Christians in the US who want religion taught in public schools...?

Question

So, you want your children tested on their knowledge of: Atheism, Agnosticism, Budism, Hinduism, Judeism, Islam, Scientology, Shintoism, various native american religions, etc?

And, how do you feel about giving up an hour of reading, writing, and math daily for you child to be taught religious beliefs that you do not hold?

I'm very much against my tax dollars being used to fund religious anything!

Politics, history, and international civics that includes comparative religion is fine by me, but I don't think that's what the religious right are advocating :)

Answer 1

You are confusing education with indoctrination. What students are being taught in classes in religions is not lessons that try to make the religions appealing but rather understandable.

The object is tolerance of other faiths, not conversion.

The reason why this is necessary is that fundamentalist sects are doing their best to raise hatred against people of other religions. They want to use their beliefs to isolate people and create enemies of people with other beliefs.

That said, I also support reading and math in school and assume that the students have more than one class a day.

But, yes, I agree that it is unfortunate that we have to spend any time at all on religion in school. But one of the purposes of school is to help us get along in society and the world instead of fueling wars of religious intolerance.

Answer 2

Hi - I think it is a great idea. Whether or not you believe in religion you can not deny that it is a major force in the world today if only from a social and political standpoint. Add to that the fact that the Middle East, the seat of the Three Big Religions, is a big pile of smoking dynamite that could blow up the entire world ... and ... yes, I think we all need to be well educated in comparative religion and also in religious tolerance.

Answer 3

I am a Christian who believes in religious freedom in the public schools. I don't think we should teach religions to the schools, except as an option.

I believe reading writing & math & computers, etc... are important.

Yet Separation of church & state isn't separating God from our schools. I encourage a moment of silence (closet prayer) for those who believe & for those who don't believe can meditate on nothingness. Or to even have a prayer room in the school somewhere. With the evil attacks on school children, I think it is important children can give their prayers, concerns to God first thing in the morning in a school setting.

Anybody can be religious or faithful in school. Just not provoking riots. To teach religion is scary because, too many false religion teachers can sneak in.

Answer 4

Why not?? They already teach evolution which is a scientific theory and requires just as much faith as any religion. Many people will argue that evolution is science but if you look at the scientific method which requires both observation and the ability to repeat the process, neither of which is possible with the theory of evolution, you cannot observe the origin of the universe and we cannot repeat the creation of life from none life.
Thus the theory of evolution is just as much an aspect of faith as any belief in god.

Answer 5

well as a Celtic Pagan i would not mind seeing an entire class substituted for this. or possibly an optional world religions class. in place of something like a forign language class. or home economics. but then again i try to9 understand all faiths and think that if everyone had at least a general understanding of many different faiths taught from an un-biased viewpoint that much of the religous discrimination would stop.

Answer 6

I've never thought that religion on a large scale should be taught in school.But if evolution is taught,so should religion.When I was in grade school,we said the pledge of allegiance and a prayer to start a day.I also see the 10 commandments being beneficial whether you're a christian or not.

Answer 7

I am not religious, yet I see no problem with kids learning the basics on various religions of the world. I don't think it would be fair, nor appropriate to just focus on one particular religion, for example, Christianity.

If Parents want their children to be educated thoroughly on this subject, they should be utilising Private religious schools.

Answer 8

I am not religious, but I would totally agree with some kind of religious teachings- NOT PREACHINGS- in public schools. As in all of the world's religions- not just Christianity.

Answer 9

religion should be taught at home not at school. I am against school teaching this. If someone wants this there are privates schools to choose from. Not public schools.

Answer 10

Any subject taught with objectivity and causes children to think is perfect. If it is not objective then scrap the whole thing.