Christians: If religion were to be allowed to be taught in public schools...?

Question

...would you encourage equal time to be taken in the curriculum to cover all the religions of the world in an unbiased way? Or would you just want your Christian God to be taught? If you would want your kids 'exposed' to the knowledge of all the religions, wouldn't you be worried they'd come home one day and decide that they're Buddhists or something? Allow me the pleasure of your thoughts on the subject.

Answer 1

1) No. There's not enough time to teach all the religions of the world. I'm more concerned about my children knowing science, mathematics, history, etc that they can use to get a job, than religious concepts. I'll teach my kids and let them learn on their own free time for religion.

2) No. I wouldn't want any religion taught, because there is bound to be unequal treatment. I thought we learned this fifty years ago when "Separate but equal" was struck down.

3) If my kids came home and told me they were becoming Buddhists, I would listen with open ears to whatever they had to say, and tell them it's their decision what to believe, not mine. They would still be my kids and it wouldn't change a thing for me. We would just be on different spiritual paths, which I can wholly accept, if not rejoice.

If my kid has my passion for Christianity at a young age, I would be scared, because that kid has basically copied what I have without much independent thought. I would rather have a rebellious child than an automaton doing whatever I tell him to do.

Answer 2

When I was in Gymnasium (no, not gym class; Gymnasium is college-preparatory high school) in Germany, we had a class called Ethik, or "Ethics". In Protestant Ethics, the text book was die Bibel as translated by Luther. It was something like the German equivalent of the King James Bible. There was also a Catholic Ethics class that used the Bible and the Catechism of the RCC and a general Ethics class that used a book with excerpts from the Koran, the Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita, the writings of the Baha'ullah, the Dhammapada, the Bible, and other religious texts. The general Ethics class was very informative and unbiased. Modern Germans are very PC about tolerance.

Classes like these three would be very beneficial in American schools, but too many people misinterpret the First Amendment to mean that religion has no place in the secular sphere. It would be noteworthy to these people that the first private schools in America were opened by Germanic Catholics (mostly from what is now Bavaria and Austria) because Protestant religious ethics were taught in American public schools.

I am a Christian, but I teach my children about Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and the various pagan pantheons. It does them good to understand other people's beliefs, and my wife and I are confident enough in the correctness of our faith that we do not feel threatened by the possibility of our children deciding to be Buddhist or something. I welcome my kids' questions and we research the answers together, going directly to that religion's texts for the answers. More information about religion in our schools can only be a good thing. It is sad to see so many young people today who can't tell the difference between a Sikh and a Muslim or between an Amish person and a Hasid. We should be able to understand these people's beliefs and thereby show them the proper respect their religion demands (like not offering a kid with side curls and tsitsiyot a cheeseburger!).

Answer 3

In a intense college Anthropology class, IJR develop into taught slightly some few different faith. As Anthropology is the learn of guy and way of existence, faith develop into between the themes taught. in this unit on faith, they taught different advent thoughts, which consists of ADAM AND EVE, and a few interior sight American ones, and a few from Africa. Creationism and Evolution have been taught element by utilising element, besides as some different faith based ideals. regrettably, IJR did not save up with Anthropology over the years and has forgotten countless what develop into taught. in this feeling, in a learn of guy and way of existence in a scientific way, it rather is acceptable and had to coach faith in public colleges. Now, if there develop right into a class strictly approximately every person particular faith, that's a different count number completely. IJR might wish that no count number if it rather is taught in any respect, it could be an non-compulsory and not an important class.

Answer 4

Yes, absolutely.

I think that when a kid is in highschool one of the required classes should be a year long "world religions" and cover the three Abrahamic traditions, Buddhism, Hinduism, and maybe a few other ones as well. Any of the largest religions today.

It should be taught from a non-objective, informative point of view- just giving the basic history of the religion and how it stands in todays world. Have different leaders from each religion come in and tell something about thier religion, but not to push it on them, just to inform them of their basic belief system and how it affects thier lives.

Honestly, I feel we Americans are an ignorant bunch of people who are utterly uneducated about other people's religions and viewpoints stemming from their beliefs. We tend to say "because the Bible says so" too much. We lose respect for this.
If we started with our kids and gave them a year long required class, some of this hatred and ignorant BS that is seen on the nightly news would no longer prevail.
People can only gain tolerance if they educate themselves from a non-objective point of view.

Answer 5

I would like to see a broad scope of teaching the beliefs of all the world's religions (even the so-called controversial ones) presented in unbiased form to our young people. I am not in any way going to force my child to believe what I do if he forms another belief system based on knowledge, sound thinking on his part, and a belief that comes from his heart.
I found it interesting you brought up Buddhists. I am Catholic, but love the Buddhist philosophy....practice a lot of it. I believe it is fine to take from the buffet of religious beliefs those that "fit" me and think it is ok for others to do the same.

Answer 6

That's many Christians' mistake. They seem to think their way is the only way. And if they read their own book as well as the other books they would find many similarities. The one's who deny this are the one's who have been brainwashed to think they are the truth and all others are the devil. I have been called a fake christian or non-christian before because I refuse to think as they think. But if that's the case, so be it. Remember LUKE 6:37!

And to answer your question, I would want my children to be educated. That means learning many religious teachings because I think that is the key to salvation, not being a moron!

I might not be qualified to truly answer though, since I am not a real christian, according to the fanatics.

Answer 7

Actually, I took a world history class that did teach religions of the world, it was amazing. I think it's an important subject to be taught and should be taught considering a majority of civilizations are modeled around spiritual belief systems.

My children will be raised within in a christian culture but don't worry about my kids choosing or experiencing other religions. I would support and love them regardless.

Answer 8

I was taught christian religion (and no other) in school, wich made me atheist for a while.

I want my children to have all the informations available, to know everything there is to know. If they would chose to be buddhist, that would be great :) I would have done the same if I could.

I care about moral rules being taught to my child (wich I can do alone, I just need school not to teach my child that racism is good or similar things). I'm sure any god likes moral rules and open minded peopke

Answer 9

If religion was allowed to be taught than it should be the way we citizens of the U.S. believe in just as it would be if we lived in another country we would have to learn there ways and I feel everyone who comes to this country to live needs to learn ours and if they want to learn any other than they can go to a place that teaches that on their own time and money to do so.
I see nothing wrong with some religion taught in public schools as long as it's taught correctly, as there are so many believes today, that if you let that happen there would be so many teaching what they believe and not what is right. If it was done right than that would be fine.

Answer 10

NO !!!!!

its just a [back door ] method to bring christian bible thumpers in to schools

a college here got a 2 million donation to build a ,NONDENOMINATIONAL CHAPEL in a SECULAR COLLEGE.

the person was ask WHO WOULD USE IT

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it will be for all people >>>>BUT<<<< 99.999999% OF THE TIME >THE CHRISTIANS< WILL USE IT---BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MOST HOLLIDAYS AND REASONS FOR SERVICES.
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so you may say all religions will be taught in schools but the GREAT HORDS OF CHRISTIANS WILL DESEND ON THE SCHOOL AND STUDENTS, once ther is a

[OPENING].

GIVE THEM A INCH AND THEY WILL THAKE 10 MILLION MILES

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ow buy the way they put a caralon in the steaple so there is christian brain washing music playing all day long ,sulbiminaly trying to convert the students

in our main city, there are now 3-4 caralons blasting out christian hyms for 1 hour a day all over the city.....no other group would be alowed to blast there music to be heard for a 5 block radious.