Should religion be preached at school or should that be the job of parents and the church?

Question

Surely children go to school to be EDUCATED about all religions and faiths and not brainwashed with superstition?

Answer 1

Children should go to school to be educated and yes, that includes religions etc. It's helpful in understanding history and present culture to say the least. However, there should be NO religious ceremonies at any state school and, quite right, no brainwashing with superstition!

Being from the UK, we have state funded 'faith' schools that pander to individual religious prejudices. It seriously annoys me that religion and education are not separated out and that my taxes fund these places. If people so desparetly want a religious eduction for the poor beknighted children, then would they please pay for it in total. I want my child to have a secular education, but that is not an option as every school (irrespective of whether its a faith school or not) is supposed to have a daily assembly with an act of worship (Mass delusion?).

Religion is for people to choose if they so wish and not to inflict on their children, parents, friends or relatives. It is, or should be, a very personal thing so I wish that people would keep it to themselves.

Answer 2

Preaching and indoctrination should be left to parents and the church, not the schools. The schools have no right to tell kids what they should or shouldn't believe concerning religious faith, particularly if it contradicts what they're taught at home.

Education, on the other hand, is just fine. There'd probably be a lot less prejudice and misunderstanding about various faiths if schools would just teach kids what the different faiths are, where they're practiced, that sort of thing. Learning about other faiths isn't the same as indoctrination.

Schools are there to educate and teach facts, not preach. If parents want their kids indoctrinated in a particular faith, they should find a church or temple or whatever and do that sort of thing themselves.

Answer 3

In public schools it is a very hot issue, but in college and private schools anything goes really. I think religion in public schools, no matter how general or historical it is, would still be dangerous because any teacher might show just one side and, even though the subject is historical, it will be one-sided brainwashing nonetheless. Similarly, that's why many are upset about Evolution being taught in schools because they do not address the problems with Darwinian Evolution. But they should be careful regardless of what they teach, and the safest bet would be to make any class optional if it has a chance of violating a students conscience, and they should be able to opt out for another class.

Answer 4

For some children, the school is the only place they hear about God. They do teach the major faith religions in the schools today. Why do people use the word 'brainwashed?' Surely we at least need to learn about religion in order to either accept or reject the belief later. At least one will know what they are rejecting.

Answer 5

Religion should be left out of school altogether.
While it is a lovely idea, I don't think it would be possible to educate children about ALL religions and faiths in a school setting because there would always be someone claiming that their faith was slighted in some way, therefore the subject should not be broached at all.
Keep it in the home and the church.
Peace

Answer 6

If it is a religion run school, fine, public school no.
Preaching religion is the job of the particular religious community, not the State.

If a school wants to give a course in comparative religion is not the same as preaching religion, it is teaching about religions from a neutral stand point.

Answer 7

Secular schools worry me in my country. Muslim and Jewish in particular seem to concentrate on a perverted total brainwashing and are quite expert in my observation. It would be nice if all countries had one set of basic rules to live by, and people went to law church weekly. We would only need one solicitor per congregation then. Schools could expose and teach all religions as primitive bygone systems based on fear. Unfortunately this will never happen. You can't wrest the power of religion from the control freaks who run it, or the scared believers, bad luck for the human race really

Answer 8

A child raised in a religion will receive religious instruction at home & in the church, synagogue, etc. When they are adults they can choose for themselves whether or not they would like to take courses in comparative religions or to self-educate themselves in these matters.

Children don't go to school to be educated in religions. They go to school to be educated. Schools are state public institutions and, as such, matters of state & religion are to be kept separate.

Answer 9

No religion should not be preached at school that is called brain washing by government controlled religion.
Religion should be taught at home by the parents.
Government should stay out of religion, or else the government will take away freedom of religion and everyone has to believe what the man in power believes. What he says the school should teach. That is what they have in Iraq and Iran. HOw's it working for them?

Answer 10

It should be "taught" in schools and this is all religions not just one or two not preached though and not until an age when it's understoof not just taken as fact. The church and parents can do the preaching but the child at least then has several different points of view not just all or nothing. It could increase cultural awareness.

When i went to school i was preached to within school . My parents aren't religous but taught me about ALL religion as much as they could so i was informed.