Do you think that there would be a lot less confusion about religion if schools where allowed to teach it?

Question

Not an endorsement of any religion, but an education about the beliefs of major religions.

Answer 1

They should teach religion in school. If the schools are allowed to teach sex education, then yes religion should be taught. Maybe these kids would stop killing each other and their parents if they knew that Jesus loves them.

Answer 2

Yup!

If schools taught about what each faith is about and believes, there wouldn't be hardly any of the misconceptions that are out there. It's perfectly legal for a school to teach ABOUT religion, but not actually teach a belief as fact or truth.

It's one thing to teach facts about various religions(ie: Catholics have a Pope, Muslims pray facing Mecca, etc), but a completely different matter to teach religious doctrin(ie: the doctrine that all other faiths, especially nonbelievers, will go to Hell). To teach facts about religion is legal, to teach doctrine is not.

If more schools would stop chickening out and teach about religion instead of worrying that they're going to be mistaken for teaching religious doctrine, everyone would benefit and understand one another and there would definitely be less confusion, if any.

Answer 3

No.

First of all, colleges and universities teach things like comparitive religion, but I don't know how much confusion they clear up, really.

Maybe a little. But the most "confused" are generally people who would never set a foot into a class like that; the people who confuse their dedication to their religion with proof that it's the "one right only true way" and don't want to even HEAR that any other religion might have somethig good about it.

Answer 4

no. the reason is that if religion were taught in school, who's religion would be taught? the jewsish, christian, muslim, hindu? religion is a matter of personal choice, noit a matter of public need. the constitution guarantees you the right to practice any religion you so choose. but it does not gurantee you the right to tell others what they should believe. allowing religion into public schools would require that ALL religions be taught, not just the most popular one in the community. would you want your children taught to worship as a muslim or a jew or a hindu or a mormon if you are a jehovah's witness or roman catholic, or wiccan or satanist? that is what would have to be done. no religion could be favored over another, and no one would want their children taught something they don't believe in and may even be totally against.
religion is trhe most devisive element of humanity and until there is no further need for it, it will continue to be the most devisive element of society and will continue toi be the cause of more wars than anyone can imagine.

Answer 5

I think the issue is not so much the teaching of religion in class, but rather the lack of critical thinking skills in students to evaluate what they have been taught. I mean, you can teach very clearly what Buddhism or Christianity teaches and there can be no confusion. But without the necessary critical thinking skills the student is incapacitated from evaluating the truth claims of each religion taught.

Answer 6

As long as it's a general survey class, it might not be a bad idea. I took two theology classes in college, Major Western Religions and Major Eastern Religions. Since then, I've been consistently surprised by how ignorant of their own religion the holy-text-thumping people among us are.

Answer 7

I think religion should be totally banned, and all religious paraphernalia also totally banned.
This means head coverings, crosses, amulets, orange robes, turbans etc etc.
School is for learning the basics to set you on the road to enlightenment and money, not religion.
Who decides what religion should be taught?
The only subjects open for discussion in schools concerning religion, should be the following questions:-

Which religion has caused the most wars in history?

Which religion has kept the most millions in poverty the longest?

Answer 8

But which religion?
Christianity?
Judaism?
Islam?
Scientology?
Wicca?
Buddhism?
Even, Satanism?
..etc
Obviously schools can't teach them all, and by only allowing a couple of religion, schools will be placing those who follow a different religion as not as high a priority (as well as those with no religion at all). Simply put, putting religion in school would only induce MORE confusion, not put an end to it. That is a point you should be able to understand no matter what religion you are.

Answer 9

I would like to let you know that some countries, example Italy, do teach "religion" in school, they teach CATHOLICISM because of the history of Italy and the vatican .Those who do not believe in Catholicism during that class are free to leave the class. Obviously it is not right to teach just those doctrines dictated by that religion ,what about the rest of them?
My personal belief is that schools should teach just the history of all religions. Who is to say which one is the right one to follow?

Answer 10

Confusion about religion? Who from - the religious? Confusion begins when young minds are subjected to religious conditioning, that absurd need for others to believe in fiction, to share a common frailty, to be subservient to superstition. You do mean YOUR religion don`t you, the one and only truth, the true word? Or perhaps any one of the other sky-fairy yarns would do. No superstition in schools - EVER!

Answer 11

I think a good class about cultural and religious diversity can help dispel many myths and misunderstandings that parents have taught to their children, if it's done in the right context. It is not the job of schools to indoctrinate children, but it is possible to teach the history and beliefs of the world's remaining religions and moral philosophies without proselytizing.

Unfortunately, some selfish fundamentalist teacher or principal would probably try to force the course in a direction of their choosing and spoil the whole thing.