why is it good to learn about different religions in school?

Answer 1

Everyone deserves information. The purpose of school is to educate, after all.

And you really should be taught religion by someone who has actually studied it. Literature and Humanities teachers usually have entire libraries detailing Christianity, Islam, Sumerian gods, and hundreds of other religions.

Besides, a lot of children only learn religion from one source: their families. That's very nice, but learning religion from your family has a couple of flaws:
1. Usually a religion stresses that other religions are wrong (especially monotheistic religions). As such, parents are less willing to teach other religions. The most information a child gets is, "That religion is wrong."
2. Most family members are not qualified to teach about other religions. That's like asking your father to teach you Calculus when he can't even multiply fractions.

So, learning religions from family members can often be counter to education. At least in school, there is someone who is learned in these topics--in theory; there is always the risk of a teacher with a hidden agenda.

I support teaching various religions in school. It's as useful as teaching literature. No, it won't get you a job necessarily, but it does enrich the person as he learns many viewpoints.

Edit: I see some people are confusing religion with morality--a common mistake. I support schools teaching about religions, but it's up to the parents to teach about morals. If the parents are amoral, then we can hope that the peers can correct the child's misconceptions.

Answer 2

Because then we know what other people who don't share our faith believe. We can understand them, even if we don't agree with them. We'll know then that they're just as legitimate as we are and have nothing to fear from other faiths, especially if there are stereotypes, or extremists warping a religion's tenets.

We'll be able to understand that most people aren't that way, and that those who go to such extremes actually go AGAINST their religion instead of following it. Ignorance is dangerous, not blissful. Knowledge is essential, especially with religion.

Face it, if there was meant to be only one religion in the world, we'd all follow it. But there are hundreds and thousands of faiths and denominations, so, we need to understand each other and respect the fact that we're not all alike. So to prevent the spread of stereotypes and hatred, we need to understand one another so we can respect each other.

Answer 3

Religion is the single most influential factor in history. To understand why somethings happened you need to understand what influence the peoples involved religion played in them. Take the crusades you need to know the Catholics, Jew's and Muslin's point of view. India history needs to be understood from the Hindu's and Muslin's point of view. China as four different religions that as shaped it's history. Same is true for Japan. Our own country was started over religion. Roman empire was driven by the power of its many religions. To under stand a faith of a group of people is to start to understand the people

Answer 4

Depends what school you are talking about. If you are talking about grade school, then I think only the historical side of religion should be taught. Younger people should not be presented with doctrines, etc. However, I do recommend taking courses on multiple religions of the world in college. It provides one with more respect and appreciation for the people and cultures of the world.

Answer 5

Simply because people fear what they don't know, and fear creates hate. People should learn about other people that exist in this world and their practices. This way you find out that there aren't very many differences in people in geneal. Quite frankly many religious practices come out of cultural practices, so learning about someone's religion is like learning about their culture, which brings understanding, which is something that is truly needed in the world today.

Answer 6

Because religions have an effect on, and are part of, culture. You can't completely learn about a culture unless you learn about the religions in that culture.

Answer 7

every religion teaches a lot of good things. Learning good stuff from all religions can teach a child tolerance and also embed in him the knowledge that there is good in every religion and in essence, they're all the same.

Answer 8

it may help some to learn patience,tolerance and understanding. knowledge is power and as religion has such a major impact on the world our children should be educated so they know how to respect other people and other customs that their fellow men and women are accustomed to.

Answer 9

What do you mean about different religions? Does that include Satanism, the religions of the far east, Wiccans. etc.? It is not the job of schools to be teaching children anything about religion, period, not even religious schools. It is the job of parents to teach the children, just as Mary and Joseph taught Jesus.

Answer 10

Religious education in schools! Why that might lead to religious tolerance. If we all learned to accept one another as unique individuals then what would we do with our spare time?


Peace :)