they are wrong.

You're one person, a lot of people would.

Kurtni Page:

Mrs.Bellamy:

I don't even know what Muslims actually believe and therefore I don't go around telling them they are wrong.

You're one person, a lot of people would.

Right, but I'm just making the point that the teachers should teach the understanding of different religions. Not necessarily the acceptance, just the understanding.

And besides, a lot of people when they are uneducated and going around telling people their religions are wrong, they will lose that argument [most of the time] and after awhile, realize, hey... maybe if i know more about them, i can tell them why they're wrong.

And if they don't, then they're usually just hopeless anyways. Some people you cannot teach to understand... but if they put it into the schooling system [or continue if they have], they can help teach mass-understanding and knowledge.

Of course there will be the ones who will still go around saying their religion is right and everyone else is wrong, but we'll have less of them.

Mrs.Bellamy:

Lyzzla:

Mrs.Bellamy:

^^ Even people of different religions at least need the knowledge of other religions. Knowledge is power. I would think, no matter how much you are in to your own religion, you should still have open enough of a mind to recognize and learn about other religions. Like, we live in a democracy and we never intend to change, but we still learn about other types of government.

How many Catholic schools do you know of that are going to want to teach children about other religions. Don't you think they'd fear the children would see other options in the teachings even if it weren't preaching?

First, I just want to say, I like how you point out Catholics first. You know, not all Catholics are narrow-minded individuals.

And I don't think they can very well argue with other religions if they don't understand other religions. I don't even know what Muslims actually believe and therefore I don't go around telling them they are wrong.

You have to understand the world around you, even if you don't agree with it.

-sigh- I wasn't attacking the Catholic religion. I wasn't saying anything deeper than the words that were used. Did you possibly think that I was saying this because, oh I donno, my family's Catholic and I'm familiar with the religion? Just because someone uses an example from a religion doesn't mean they're picking on a religion, or making an inference. [[Sorry...pet peeve when someone assumes that. Drives me nuts.]] But...I guess I could've been more politically correct about the situation.

I'm an advocate for everything else you're saying. I don't know if it's a response to me that you are saying that, or if it's just another subject for your post. But if it is in response to me...please take a second look at my first post.

The above posts seems like an interesting way to handle teaching religions. Maybe that would be a good way to tackle it in public school.

Lyzzla:

Mrs.Bellamy:

^^ Even people of different religions at least need the knowledge of other religions. Knowledge is power. I would think, no matter how much you are in to your own religion, you should still have open enough of a mind to recognize and learn about other religions. Like, we live in a democracy and we never intend to change, but we still learn about other types of government.

How many Catholic schools do you know of that are going to want to teach children about other religions. Don't you think they'd fear the children would see other options in the teachings even if it weren't preaching?

^As I said before, it's part of the curriculum that catholic schools teach about other religions in the senior years.

ChemicallyImbalanced:

^As I said before, it's part of the curriculum that catholic schools teach about other religions in the senior years.

The curriculum for all Catholic schools is not the same.

Lyzzla:

Mrs.Bellamy:

First, I just want to say, I like how you point out Catholics first. You know, not all Catholics are narrow-minded individuals.

And I don't think they can very well argue with other religions if they don't understand other religions. I don't even know what Muslims actually believe and therefore I don't go around telling them they are wrong.

You have to understand the world around you, even if you don't agree with it.

-sigh- I wasn't attacking the Catholic religion. I wasn't saying anything deeper than the words that were used. Did you possibly think that I was saying this because, oh I donno, my family's Catholic and I'm familiar with the religion? Just because someone uses an example from a religion doesn't mean they're picking on a religion, or making an inference. [[Sorry...pet peeve when someone assumes that. Drives me nuts.]] But...I guess I could've been more politically correct about the situation.

I'm an advocate for everything else you're saying. I don't know if it's a response to me that you are saying that, or if it's just another subject for your post. But if it is in response to me...please take a second look at my first post.

I'm sorry for assuming then. I guess since you didn't say 'for example', I wasn't taking it as an example but as talking about Catholics themselves. My misinterpretation. Again, I'm sorry.

Kurtni Ramone:

The curriculum for all Catholic schools is not the same.

No, it is not. But because those schools are private, the details of their curriculums are up to them. I know some Catholic schools teach about other religions, which is great, but then there are also others that do not, and that is entirely their business. When you choose to go to a Catholic school, you are agreeing to their particular way of teaching- it's very different from the public system, where attendance is by default.

