Do you think teaching about different religions in school would help?

Question

In my school, one of the teachers teahes a unit on what Islam is becuase he thinks it will help us realize Muslims aren't crazy evil terrorists. I started thinking about all the religions people don't know about or understand, like Wicca, Satanism, Hinduism, etc. Do you think briefly explaining TRUTHFULLY what these religions are in school could help, even a little? Note that I don't mean teaching and trying to convert, just explaining them.

Just to point out, I know that it would be hard to do so, but I'm saying that it would teach as many religions as possible (all that can be reasearched and aren't something super-secret and impossible to find out anything about) and probably be its own class.

Answer 1

It would be a good idea, but it would cause problems with people who only want Christianity indoctrinated to the captive audience of impressionable kids.

Answer 2

If you're talking public high school, I'm against it. It's a very volatile issue and most high schoolers really aren't ready to be mature about it. There's also a lot of sensitivity to the subject. The Christianity in which one person was raised may differn considerably to the description such a class would give for Christianity. ("truthful" here is highly subjective. My mother's truthful desctiption and Rev. Phelps truthful description will vary hugely, even though they are both Christians. How does an outsider determine which is really the true Christianity?) Also, which religions would be taught? You can't teach them all, and I think there would be a constant debate as to which ones are good choices.

It boils down to this: high schoolers are required to be in high school. College students are not, so teach it in college when your audience has the option of being there or not.

Answer 3

Much hatred exists in the world because of misunderstanding. I do agree that making students take a world religions course would open their eyes not only to the variety of human belief but would also give them some insight into the complexity of human culture that religion is a part of.

As a religious studies scholar, I get very upset with the amount of prejudice and misinformation that gets circulated. Fine to speak of violence by Islamic extremists but what do you call a group of idiots who bomb a Hindu temple "by accident" thinking it was a mosque? I'm not making that up. It happened in Hamilton ON just after 9/11. Muslim women in head scarves were abused in the grocery stores. Some ended up so afraid they wouldn't leave the house. Now THAT'S real insanity.

To me religion is no less important than history, politics, grammar, foreign languages, or science. If we are not teaching about various religions then we need to teach tolerance for others and their diverse opinions.

The late Pierre Elliot Trudeau (former Prime Minister of Canada) taught his son Justin "never attack the man" in reference to mocking someone else's ideas. One may not agree but at least respect the right of others to believe in what they believe is right.

VB8

Answer 4

To be quite honest - a lot of Religious Education teachers in schools do not except "minor" religions as real ones, and do not take quotes from them seriously.
I myself am in my final GCSE year and during debates in my R.E classes, i try to include quotes and references from other religious books. (I happen to be studying Satanism at the moment so i tend to use quotes from the satanic bible ++ i do realize that this really shouldn't come under minor religions) Unfortunately my R.E teacher is a devote Christian - seriously not open to new ideas - and whenever i make a point(a real one, not just a joke) she takes offense to the fact that i am using quotes from what she describes as "a book of lies".

This sort of dismissal annoyed me to the point of me going to my head of year to complain about religious prejudice. (I did have to make the point that i wasn't an actual firm believer in satanism) but again it was dismissed as rubbish.

It may just be my school which acts like this - although due to most peoples opinions of what satanism is i wouldn't be surprised if Religious teachers from other schools act much in the same way.

If the school syllabus changed to include these religions it would be a miracle if my RE teacher actually taught those topics. She is so caught up in how true Christianity is that she is "greatly disturbed" by some of the guidelines(whatever the word is) that the catholic church lay down - even though its not that different to her own.

Answer 5

I am in Scotland and in our schools this is exactly what they do we have multi cultural schools and although they are chistian based ( merely due to the origins ) they do teach about different culture and religion they even have lunches for those who are on religious diets and encourage the other children to try those foods etc the children at these schools are the most compassionate i have seen in regards to cultural differences xxx sadly though they do not teach my own religion lol ... but i am trying to change that

Answer 6

Why can't they have World Religions as a required, or at least recommended, course? I think it would do our youth a lot of good to learn about the different opinions and beliefs of other people- and not just the big three, but other ones as well.

I took a world religions course while I was in school, and I learned quite a bit. I would have my children do the same.

Answer 7

Yes, I think that would be a good idea as long as the religions were studied for educational purposes only; and not an attempt to convert.

Answer 8

We didnt have this option in my school because it was so small but I think in many larger schools and on college campuses they have comparitive religion classes. As for Elementary and Middle school kids, im sure it would help however you'll never get it to pass with parents. and offering it as an optional class for those age groups would only show low numbers i think.

Answer 9

Religion and it's teaching belongs in the home and the church; not in school. Schools are for education and learning.....not for studying fairytales and such.

And, the teacher who is explaining Islam is not teaching religion but, rather, is trying to explain why many radical Islamics turn to violence. This subject is very appropriate in our world right now.....thanks to George Bush.

Answer 10

At my school we learn about Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism and Humanism. Personally, I think it's interesting to learn about different faiths.