Religion in the schools...?

Question

Many schools teach ancient Greek and Roman mythology as a unit in their literature classes. Do you think it would it be acceptable to include the Bible and/or the Koran and/or Dianetics in this class? Why or why not?

The Dude: Where was that done? Can you give some more details. Thats very interesting.

Answer 1

As an agnostic, you'd think I'd be against this, but I am not.

I feel students in all schools should be taught about all things relevant to this society. Mythology is important, as it's often referred to and still casts a shadow in modern society (e.g. - the naming of planets, stars, etc.).

Students need to know what the bible is, where it came from, and why people are so fervent about it. It has great impact upon our society and some are downright militant about it's words (as we all know LOL).

Similarly, I feel the Koran should be discussed. It's origins and teachings are shaping the world around us. It would be foolish for us as Western Society to choose to remain ignorant about it.

Now, the key here is in teaching it as the unmistakable, unfallible truth. This would be wrong, since it has not been proven to be so. If someone chooses to believe it, that's cool, but if we're talking about public school education, it's no place to teach the bible as fact. Rather, teach it as what it is - a religious doctrine that affects society in many ways.

Answer 2

I believe that their should be religious classes offered at public schools. The only problem is that in this day and age, we would have to allow for a class that offers a general overview of all religions or a multitude of classes on individual religions. Just using Christianity as an example, you'd have to have a Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Baptist, Southern Baptist, COGIC, Pentecostal, etc. class to suit everyone's taste.

As far as your initial question, the Bible is essential to literature thanks to the Gutenberg press, which opened the doors for mass publication of books. Other than that, books such as the Bible and the Q'uran should be treated only as part of religious classes, given their obvious religious leanings. As far as Dianetics are concerned, I hope you're just being sarcastic.

Answer 3

The Bible should be taught in school as part of history or literature. It is great literature and a influenced a large part of the history of the west, which is mainly the history western schools teach

Answer 4

Yes, I think the "history of religion" should be taught in "Social Studies". It should be a kind of survey class, similar to language survey classes which discuss several different languages. There would need to be a STRICT curriculum and instructions to teachers, many (most?) of whom would not be qualified to teach such courses. It would be a very difficult subject to teach properly and objectively - but very important, nonetheless.

I also think that schools need to add philosophy and logic as required courses.

Answer 5

you've a Constitutional proper to practice your man or woman faith and to desire in college, notwithstanding the college (even if it truly is a public college) won't be able to lead prayers, practice non secular indoctrination, or sponsor non secular activities, because the structure also says the authorities won't be able to "set up" any faith-- in different words, the authorities received't elect any faith over the others, nor would it not require human beings to save on with any faith. Edit: "very last time i checked the perfect court docket ruled that atheism is a faith, and the absence of god is clearly taught interior the college device..." i do not recognize of any ideal court docket ruling declaring atheism is a faith. are you able to cite the case? i'm not attentive to any public college that teaches "the absence of God." This replaced into actually not element of the curriculum interior the usual public faculties I attended, nor interior the state college I attended. you should have an truly unusual public college.

Answer 6

Any public school can teach ABOUT religions. They cannot offer one religion as the truth, however.

Many schools offer courses such as World Religions and that is perfectly legal/acceptable

Answer 7

sure as long as they stay in the fairy tale section with those other myths, but then again how are we sure they are myths, the feats in greek mythology are comparatively sizeable to the feats in the bible and if the bible is "obviously" true (sarcasm) then hell why dont we just put those questions in our history tests?

Answer 8

Bible as literature, in the fiction part of the course, is fine.

Answer 9

I would most certainly encourage it. Those mythologies have had a far greater impact on modern culture than the others have.

Unfortunately, it's still taboo to lump them in with previous religions. They consider that disrespectful, as our ancestors killed a lot of people to make sure those other religions didn't overtake the ones WE believed in.

Answer 10

Hey Ann!!!! How are ya?

I absolutely think that it would be acceptable to include the Bible and the Koran in literature class...as long as they were categorized correctly......as MYTH.