Why do christians go to school or attend History, Science and other classes when it's all given in Bible?

Question

Don't you just have to read your bible and know that's all the science, universe, earth, life, psychology, law, history and since you think it's inerrant and complete word of God, why bother teaching your children about other stuff from other non-reliable sources?

Answer 1

Jerry Falwell wrote in America Can Be Saved that "I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them."

It's what they want, but luckily people like Jerry Falwell have limited power and evenutally die off.

Answer 2

Would I want to send my child to a school where: (and I know you're comparing this to the Watchtower Society) 1) Only material published by the school is allowed to be read - Yes 2) Only questions prearranged by the school can be asked, no questions from the class allowed - No, but we as Witnesses are allowed, indeed, encouraged to ask questions during our meetings and private studies. 3) Only answers that reflect a synopsis of what the school published material are allowed, no independent or divergent reasoning is allowed - No, see above 4) Only students who have met the appearance and conduct standards set by the school are allowed to be helpers in the classroom - Yes 5) Any student who violates the school rules more than once, can and most likely will be ostracized by ejection from the class, with no contact with classmates or even given a common greeting by teachers, parents, or fellow classmates - Yes (I assume you mean disfellowshipping in which case it is more then "violating a rule" it is WILLFULLY sinning against Jehovah and REFUSING any help or counsel, in which case the elders have a responsibility before Jehovah to keep the congregation clean. What other religions can say they do the same? I feel I've answered your questions, but would comment that you can't really compare a school with a Christian organisation. If a child breaks a school rule, that isn't really the same thing as a dedicated (adult) member of a religious organisation who willfully chooses to go down a sinful path and ignore help, is it? I'm not sure what you mean by your statement that you were using the school scenario to "describe how offensive the manner in which Jehovah's Witness leaders conduct the 4 or 5 (thanks QB for heads up) meetings each week, with the end result of through indoctrination of their adherents." How are our meetings offensive? And we only have 3 meetings a week? EDIT: In answer to your points. Yes, we are definately permitted to ask questions during a meeting. I have seen this happen in several congregations we've been in. I doubt it is exclusive to the UK. As long as you realise that the meetings are not necessarily the time or the place to raise in-depth questions that require a long, in-depth answer (and bearing in mind the speaker has a limited amount of time to conduct the study) which is why we don't always raise questions during a study.But it does happen. I've seen it. In response to your second statement, (quote) "Home bible studies is another matter. Ask to many unanswerable questions and that study will not last very long!" I FREQUENTLY ask numerous questions of numerous topics to my study conductor, and so far they have all been answered beyond satisfaction.

Answer 3

You sound like a religious fanatic in a cult. The bible doesn't come close to explaining scientific processes and methods.

Science is proven, not a "non-reliable source". If anything, the bible has never been proven, and those that do believe in it do so simply based on blind faith, not because it is proven or is a reliable source.

I would rather believe what I read in a science book than what's in the bible, because the content of the science book is more plausible and has been verified, whereas the bible could very well be fiction.

Answer 4

As the Bible is not about science, history (other then that which relates to God's plan of salvation), psychology, current events, etc., it does not speak to those issues.

That is about like why an American can not just read the Constitution and understand everything, or an Atheist the writings of Charles Darwin and be an expert on world history. They would add to your knowledge in the are they were intended for (US Law and the theory of Natural Selection), but not in other areas.

The Bible is the ultimate source on the issues it deals with, God, man, and our relationship with him. Where history or science intercepts with the issue, the history and science are correct. But the Bible does not bother to include things that are pointless to the plan of salvation.

You need to look elsewhere to understand those things.

Answer 5

the History of the Bible stops within the first century I believe, so of course we still need to learn more, that's 2000 years that isn't written down. Science as well has made quite a few changes to our world. Neither of these subjects in themselves negate the word of God. It is still the #1 source for truth, but that is not to say that anything outside of it is untruth.

We use the Bible to filter what we learn, to ensure that it doesn't contradict, and when it does, we throw those new facts out as false. I've only encountered that with a few things in science. I don't believe the evolution theory because it is false science, a theory made by first removing the possibility of God and never considering Him at all. Real science would allow for at least the possibility.

Answer 6

There's nothing wrong with learning REAL science, like chemistry, physics, biology, etc. There's nothing wrong with learning the miraculous structures and functions of the human body, or learning how God makes atoms follow rules and interact with other kinds of atoms. There's nothing wrong with studying the obvious Design of the Universe and its contents that God made. There's nothing wrong with studying the effects of the Flood on Earth's modern geology and geography. Just don't teach our kids that they came from monkeys or that the Earth is billions of years old, both of which REAL science has disproven. That's not education, that's indoctrination.

Answer 7

I home-schooled my children for awhile on this pre-text but came to realize that I cannot shield them from a world that is full of disbelief and religious chaos. They needed to go into the world, learn what is bad in the world, fight it with spiritual armor and also learn discernment. I cannot live forever to make sure they reead their Bible everyday. We have free will and we must go out and choose. Luckily, we have the Holy Spirit, angelic protection, Christ and other weapons with which to defend our rights as believers. Each person has to go out and make it happen and key is discernment, which is part learned from the world and part given by God.

Answer 8

The Bible is your guide for how God wants you to live your life. It is a history book in a sense, but only up to a certain time. It does not teach math. It does not teach basic science. That is not it's purpose. We send our children to school to learn math, reading, etc. to be able to function in our society and to be able to get a job. They don't contridict eachother, they compliment eachother.

Answer 9

The history given in the Bible is obviously not all-encompassing, and neither is the science. Grammar, social sciences, gym, health, etc. are not taught in the Bible. The Bible is not what anyone would use as their sole teaching tool, as it was not intended for that purpose. I tried to answer this question as nicely as I could, because it was clear that it was a facetious and sarcastic question.

Answer 10

Great question!

But I think a few feel they need a basic diploma, otherwise why indeed would they attend school. Since their 2000+ yr old bits and pieces of myths and legends contains all the knowledge of the universe!