Christians: Do you feel persecuted by those who want to take religion out of schools? (Read details)?

Question

Please give a well thought-out answer, this is an honest question. Is it religion you want in schools, or simply your own version of religion?

If religion should be taught in schools, then shouldn't it be an elective course in comparative religions with teachings including atheism and agnosticism as well? Why? Because all have to do with belief or non-belief of God or spirituality.

DZE - You are avoiding the question with circular logic. Is Christianity (and Christianity ONLY) going to save the school systems? Or, at the very least (though we are still the lowest scoring of most democratic nations) we began to get religion out of schools in the 60s. Have you checked the test scores between now and then?

Bula'ia - My point exactly. :-) You have an absolutely beautiful name, by the way.

Answer 1

I don't feel persecuted by those who want to take religion out of schools, but I do feel persecuted by other things.

Remember, this country was created as a Christian nation, and the freedom of religion was freedom of Christian religion originally.

When we held teachers up to highest moral values of Christianity, our school troubles included chewing gum in the classroom and not getting homework done. Look at us now. We have metal detectors for gun control. YIKES.

They take the ten commandments out of public places, but leave artifacts for other religions. I am offended when someone in Florida gets away with covering her face for a drivers license when that card is proof of identification. I am offended when homosexuals can show public display of affection. I am offended when someone says the name of the Lord in vain. If you stand up for your Christian rights, you are hushed because "you might offend someone". Actually, when this happens, it is I who feels persecuted. Persecution? Ask any high school student today who tries to pray before their lunch. The teasing and herassment is aweful.

The persecution the Christians are getting is little by little. It is compared to the frog in water. Put a frog in boiling water, and he jumps out. Put a frog in cold water and he swims and swims. Slowly turn up the heat, he adapts. Turn it up more, adapts again, but keep turning it up, he allows himself to be boiled.

Christians used to have a line drawn and would not cross it. However, a little was given, then a little more, and still more. We need to take back out place and hold firm to our beliefs. Christianity should not be a threat to anyone. If it is, it is only because they are feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Personally, your point is exactly why I would not want religion taught in school, however, if a Christian student wants to pray, let them. Giving students a quiet time to pray does not influence Christianity at all. If an atheist wants to sit quiet and not pray, then that is their choice.

When I was a child, a school bus used to be able to take us to a church for an hour to have Bible study. I loved it. Now, the schools are trying to prevent this. Of course parents have to sign the permission slip, but a local principal tried to still prevent them from going.

In short, you don't have to take religion out of schools to persecute the Christian, but the Christian is being persecuted all the time. I have even lost my job once because I didn't swear. This made other employees uncomfortable, so I was fired. That is persecution!

Answer 2

I went through a lot of trouble when I was in high school trying to make people see the logic in what I am about to say...

I am christian, and I do not think that religion should be taught in schools. The trouble with the seperation of church and state is that the only religion that I've noticed being seperated is Christianity. I was forced to learn about many other religions in history classes, and to be taught that evolution was the absolute truth in science classes. I was kept from arguement, and I was told that if I refused to learn the material, I would fail.

In english class, I was even forced to read malcolm X, and then told that I could not discuss the book from anything but either an atheist stand point or a muslim one.

If there is going to be a seperation of church and state, let's seperate ALL religions from our childrens educational experience. I don't appreciate the fact that in my school it was practically taught that all religions are okay except christianity.

Answer 3

Personally I am fine with religion being out of schools. I am a Christian and am perfectly capable of teaching my child religion. We are bringing her up in a religious household. I don't need her public school teachers attempting to teach her, and honestly I'd prefer to do the sex education teaching as well. I do feel however that my child should not have to sit through a lesson in evolution either. She believes that God created the earth and man and that is what we as Christian parents want. I don't think evolution should be forced on children any more than religion. If you want your child to learn evolution good for you, teach them at home. There, honesty and no irrational Christianity here.

Answer 4

Even though there are some drawbacks to the current status of society (high crime rates and such), one of the most positive things is that the concept of equal rights for everyone is at the forefront, even if we haven't exactly accomplished it yet.

I feel that if more Christians would think about the idea of prayer in school, they would see that its not the great idea that they think it is. For example, how would Protestants feel if the organized Christian prayer that their children were being led in was the Hail Mary? How would more conservative Protestant groups (like Baptists) feel if their children were being led to pray in tongues? Both of these are Christian concepts, and are versions of Christian prayer ... but they are both pretty controversial amongst denominations. If you start teaching Christianity in schools, the question becomes, "What KIND of Christianity?"

