If your high school offered a religious studies/worldviews course (as an elective) would you want to take it?

Question

What aspects of the class would make you more or less interested? What would your parents think, or if you are a parent, how would you feel about your child taking a religious studies course at school?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and answers.

Answer 1

It depends on the school and the course. If it were a public school, I would be against it if the students consistently fail the national tests. Locally, our public schools are some of the worst in our state for teaching the basics so I would rather that the time be spent on basic reading, math and sciences. If a school has high ratings on the national tests, I favor having an optional course on world religions. I think it would better prepare those children for the diversity of beliefs that they will find in the world around them. I would encourage my child to take the course but it would be up to them.

Answer 2

I think everyone should enter the real world with accurate view of others beliefs. We need to understand why others believe the way they do or we will be ignorant of life in other societies. I would like it if my children wanted to take the course. But only if they wanted to, I would not make them take it. It would have to be their choice, otherwise they may not glean from it the proper perspective. You can't force opposing opinions on another person they will fight it or resent you.

I am studying to be just what you are talking about. Although I plan to teach such a class in the parochial school system.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of such courses (which in and of themselves are fine) are in fact used as a subtrefuge for extremists to slip religion into the public schools. Its a dishonest tactic--but the religious right in this country abandoned anything but lip service to what Christ actually taught long ago.

So--my answer is I would sue the school to stop the course from being offered. Not because I object to such a course as such--but because I don't want my children or anyone elses minds poisoned by these fanatics.

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with taking a religious studies couse as long as it isn't biased. Call the teacher or school and ask for a descriptive explanation of the class. I would take it, education only makes you more knowledgable and more tolerant of other peoples views on life.

Answer 5

My school has a world cultures class and in that class, we discussed a lot of different religions. I thought it was quite interesting and yeah, you can't teach other cultures without talking about their religion. I think that class was the most inspiring class I've ever taken. It opened my eyes up to so many new things and I was about to understand different cultures better.

Answer 6

Well i dont really have a problem with me taking a course on it, it just depends on what subject is it going to be. If it is based on the Bible then yeah go for it because this Nation was founded on the principles of the Bible and it will just help us understand more on the views and ways this world ewas created.

Answer 7

I'd be more interested if they talked about more than just Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. I like learning about the lesser known religions and those most people are reluctant to talk about. If I were a parent, I'd be glad to know my child was learning about other cultures.

Answer 8

Probably not. Schools are good at handling education in rational areas and exact sciences like language, math and science.

But in the currents of political correctness sweeping the vaccuous imaginations of liberal educators today, I wouldn't trust them to teach any religion in any valuable manner.

Answer 9

I would and I did, but that was not available to my children. I would highly recommend that every intelligent person get a basic understanding of the major religions of the world. I also endorse their right to choose for themselves.

Answer 10

DEFINITELY! It is one of the most valuable things in the world as long as it is taught in a clean factual manner and not biased. Understand a person's religion, you come a little closer to understanding that person.