Should we teach a mythology class in public school and include current religions?

Question

Mythology is simply religion that is "passe". Being past it's prime doesn't mean it's not religion, though. Alternately, does a religion in it's prime count as mythology? I think so. Should we educate children about past and current mythologies and a bit about the cultures that used them?

Answer 1

The problem with mythology is that we are talking about the past. Lets get out of the past and talk about the here and now or the future. Never look back, always look forward. Find ways we can improve and not study for a lifetime our failures. This is why when I read a news paper, I always read the sports page first, which notes peoples accomplishments. Not the front page which usually dotes on peoples failures.
I learned how to use a slide rule in high school, should we teach the kids how a slide rule works?

Answer 2

i imagine its an mind-blowing idea. with any success it would help create more suitable understanding and tolerance among the distinct communities. Years in the past I did some analyze in a number of the substantial international religions which blanketed no longer purely the non secular beliefs although the customs and rituals. I thoroughly loved it and that i realized a lot. i do not imagine the objective is to target to transform all of us even though it actually shines a sparkling mild on issues once you've some understanding about why some cultures/religions do the failings they do! i'm a funeral director and that i have worked with many many cultures and religions over the years. the base line is we are all God's introduction, and we are truly a lot more suitable alike that we understand! As for Terry L's remark about instructors being biased.....when I took classes, each and each faith/lifestyle become taught through a representative of that distinct crew so the biased element did not take position!

Answer 3

I do not think that it is good too refer to pagan religions as mythologies if there really still are serious practitioners of those faiths. However, we should continue teaching these stories and the cultures that they came from in schools. I think it would also be good to teach all of the students things from as many currently practiced religions as possible. The more people understand each other, the less we fight.

Answer 4

There are still people that belong to the religion that is now known as Greek mythology...so in a way, current religion is already considered and taught as mythology.

I see what you mean though. Good luck with that.

Answer 5

I think we should definitely have comparative religion courses, although calling it "mythology" might rub people the wrong way. Students should have a chance to gain some understanding of religions other than their own, especially when it is such an important factor in politics, etc.

Answer 6

I would have liked to take a mythology class in high school, but it was never offered. I think it should be offered, why not? If someone is interested in it and wants to learn about it as an interest course, it should be available.

Answer 7

Only if they include it AS myth. And they should keep the bible out of school. As well, all religions need to be treated equally, something most Christians are completely incapable of so you have the very large possibility that they would turn the class into a bible study and ignore all the other myth's.

Maybe we should just NOT have it in school at all.

Answer 8

I believe mythology is an important part of history. Many cultures revolved around these beliefs in mythology. Therefore it should be taught as part of history.

Answer 9

If religion was going to be taught in public school it should be under mythology.

Answer 10

We did in my school. We covered a great deal of world religions in my World History class. It was pretty interesting... plus the teacher referred to Christianity as a myth (and caught some hell for it!- hilarious!!!).