Should Religion classes be offered in Public Schools as elective courses?

Question

Do you think there should be religion classes offered to high school students as an elective course? When i say religion classes I mean two things:

1) Background course that exposes students to many types of religions and theological ideas.

2) Course on a specific Religion (Christianty, Muslim, etc.) that gives main theological points and background of religion. This course could also serve as a study to expand the knowlegdge that the student has in the religion (Bible Study, etc.)

What do you think about these two ideas? I have to write a research paper on this so I wanted some other opinions and perspectives. Please be specific about your opinion and tell me WHY you think the way that you do. If you use any statistics please provide your source.

Many of you are going for number one which I really like. I'm a strong based Christian but I LOVE to learn about other religious (and non-religious) beliefs. This interest me a lot. Many of you are also saying that the historical part of religions is already offered in some history classes -- I "learned" very little about Muslims in 7th grade (at which point in time, most of us 7th graders weren't mature enough to actually be interested and take the information seriously) and very little about Catholics in 9th grade (which was only one form of Christianity and we learned very very little). .so over the course of my history classes I've "learned" about 2 systems of beliefs. Therefore, I think this type of course would be great to educate me about religions I know nothing about and possibly about religions I've never even heard of! In addition, I think that atheisim(sp?) should even be taught in this type of course.

The second I really like a lot, too because it would give me even more time to advance and grow in my own faith. However, I can see that many complex problems would stem from such a course. .especially in high school.

Answer 1

Is #1 not part of a general sociology course. I would think that it would be required at least for university bound students. In order to understand the classical lit. it would seem a working knowledge would be necessary.

Answer 2

It would be a nice way to familiarize kids with other cultures. And it would be nice if they could get this information, along with the other theories that are out there. They'd actually be able to weigh the different ideas and make informed decisions - maybe. I took a philosophy class like that in college. The problem was that the professor, who happened to be a Christian, didn't really understand the other religions that were covered. And I don't see how there would be enough time in one course to cover all the religions, as well as the various versions of Christianity. As long as the class was kept as an elective, it might not get too many people up in knots about it. But if it did, well, most boards of education listen to the community, and if a community isn't behind something, it goes out the window.

Answer 3

I think it is a great idea! I think there are a lot of High School students that would love the oportunity to study how religion came about and the history of the different religions. I know I have several of my students especaily Jr's and Sr's that would jump at a chance to take a religions class. About my only concern would be how to make sure that they place a teacher with an open mind and a broad background that would not "promote" one religion over another. That would have to be watched really close. I mean the teacher and students could share thier personal beliefs but they would need to make it very clean that is was thier beliefs not facts. Several times in my science classes we have talked religion and I always make it perfectly clear that while I have my own beliefs and do not mind sharing them, students should listen to thier parents and other officials and make up thier own minds and not cave into pressure by anyone. I also think that it is easier to deal with a belief system if one studies it and understands a non bias history of it. Wheather it is believing in Christianity or fighting against another.

Answer 4

The highschool that I went to offered a course you had to be a Junior or Senior to take called "World Religions". It taught the students about most religions of the world. I thought it was a good idea because it made students more open-minded.

I don't think that the single religion class would be such a good idea. There would be the possibility of people joining the class just to create controversy. Plus the teacher might try to push their beliefs on others when they're a completely different religion.

Answer 5

I like the idea of religion as an elective. I think students would hate it to be a required course and being an elective generally means you only take it if it interests you. Personally, I'm atheist. I would still like a general course on religion just so that I know more about them than I do now. I think it would be very useful to know the backgrounds and main ideas but not in a way that it's shoved down your throat to believe it.

Leave it like an open discussion so nobody feels threatened... It'd bring up a lot of interesting discussion. In school, I know religion was a pretty big issue when it was talked about, which was pretty rare. It also got kids talking that generally don't talk. I think it's interesting to learn what other people believe in... I just hate being criticized because of what I believe in.

I ramble... Hehe.

Answer 6

No, I don't think it would be wise to have specific religion classes. Imagine right now...if there were a class in Muslim studies with all that's going on in the world. I'm not against teaching ABOUT religions, (and even Athiesm) as long as they made it a study of different religions, and not a Bible study/Koran study/Torah study class. ..but I think if it turned into that...it could cause major incidents when students start to debate things they've learned outside the classroom.

I just remember I took a 'Bible as Literature' class in college, and the instructor was NOT CAPABLE of teaching it AS a literature class. His fundamentalist ideas bled through and he gave everyone who didn't agree with his BELIEFS...a lower grade. I must admit...I got a C on my first paper. The next ones, I wrote with the understanding that I was writing for a fanatic and got a B in the class. That was YEARS ago, and I'm still ticked about it.

Answer 7

As an Atheist, I think the idea is interesting, but that it would never work. As is, there the various religions are fighting for supremacy. If you were to have on religion course, there would be debates going on at every second about 'MY god says this' or 'the Bible MEANS this, not THAT'. Even if you were to have separate classes for each denomination, there would still be problems, not to mention that your taxes would shoot sky high to pay all of those teachers.

Plus, I think that, it's very unlikely that what happens in Theology class would stay in Theology class. Your high school would be Sunday mass in disguise.

Answer 8

If the 'religion classes' specifically just focus on the facts of the religions instead of preaching, then why not?

Having background information in different types of religions help people understand one another and have greater respect for another one's belief.

A downside might be the number of students actually enrolling in these classes. As interesting it sounds, many students choose to take more useful courses.

Answer 9

Sounds fine to me. This is already offered as an elective in half of U.S. states and the public schools within. I think it is fine, so long as the school does not adopt or promote the beliefs of a specific group. We still have a separation of church and state, and it's important to make sure the tax dollars of every citizen is responsibly spent - not used to promote a religious or partisan agenda.

P.S. To lindsay rae: Evolution best supports the evidence. Read something instead of taking a defensive stance without doing the research.

Answer 10

Idea 1 is an excellent plan. The main impetus should be focused on free thought of a higher power. Providing the students with an infinitely diverse set of viewpoints and letting them reach their own decision. A problem may occur in finding a teacher who can set aside his/her own biases. I am an atheist but still searching for some power beyond scientific explanation.

Answer 11

Religions are already studied to a degree in World History classes. There's a difference between offering a religion class for knowledge and offering it because you everyone becomes whatever religion your studying. If it's an elective and students could choose to enroll or not and it's taught by someone who is a history teacher and will teach it from a historical point of view then why not?