NO !!! there are literally Hundreds of different religions and sects of Religions out there. IN a Public school classroom, there can be as many as a DOZEN different religions represented by the students in that class. Heck just think of the trainging nightmare that it'd be for a teacher who had to go out and LEARN every possible religion that his/her students could follow. No one would live long enough to complete the training that would be needed. One does not just pick up a book (NOT even the Bible) and suddenly possess the knowledge, skill and experience to properly teach much more than three or four religions, can you imagine that difficulty magnified by hundreds? Even Christianity is NOT just ONE religion. there are almost 100 sects of Christianity, each with their OWN versoin of teachings that differ from sect to sect. Classes in comparative Religion have been attempted by a number of schools and even those have failed miserably because there are SO many different religions out there that MOST were omitted in the text just because there was NO room for them all. I was asked, when I was a Social Studies teacher< to teach such a class. I read the text book all the way through and just threw up my hands because my OWN religion (wicca) was mentioned in only ONE sentence. "Wicca is a religion that worships both a Goddess and a God.". That was it. Now, Being a Wiccan, I KNOW that there is SO much more to my Religion than just those few words. And YOU want religion taught in Public Schol? Imagine the outroar from Evangelical Christian parents when they find out that their child is going to have to learn about Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, Wicca, Satanism, Houdou, Voudoo. etc..
Religion, while important, is just one of those things that must be taught in the home and in the Religious institutions, NOT a Public school. School is for learning the BASIC curriculum. Teachers have a hard enough time just keeping up with the advances in their subject areas without having to learn a thousand different Religions as well. Who's going to PAY for all this additional training and education by the teachers? You certainly can't expect THEM to pay for it. Not for the pittance that they earn as teachers already. What you're asking is completely impossible and out of reach for 99% of ALL school districts just in terms of financial feasability.
Raji the Green Witch
2007-06-29 17:05:35
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answer #1
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answered by Raji the Green Witch 7
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If it were to be taught (not practiced) in schools, I wouldn't have a problem with all religions (or at least major ones or ones that had significant impact on history) being taught in the last two years of public high school as some kind of history or culture elective. Definitely not in public elementary or junior high because children are all too willing to fully believe in something because they're told to, and while teaching religion the kids might feel pressured to take the learning as preaching, and worship something they really have no idea about.
People really need to be aware of each other's cultures and religions (or lack there of) because ignorance is deadly.
However, colleges have world religion classes already that people can take. If these were taught in high school, it could mean more exposure for this type of knowledge, meaning less ignorance regarding the issue of religious intolerance.
So I think it couldn't hurt to teach religion in high school as part of history and culture, but that's as far as it should go.
2007-06-29 16:42:01
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answer #2
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answered by ima.bubble 3
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I am a Christian, yet I believe that religion should not be taught in elementary, middle or high schools as part of a general curriculum. The reason I believe this way is because if one teaches one religious belief, then all beliefs would have to be taught, in order to be fair. As a parent, I would not want my child to be taught something that is contrary to the way I believe and want to teach my child. Likewise, I respect the rights of parents who do not believe as I do to want the same thing for their children as I do for mine (to be taught the way that I see fit). I don't believe that the rights of parents with regard to religious beliefs is something that should be taught in the schools.
There are 2 exceptions: I believe if a child is attending a private school where the parents know ahead of time that a particular religious belief will be taught, then that parent is already signifying their approval by allowing their child to attend that school, knowing full well what will be taught. The other exception is high school, when teenagers are old enough to form their own opinions and come to their own conclusions of varying religious beliefs, IF and only IF the varying beliefs are not presented as facts, but merely as a general study of religions of the world. It's important to prepare our kids to live in this world, and to not give any education whatsoever to the varying religions that exist on this planet is to cripple our children socially when they attempt to coexist with those who may or may not believe as they do.
2007-06-29 16:39:49
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answer #3
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answered by Chimichanga to go please!! 6
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I believe that youth - ages 14 and up should have the chance during the day to attend an institue of religion for whatever denomination they choose. Institutes or Seminarys can be set up off school campus for those that wish to attend.
Many High Schools in Utah allow this for Catholic and LDS students. It would be offered for other students but there has yet to be demand or requests for it. The schools simply allow the students to have one class period open for a personal choice of attendance with an institute or personal study time.
2007-06-29 16:36:18
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answer #4
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answered by microbioguy 3
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properly, as quickly as I lived in Pakistan we had a non secular classification. We had this super e book that talked of mainstream religions in an quite purpose way. No deeper philosophies, specifically the fundamentals, the background of each faith and the tenants of theory accompanied up by the documents as to the form of followers. I enjoyed taking that classification and that i could fairly like my youngster to attend some thing comparable. regrettably, right here in Bosnia we are dealing with a situation with multi-ethinc identities (right here, for some strange reason, faith equals ethnicity or perhaps nevertheless i'm an atheist I fall under Muslim type by way of fact of my call). the rustic is divided into areas that are in reality not something yet parts of land with one faith as majority. I stay interior the Muslim majority area and purely Islam is being taught in faculties. It frustrates the hell out of me! i'm scuffling with the tooth and nail by signing petitions to introduce a course like the only I took and to make it needed on a rustic point (if faith classification should be needed, then a minimum of make it approximately all religions). same is going for the Roman Catholic or the Orthodox Christian areas - they practice their variations of Christianity purely and don't complication even declaring different religions. those training are actually not something yet Sunday college fairly. No ask your self we shop waging wars interior the Balkans. we are intentionally generating fundamentalist generations.
2016-09-28 14:55:30
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answer #5
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answered by ? 4
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Of course not. America is based on the fact, that we all believe in something, and politics don't interfere. If we taught religion in schools how would the atheists feel like, how about the people that don't agree with the religion being taught? It would create way too many problems.
2007-06-30 03:36:22
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answer #6
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answered by cookie lady 3
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Although a Christian, I would have to say No, I do not think religion should be taught in school unless the school is specifically owned and operated by a religious organization. Even then, I would rather that IF a religion is taught at all, it would be taught at home by the parents of the child.
I am not in favor of organized religions because I believe they are creations of man, not of God. I much prefer a deep and abiding personal relationship with God and believe that He will lead us where we need to be from a doctrine standpoint.
2007-06-29 16:38:59
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answer #7
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answered by Poohcat1 7
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societies and individuals teach what they believe is important They do this by what they say and what they don't say. If theistic religion is not taught then only atheistic and humanistic beliefs would be thought to be important. While this may seem alright and applauded by some here it would not be in keeping with the majority of the country. The prevention of theology being taught would be a hecklers veto causing the majority to be held hostage by the whims of the minority. Is this the American way? Is this democracy?
2007-06-29 16:40:49
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answer #8
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answered by David F 5
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No.
It is too difficult to present a persepctive on religion that is acceptable to all parties involved. If (and when) a person is old enough to think for themselves, they should study religion for themselves.
However, schools should teach the basics of psychology, philosophy, and the meaning of myth. At least then they will have a fighting chance at understanding what religion *is*, and they won't wander through life asking inane questions like "why do people believe in fairy tales?"
2007-06-29 16:36:51
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answer #9
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answered by NONAME 7
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not in public schools. No matter what religion is chosen to be taught, someone will be left out. Additionally, just because peole call themselves a certain religion doesn't mean that they believe in the same things that people of the "same" religion believe in. Teaching religion is best left up to parents and professionals who have studied that specific religion.
2007-06-29 16:37:22
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answer #10
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answered by Grits 2
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