Religion in schools?

Question

I am wondering. If your child wanted to become a firefighter, or a lawyer, or a stay-at-home mom, would you stop them? Now, what if they decided they wanted to become Catholic, or Jewish, or even Wiccan, would you stop them?

Whether you believe in religion or not, it DOES work for some people (myself included). Why would we not want our children offered a chance to believe in religion, to see if it works for them? It seems to me that we, as a society, are making adult choices for children. And they aren't all working out. We allow fast food in schools, and now we have a near epidemic of childhood obesity. Coincidence? My point is, we are spoon-feeding them information, instead of teaching them HOW to think. I say let religion be taught along side evolution and let the kids learn for themselves.

Comments are appreciated, preferrably well thought out ones.

Wrong about being taught at home. Parents don't have time to teach at home. Two jobs, they barely have time to make dinner anymore, and unfortunately, it's rare that 1 income can support a family anymore.

Do we want our kids to memorize 2+1=3 and 2+2=4, or do we want them to know HOW to do math? Of course the answer is how. We are teaching them what to think, and that is why schools are failing. We need to teach them HOW to think, how to discern information given to them and let them decide what is and isn't important. Isn't that what a college education essentially is? A student-decided curriculum?

Answer 1

I don't see any harm in religious courses being offered as ELECTIVES (with parental consent). But they certainly shouldn't be required, in my opinion. Doing so would be nothing less than discrimination, because there is no way that all of the religions of the world could be taught in school. We would have to choose certain religions to be taught while not teaching the others. Likewise, would be imposing the belief systems of particular religions upon impressionable children.

And what's your argument for teaching children religion along side evolution? You're confusing religion with creationism. Creationism is embraced by several different religions. Which religion do you think should be the foundation on which creationism is taught? And what type of creationism do you think should be taught? Omphalos creationism? Theistic evolution? Gap Creationism? You claim that we are making adult choices for children, but that's exactly what we would be doing if we were to slap them with a bunch of religion and religious beliefs.

Fast food in schools? That isn't a matter of making an adult choice for children. That's a matter of allowing children to make an adult choice, which, no, we shouldn't be doing. We are allowing them to make too many adult choices too soon.

If I had a child, no, I wouldn't stop him/her from choosing his/her own religion once I felt that he/she was intellectually developed enough to understand the religion and emotionally developed enough to cope with the decision and lifestyle (which is precisely why I feel that any religious teaching should be a choice made by the parents). But do I think that, or any other, religion should be part of the required curriculum in the public school system? NO WAY! As I said, it should be the parents' choice.

Answer 2

And what does this have to do with religion in schools

I wouldn't stop my children from chosing a religion that is right for them. However I will not allow someone to indoctrinate them into any religion in school. Religion belongs at home and not in school or the government.

No religion shouldn't be taught in schools because you can never know if the teacher can keep their personal opinions out of it... There is the problem. I don't nor would I accept anyone teaching my child about something that is not needed.

Heck as it is they aren't getting enough education on the things they should be.

Answer 3

You are right about teaching children "how to think." The goal of every educator is to help students find out how and where to find the answers and information they seek. Although, at times, we do need to hand the info to them.

The only problem I have with religions being taught in schools, is that we don't have any room for it. We are struggling to teach every child in there the necessities to get through life (basic math, writing, reading, etc.) We have to service the average group of students, while encouraging the below average to continue, and also while challenging the above average. Many students slip through the cracks, walking out of HS with a diploma, yet not knowing their multiplication tables. We have to focus on educating every child so that they will be productive members of society. Once we're able to do that, then we can focus on the luxury education items, like the study of religions.

But, with all that said, there would be no problem with offering a religions course as an elective to high schools students. You just can't make that mandatory, when many of those kids have WAY more important things to learn.

Answer 4

IMO the place for religious instruction is in the home. As a Pagan I would be unhappy to have my child taught religion in school because I would have no control over what they were hearing. I am happy for a child to learn a little about ALL religions as a background but I certainly wouldn't want one to be singled out as the only way. We do need to take back responsibility for our kids and teach them the basics of tolerance, respect, healthy living etc. We are on the road to chaos.

Answer 5

As a child growing up in school it was presented to the kids the Lord's Prayer, Psalm 23 and Pledge Alligence to the Flag. It seem to bring a peace in the school environment and were not a lot of violence - stabbing, shootings, rapes, poisoning etc., etc.... Though we had problems but not in it's severity. Religion, I think should be presented back in the school system. But now, it will be a controversy over "State & Religion". If your a christian the child will watch you more than what you say and that's being example to what you preach at home. While their still young as the bible says: Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he shall not depart from it. Also, Psalm 78:4-8, (4) We will not hide these truths from our CHILDREN; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his might wonders. (5) For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their CHILDREN, (6) So the next generation might know them- even the CHILDREN not yet born- and they in turn will teach their own CHILDREN. (7) So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. (8) Then they will not be like their ancestors- stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.

Answer 6

NO!!!!!!!It should NOT be taught in schools. If a parent wants their child to learn about their god,the parent needs to get off their lazy butt,and bring that child to worship.My child went through a period when she was very religious,I never impeded her,heck,sometimes I would bring her AND some friends to her church.I even attended her baptism. Point is,we have no shortage of places to worship,we are lagging in education. Why are people so lazy when it comes to something they feel is the key to eternal life?"go to school and learn about god" what??? How about, "little jimbob,I am going to make sure you learn about god,because I sincerely think it is the most important thing,so right after school,we are going to bible study,and you know on the weekends,we spend all day in fellowship"Why so lazy as to leave it to the schools to teach?Seems just a tad insincere. And,do you REALLY want religion taught as fact in schools?Think about that real hard. Do you wish to live in a theocracy?really?

Answer 7

I would love to have had a good comparative religion course when I was in school. Anybody who's afraid to present a variety of beliefs to kids is doing the kids a disservice.

I was taught evolution and nothing else. I don't think "belief" describes what I thought, but I did actually assume evolution was true for a long time. What a dope!

Answer 8

I'm sorry, but I have to respectfully disagree with you. Religion has NO place in secular schools. If parents want their children to learn about religion, they can send them to a religious school, take them to church or Sunday school classes, or teach them at home. And if parents are too tired after both of them come home from their jobs to teach their children anything, then they shouldn't have children, because that means they don't have any quality time to spend with their children. I'm just saying.....

Answer 9

Something called the Establishment Clause. To wit:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

In other words, they can't push any sort of religion in a public school paid with public tax dollars. How would YOU like it if you had to pay taxes to support your local school teaching your kids some religion other than your own?

That's what Sunday School is for. You want to teach your kids religion, there's plenty of churches that will gladly indoctrin--er, teach your kids their religion...

Answer 10

Objective religion could certainly be taught. But religion from a factual stand point COULD NOT be taught. It is unconstitutional.
If all teachers were saying is, "This religion believes this" and "That religion believes that" then I don't see the harm. It's the same as learning about any other ancient religion/mythology.