Lyzzla:

How many Catholic schools do you know of that are going to want to teach children about other religions. Don't you think they'd fear the children would see other options in the teachings even if it weren't preaching?

Private schools are well within their rights there. After all, that is why they are private- because, for whatever reason, they don't want to subscribe to the public system. Some Catholic schools do preach Catholicism- I know mine certainly placed heavy emphasis on Mass. But then, there are also some, who for the purpose of attracting more students or just because they wish to, teach about other religions. The motivations of Catholic schools vary, but the motivation for public schools should by definition be the same.

Mrs.Bellamy:

First, I just want to say, I like how you point out Catholics first. You know, not all Catholics are narrow-minded individuals.

I think it's just because there are more Catholic schools than other types of private religious schools. It's got nothing to do with prejudice.

Mrs.Bellamy:

I'm just making the point that the teachers should teach the understanding of different religions. Not necessarily the acceptance, just the understanding. ... Of course there will be the ones who will still go around saying their religion is right and everyone else is wrong, but we'll have less of them.

While teaching a diversity of religions is noble, it's only in public schools that religious education needs to be unbiased. I know it would be nice if religious schools would do the same, but I wouldn't ask it of them anymore than I would like their beliefs pressed on me.

If some people want to go around saying that other religions are wrong then they are well within their rights to. As far as saying things goes, that is protected by freedom of speech. and if you find that offensive, then that's why the public and private systems are seperate in the first place- so that you can opt out.

Scarecrow Angel:

No, it is not. But because those schools are private, the details of their curriculums are up to them.

Not really. Private schools are responsible for covering the same basic curriculum as public as regulated by the government. They're allowed to make additions if they'd like, but they are still mandated to cover everything else.

Kurtni Ramone:

Scarecrow Angel:

No, it is not. But because those schools are private, the details of their curriculums are up to them.

Not really. Private schools are responsible for covering the same basic curriculum as public as regulated by the government. They're allowed to make additions if they'd like, but they are still mandated to cover everything else.

Of course, that's why I say that the DETAILS are up to them. In order to qualify as a school there are certain subjects they need to cover, and those subjects are monitered at the same level as the other schools. But when it comes to non-standard subjects like religion, they can do as they please.

Scarecrow Angel:

Mrs.Bellamy:

I'm just making the point that the teachers should teach the understanding of different religions. Not necessarily the acceptance, just the understanding. ... Of course there will be the ones who will still go around saying their religion is right and everyone else is wrong, but we'll have less of them.

While teaching a diversity of religions is noble, it's only in public schools that religious education needs to be unbiased. I know it would be nice if religious schools would do the same, but I wouldn't ask it of them anymore than I would like their beliefs pressed on me.

If some people want to go around saying that other religions are wrong then they are well within their rights to. As far as saying things goes, that is protected by freedom of speech. and if you find that offensive, then that's why the public and private systems are seperate in the first place- so that you can opt out.

I never said they couldn't say, "this is what muslims believe, this is why they're wrong... this is what sadists believe, this is why they're wrong... this is what mormons believe, etc etc etc" I just think they should at least talk about it, so that they know. [For religious schools, not public, of course.]

And I don't find it offensive [usually. Some people can push my buttons] and I meant that in a different way. I should have specified, let me rephrase:

We'll have less people running around saying their religion is right and everyone else is wrong without facts and knowledge of other religions to back it up. You know, informed over ignorant [and I mean that word in the literal way, not as an insult to their thought-process].

Mrs.Bellamy:

I never said they couldn't say, "this is what muslims believe, this is why they're wrong... this is what sadists believe, this is why they're wrong... this is what mormons believe, etc etc etc" I just think they should at least talk about it, so that they know. [For religious schools, not public, of course.]

I know, I do think that would be nice. The point I was making is just that nobody can force private schools to do that. But that does seem to be the way a lot of them are leaning anyway. I guess to keep the mainstream popultion enrolling, private schools still have to move with the times, else they would only be catering to conservatives and get no business. Ah, democracy, the great leveller. ;)

The focus here is really on public schools though. They're the bigger issue because the students there have no say in whether or not they attend.

There are plenty of students in my class (and although I go to a private Christian school) they do not believe in God and are not religious at all. And yet, they are forced to take this class once a week every since Kindy.
Most of them find it a 'bludgy' lesson and do other things during the class instead of paying attention.