Atheists and Agnostics: How is religion forced on you in public schools?

Question

I mean they don't pray and you really can't do anything religious and if something religious does happen no one is forcing you to do it. The study of the bible should be in public schools because if you think about it shouldn't there be some mention in school of the most published book in history. The bible has had an impact in history and society, so of course it should be in public schools.

Answer 1

It should be there the same as "To Kill a Mockingbird" or Aristotle and Plato's "Poetics".

Public school is not an addendum to Sunday School.

Answer 2

Sure, in a comparative religions class or something like that.

But you could say the same for the Koran, which many millions of people believe. Should there be afternoon prayers to the East, where the teacher lays out a rug and bows down. Or perhaps "meditative time" in the middle of the day with Buddha. And maybe some afterschool-sponsored activity could be "How to concoct a Wiccan peace potion."

Would it matter to you if your kid was told to make Wiccan potions, even if he or she could opt out? ...But they still had to remain in the classroom and watch everyone else do it, as well as be teased for being a sissy and scared of "just some water."...?

Try to use that gift of empathy that you have, and not do onto others as you wouldn't want done to you. If the Bible is to be in schools, it should be in a class that teaches the facts about the religion and history -- not used to indoctrinate other people's children against their wishes.

Answer 3

I never experienced forced religion in public school, but I did see a lot of people try. Trying to get books banned that violate some groups "morals," and trying to force the Bible as required reading in English classes. Even the pledge of allegiance, citing America as a nation under God was completely optional. My school was very progressive

Answer 4

Personally (I'm a Pagan), I don't have a problem with the Bible being in public schools. I do have a problem when it is taught as truth. Still, if one is to include the Bible in a school library simply because it is popular or of historical value, one ought include as well the Tao Te Ching, the Koran, and many other religious texts. I might suggest "Drawing Down the Moon" or "A Witches' Bible".

Answer 5

Actually you see it in school plays, the pledge and even in science courses where teachers editiorialize. I had one son come home and explain about why evolution was "just a theory." I used to be Christian and thought that was stupid then, it is just as stupid now. I wouldn't say it is being forced, except in the case of school plays where it creates difficult social relationships needlessly, and I strongly agree the bible should be studied, but never as a religious document but as a piece of literature.

Answer 6

No Single version of the Bible has sold more books than Sun Tzu.

Two of your Christians cornered my daughter and tried to convert her in school. There's now one less Christian teacher teaching in our school district.

The Koran is actually a better read then the Bible. Both of them are full of contradictions and nonsense,

Be honest. You support the Bible because your ego can't accept your errors.

Answer 7

If you look at the bible as just a published book...then yeah..it should be taught..or read in public schools.
Also..it cannot hurt to teach religion in public schools..I mean religion is a big part of our society...and kids could do well by learning all the religions out there and what exactly they believe...they don't have to force the religion on them...just teach what each religion believes. But honestly I believe that once church and state come together...the end of times is near.

Answer 8

Yes, there should be a mythological class that talks about religion. And obviously the most important would be the major monotheistic religions. Education should include the bible, but only for cultural study, certainly not scientific.

Answer 9

I have no problem with it being taught as history, or in a religion or sociology class provided it is in the same context as the rest of the religions.

But it has no place in a science class.

Answer 10

I had to say the pledge of allegiance, with under God, as a child. But that pales in comparison to the crazy fundie substitute teacher I had one day in first grade:

When I was in first grade in the boondocks of rural upstate New York, a substitute teacher made us use our quiet time for prayer. I was six years old and had never prayed and didn't know what she was asking me to do. I was willing to do it though, and I said that I would pray, but I didn't know how.

She told me if I didn't pray, I was going to hell.

That made me angry, and scared me because she was the teacher. I told her I wouldn't do it just because she made me, and she told me she was going to send me to the principal for being bad. I still told her I wouldn't do it just because she told me to do it. She made me stand in the corner until lunch.

I cried all the way home on the bus. I wouldn't tell my parents why I was upset, and never told them what had happened until I was fifteen. It took almost a decade for me to share the story.

(My dad says had I told him when I was six, we would have sued the teacher and the school district like blazes.)

Religion being forced on a child in a public school setting can scar them for years and years. I know, as I had it happen to me. Anyone who would advocate that sort of pain and humiliation and guilt being caused to a child doesn't realize exactly what they're advocating.