Kids should go to school to get an education. I don't have a problem with a comparative World Religions class -- I took one in high school, myself -- but no religion should be endorsed by the school itself, if its a public school.

Answer 5

I do not believe in k-12 schools religion should be per say a course to be taught, as there are many different religions in the world. I do beleive the children should have every right to pray silently, they don't even do the pledge of allegiance anymore, the children are not allowed to talk about God/Jesus or anything religious with any of the teachers or staff or other students, they can talk about immoral and unethical things such as having two mommies or two daddies, but to talk about God they are told NO! These types of things are acceptable in the schools, this is what they are teaching the children verbally or through books in the library is acceptable. To me in the Bible it clearly states it is against this type of behavior, it is a worldly world and Christians have to be spiritual people in the world. What happen to freedom of speech and freedom of religion? The public schools and Government officials rank apparently higher than God.

Answer 6

Is it an honest question?
Or is bias already built into your intellectual framework?

Religion is defined as: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe.

Whether 'atheist', 'agnostic', or belonging to some faith... everyone has a 'religion' - and that 'belief' system impacts their teaching, lifestyle, etc. because it is fundamentally their point of origin for everything they do or say.

As a 'christian', I do not feel persecuted, just tired of double-standards. For example, here in Dearborn, Michigan approx. two years ago, an islamic boy converted to christianity; after being baptized, the high school principal at Fordson called the boy into his office where he threatened the boy and wanted him to recant his 'christianity'. There were no reprecussions on the principal, he's still there... If that were to unfortunately happen with a 'christian' principal, he would have rightfully been tossed out on his touchas.

IRT the above definition of 'religion' - it is already taught in schools by everyone tacitly -
To teach it explicitly, the questions will always arise: from whose bias, by whose authority, etc.
As lousy as our educational system is: I'd suggest they leave all the 'explicit' religions out of the public school system, and leave it to the parents; just like they should with 'sex' and other 'personal' issues. Results since the days of Dewey are certainly lacking in efficacy.

Answer 7

I don't think religion has a place in public schools. However, if a person's religion requires prayer at certain times, or other observances that need to be made throughout the day, a person should be able to do that. If religious education is going to take place it should be done in a fair and intelligent way, as non-biased as possible, and in a way that is seeking to educate, not condemn or convert. Unfortunately most people (at least in the U.S.) are ignorant of the basic tenets of the world's major religions. Atheism and Agnosticism are systems of thought, not religions.

Answer 8

I think that if religion is to be taught in schools then it should be an elective course. Because if we taught Christianity in schools then how is that different from what we want the atheists to stop?

We would be forcing our beliefs on people and that is not right. No doubt i would like for it to be taught, but the truth is, that we are depriving other places from their relgion and so it should be taught at home, or as an elective and kids could choose.

Answer 9

To answer the question: As a Christian, no I don't feel persecuted by those who want to take religion out of schools.

I don't mind comparative religion classes taught from the high school level on. Kids under 12 generally aren't able to do abstract thinking (still concrete) so I think it would be more valuable when they are old enough to think critically.

Also, as a Christian I value the opportunity for them to be taught about all kinds of religions, including what agnostics and atheists believe.

Their primary source of learning about Christianity will be from us, their parents as well as from church.

In addition, our public school has "Bible Club" once a week, right after school, on school grounds. This in no way interferes with "separation of church and state" and any group (Jews, Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, etc.) is equally welcome to hold their after-school meetings on school grounds.

People seriously misunderstand the "separation" rules (much to the delight of the ACLU) and as a result, people think that they are not allowed to practice their religion at school. Not the case.

But as for persecution, I feel more of it in 15 minutes of R&S here at Y!A than I do from those who want religion taken out of schools. Those that are advocating taking religion out of schools generally do not (metaphorically) spit in my face .

Answer 10

Because nobody is going to agree with what religion is taught and there will always be someone that disagrees with what they children are being exposed to. So we might as well just keep it out of schools. Unless it is a private religious school that you choose and pay your money for your child to attend. Then you have that right to decide what your child gets taught. I personally would not want religious teaching in school because if I wanted my child to learn that I would send him to church.

Answer 11

Religion is taught in schools beyond high school grade. I believe this is the best option for religion outside of the home. I personally believe this should remain in the individuals hands and not be in the system itself(outside of college