Should religious studies classes explore all religions?

Question

I think we should have a religious studies class in schools that is not specific to any one religion.
When I went to school, we were taught all about God & Jesus, and very little about any other religion.
Perhaps it should be left up to the parents to teach their children about their own religion, and schools should give them information about all religions. I think it would help to get rid of religious intolerance.

Answer 1

It depends on who is offering the class. If it is a private christian school or college, they have the right to teach the way they want and center the course around their beliefs and others who contradict them.

Those courses offered by non-sectarian institutions have a greater responsibility to teach the main religions and as many minor ones as possible. Given the number of religions, it is impossible to cover everything in one or two semesters.

Answer 2

That would depend on the class. If it is a general class studying religion then yes. But, if it is specific to a religion or a period of time then maybe not. Furthermore, is it possible to cover all religions or just the current popular or traditional religions. We are a christian nation that tolerates all religions. But, as a whole, we do not really accept them. If you are curious about all religions then study them yourself and get a more unbias view than you would from most teachers anyhow!!

Answer 3

You're absolutely right but religious intolerance is one of the failings of humans. I have studied all the major religions and for my money Shinto (the major religion of Japan) makes the most sense. In Shinto religion is a very personal thing and concentrates on the individual. The main message of Shinto is "behave yourself". Believers in Shinto do not concern themselves with what others are doing, unlike Christians who have slaughtered tens of thousands because they were "different".

Answer 4

Religious studies should absolutely teach at least the basic beliefs of other religions. All of them if possible, but at least Judaism and Islam if time is short.

No one can understand themselves fully unless they understand their relationship to others in the world.

Answer 5

I agree. I believe we should be tought about beliefs that may be different to our own. I believe that parents should be teaching kids about their own religion and not have schools espousing one religion above another (unless of course you are enrolled at a private religious school)

Answer 6

isnt that religious education that the courses that you are examined on teach you about different religions where as the course material for religious studies is soley upon one religions view point?? anyone like to clear that up, but that might be the answer to your question :)

Answer 7

I think it would be great if students could learn about all spiritual beliefs. However, if we are going to keep cramming these standardized tests and the "importance" of the scores down these poor kids throats, we won't have time to learn anything like math, science, and much less religion.

Answer 8

I agree. Oftentimes a dispute or disagreement starts with religion. Let us not be ignorant of the other person's religion. Let us be open to new knowledge, information, etc., who knows it might end the "war".

Answer 9

I think it should teach about several religions that the students are likely to encounter in their lives or hear about frequently....Protestant, Catholicism, Judism, Hinduism, Buddism, Muslim...etc (I can't spell)

Answer 10

It would be best, but it won't happen. Too many people are convinced that their religion alone is right.