Would you approve teachings about God...?

Question

in public schools, if it was proven that children who believe in a god (no specific religion) are less likely to commit crimes?

Would you, as a parent put asside your own beliefs about an existing or non existing God for the safety of your child?

i'm not talking about teaching a religion... i'm talking about teaching about a God in general. not about being a christian, Jewish, Muslim, ect.

Answer 1

No; categorically, NO. School is NOT the place to teach religion. I certainly approve the teaching of ETHICAL behavior, but religion has NO business in school.

Religion is the purvue of the parents, the religious institution, and the family. I do NOT want somebody teaching their beliefs to my children, and I would fight it tooth and nail if they tried it.

Answer 2

I don't know where you live, but I live in the U.S. where we have a constitutional separation of government and religion. Religion cannot be taught as fact in our public schools unless the Constitution is amended. This protects everyone, theist and atheist, from having someone else's beliefs taught to their children.

I think it's interesting how you cover yourself by writing "if it was proven." People who aren't paying attention may read that as "since it was proven."

Of course, it has not been proven since it is not so. For example, one can't get much more religious than the clergy. They're praying all the time, reading their books, praying their prayers. Yet, clergy lie, cheat, steal, and even rape children -- lots of children.

If exposure to religion, prayer, commandments, etc., actually make anyone less likely to commit crimes, surely one would expect that no clergy would commit crimes. Yet they have, they do, and they will.

So much for your silly question.

Answer 3

Considering that there are for a fact more crimes committed by people of faith than there are committed by atheists, of course my answer is no, I don't approve.

Atheists have never declared a holy war. What exactly were the Crusades? And explain to me what the whole war on terrorism is based on (other than making money for George Dubyah's special interest groups). By the way, did you know that Hitler was Christian?

I absolutely do not approve of pushing ANY religion under ANY pretense in public schools. That kind of foot-in-the-door thinking is what put the words "Under God" in the Pledge of Alliegience. Or, come to think of it, "In God We Trust" on American currency.

But I'll support any bill that will keep religion out of our schools. I'll tell you that much.

Answer 4

No way. Religion belongs in the home and the church, temple or mosque....that's it!!

Religion is, at best, a personal choice and at worst an invasion of privacy.

Besides, the Constitution has something to say about it.

Religion is opiate for the masses - and that's it. If you think religion will cut down on crime, then teach your children in your own home and leave mine alone - they don't have a problem.

Answer 5

about 40-50 some years ago, prayer was allowed, and even supervised by teachers in some public schools. Then it was outlawed by judicial ruling. violent crime both in and after school has risen faster than population since then. I would say that is an indication that belief in God(or even just hearing about him on a regular basis) reduces a persons tendency towards violence.

my children are young, not yet in school(all 3 of them) I would like to home school them because of the violence, and hatred that the public school is breathing into the next generation. Without prayer, public school is a failure.

Answer 6

I would approve only because I believe in God. The biggest concern would be how is God being represented and taught. There are many religions that teach varying versions of God. I would be reluctant to trust that every teacher were using sound Christian doctrine. Its a tricky situation. I would never put aside my beliefs for safety. My faith in a true and powerful God will protect my kids in every situation, including school.

Answer 7

Provided they were taught about the many different Gods and Goddesses that are out there, that have been and are being worshiped rather than just the christian God. And provided it was in a purely educational format. School is for education not church and kids do not need to get preached at while at school.

Answer 8

The problem is that according to the FBI, 84% of all prisoners in the U.S. are Christians, while only 0.21% are atheists. So your theory would be disproved. Since atheists make up 6% of the population, atheists are 28 times less likely to go to prison (commit crimes) than Christians. That's a sad fact.

Answer 9

I think it would be great that all kids receive a teaching about all of the various faiths of the world, including their respective god(s) irregardless of one's own personal faith. However, it's up to the parents to teach their children about the truth of the one true God of the Bible.

Bar B - Where in the Constitution does it have something to say about this? I would like to know.

Answer 10

The WTC terrorists believed in god (Allah). The VT shooter also believed in god (Jehovah). It's hard to think of a terrorist who didn't believe in god. Maybe a better solution would be for theists to put aside their beliefs and have the Schools actively teach that god doesn't exist and that all religions are myths.

Answer 11

That is the reason for separation of church and state. No religion or belief should be taught in school...that is for parents to teach at home. Creation and evolution should not be taught in school either.