can you give me your opinion about religion and education...and the seperation of church and state?

Question

so i am doing an essay about ethics: religion and education...I am trying to reach my target audience...students, parents, churchs, teachers, and even higher members of education...i am trying to work everyones opinion into my paper...trying to consider everyones point of views...in my paper i am trying to convince everyone that religion and education should be seperated...i am somewhat a religious person...but i know everyone does not believe the way i do...and i dont feel like i should try and force my beliefs in educational curriculum...i have statements in my paper like "how can the educational system choose what religion is the "right" one to teach..." please give me your thoughts...and if so can you help me come up with a creative title...so far i've got "the neverending disput about religion and education" i dont think it really works...thank you guys for your help

other statements in my essay...if a student was taught their entire life that their religion was "right" without ever being introduced to other religious views and beliefs...in their mind that is "the right one". If you tell them their beliefs are wrong and start teaching them a different religion in school...do you expect them to just forget everything they were taught about their morals and beliefs, and accept with open arms what you put into their minds is right and what will get you into heaven and another bonus, a passing grade. Probably not.

Answer 1

Separation of Church and state simply means that there shall not be a national religion, as there was in England when the U.S. Constitution was written. Prohibiting children from praying in school is actually an injustice.
When you say that you "do not want to force your beliefs in educational curriculum," I am confused about what methods of force you are referring to. It is not force to talk about God or share your opinion.

Answer 2

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We! 're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen !

Fact: Religion has always been a part of our government until 1962, during the Kennedy administration. - Engel v. Vitale is a landmark 1962 United States Supreme Court case which declared the inclusion of state-sponsored school prayer, even when non-denominational and voluntary, unconstitutional. This case was sparked by the adoption of a school prayer which underwent extreme scrutiny and deliberations questioning whether the First Amendment prohibits laws respecting an establishment of religion or its free exercise.

Ever since then, any mention of prayer in school has been deemed a liability to schools. Sad, very sad. A lawsuit has changed our country, our character and our children.

I live in Texas where after school bible school is widely accepted, practiced with a high number of students participating in PUBLIC SCHOOLS. God Bless Texas!

Answer 3

I am a substitute teacher (currently) and in the county where I work, most schools have a program called Bible in the Schools. It's optional; parents sign and return a consent form for their child to participate. It's purpose is not religious; it's moral. The lessons are very carefully crafted so that they teach the moral lessons present in the Bible (treat others as you wish to be treated; love your neighbor as yourself kind of things). They are very careful to leave the fact that Jesus is the Son of God out of the equation.

I think that it is a great program, because as a sub, I am in the lot of classrooms and can see the moral fabric of our society falling apart before my very eyes.

I think that, aside from this program which is not religious, the separation of church and state (school) is sometimes taken too far. As a teacher, I want the right to wear whatever jewelry I wish, and that would include a cross on my necklace, as I am Christian. If I were Jewish, I'd want to be able to wear the Star of David. If I were Catholic, a crucifix. If I were Muslim, something significant to that religion. As long as I am not forcing my views on my students, why should anyone care what kind of religious symbol I am wearing? The students are allowed to wear whatever they want pertaining to religion.

I also think that if a student questions a teacher about his or her religious views, the teacher should be allowed to answer said questions without running the risk of being sued or written up or any other type of retribution. We are teachers. Our job is to teach, be it math, English or about our particular religion. Just because we answer a question or two doesn't mean we are forcing a student to join our religion. I don't think there should be specific classes about religion. There are too many different religions for that to be feasible. But we should be able to answer questions, in or out of class, that come up about religion.

Good luck on your paper. Hope I had some useful information for you.

Answer 4

It is my understanding that the most misunderstood aspect of the seperation of church and state is that the intent was to keep the state out of the church (i.e. not having a government-run church), not really to keep the church out of the government. I think it stands to reason that our nation, being comprised of mostly Protestant, Jewish and Muslim religions, religion should play a part in our government and to an extent, schools. I think as it is now, anything remotely connected to religion in general and Christianity in particular is banned from public schools, so millions of children are being denied a well-rounded education by not having the basic understanding of these three main religions, not allowing any religious-inspired reading material and not discussing important issues if they associate with faith.
I don't believe anyone should feel like they are being indoctrinated in the public school setting, but I think we've taken it too far. A moment of silence does not force any person to pray, yet that has been deemed controversial. Bibles are not allowed in the libraries. Children of all religions are being denied their right to practice their own religion so that no one else is "offended".
Anyway, that's my opinion. Good luck on your essay!

Answer 5

Ok, if you are asking about teaching religion in school in the USA, then my opinion on this is the following:

I am against teaching religion in a country like the USA because USA is the melting pot for so many people that came from different cultures and religions. Yes I do agree with you it will be great if school can teach religion because in most religions you don’t only learn bible and how to practice religion, you learn ethics and moral that all humans should go by it to create a better, safer world. Like for example, don't kill, don't steal, love every one, don't judge etc. But a problem with a country that is multi-cultures like the US which one are we going to teach?
For a country like Egypt they only have Muslims and Christians, teachers separate students during the religion hour, Christians used to go to their classrooms and so did the Muslims. Both groups get tested on their religion studies during the finals like any other academic subject. Unfortunately it won't be that simple in a country like the USA, that is why I am against teaching religion in schools.
Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Religion and Education

I am a Christian first and foremost. I do not leave my faith at the door any where I go. My faith in God is always with me.

Evolution has the Christian community in an uproar because it is being taught as fact (not theory) that man came from a multi-million year old cess pool. Everytime we turn around we are hearing about millions and billions of years ago and no one can prove anything of this sort. This is not being said as theory but as fact and that is a lie. Fact needs to be proven. No one can prove millions and billions of years ago. Science has become very deceitful. Just the facts - Jack!

Answer 7

Our founding Fathers did not want a national church , though there was a discussion on it. but was decided that a state church would have to much power. also saw how state run Church's forgot about Jesus Christ and ended up aligning themselves with the government. they had given up preaching Jesus. the Fathers believed that people of faith were the only way to have an upright government. that is why they put freedom of religion as our first right. they were not afraid to enact laws and rulings using Jesus name . John Jay as a judge had a man whom was found guilty of murder. from the bench he told the man that he need Jesus as Savior and if the man wanted the John jay would come to prison. and tell him about Jesus. now we have judges threating high schoolers for the mention of Jesus in school. read this quote by John Adams, if you look around he was absoulte right. John Adams. we have no government armed in power capable of contendind with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. our Constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. it is wholly inadequate for the government of any other. again our founding Fathers based this nation on the bible( actually the God of the bible.) . with the belief that people of faith would be best suited to lead the nation and that people of faith should be the great majority of the country. there is a book out called Under God written by Toby Mac and Michael Tait. has many great quotes and letters from our founding Fathers on their vision of the USA.

Answer 8

Public education should not be church. They ARE responsible for teaching world history, however, which HAS to include world religions to be thorough.

Possible title:
God: Expelled from School?

Answer 9

The Holy Bible should be taught in school.


There is no seperation clause in the constitution.