What would your arguments be for and against teaching about God and religions in schools?

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InterfaithForums.com-Where your ideas and beliefs count.

I have no objection to teaching about religions in schools, so long as it is clearly identified as a topic among the social sciences, and so long as there is no suggested preference for one over the other. There's nothing wrong with kids learning about other people, other cultures and other points of view. But in a multicultural society, I think that is wrong to inculcate "better/worse" dichotomies. That must be left to the individual.

However, teaching about God is another matter altogether, since God is generally defined by each individual religion differently. Thus, I would imagine any genuine teaching about God would have to be done in a religious setting.


Aside from which, I don't see theology as a "real" subject anyway, since the object of the course of study maintains a steadfast invisibility.

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evangelicalhumanist: Greek "eu"=good and "angelos"=messenger. Spreading the good news of Humanism.

We actually has two such courses added to the high school curriculum, and I thought they were both appropriate. The first one that was suggested was a "Bible as Literature" class. Because the Bible has been a major influence on Western Civilization, many books, art and architecture are inspired from it. Students with no concept of Biblical stories may miss allegories in classics like "Moby Dick", or subtle ambiances such as in "Last of the Mohikans". The problem was that the promoters of this course made a stupid comment and said:

"Afterall, its the oldest history book in existence". So many, including myself, wanted to make sure it was not advertised as a "history" course, but as a "literature" course. The district also thought it important to balance that out with a "World Religions" course.

I think these are correct ways to approach it in the public school system. Next year will be the first year of implimentation, so we'll see how it goes. I actually expect more concern from the conservative side if the parameters of the class are adhered to.

-TC

I think general ethics, morality and moral science independent of religion, should be taught in schools.

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You yourself are your only friend. You yourself are your only enemy.

---Krishna ( Bhagavad Gita )


“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

---Buddha


The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.

---Thomas Paine

If it is taught as pure knowledge, and incudes all religions, I would value it very much.

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May your awareness be perfection

Also qualities like self-confidence, self-reliance, introspection, diligence, love of learning and wisdom, physical and moral courage, sincerity and honesty, character, an independent mind capable of independent logical and rational thought, individuality, kindness , generosity, perseverance, modesty, strength, firmness of heart, gentleness, unconditional love ,compassion , non-violence,love of nature and animals should be taught to the children, taking role models from all religions and affiliations including their quotes and teachings and cite their examples .

I am sure this will go a long way in nurturing noble qualities in children, and making them grow to be noble people as well.



“Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.”
--Dr. Haim Ginott


To nourish children and raise them against odds is in any time, any place, more valuable than to fix bolts in cars or design nuclear weapons.

--- Marilyn French

__________________
You yourself are your only friend. You yourself are your only enemy.

---Krishna ( Bhagavad Gita )


“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

---Buddha


The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.

---Thomas Paine

I find this most interesting, TC. I agree with you 100% on the value of teaching the Bible as literature, for exactly the reasons you've given. Western literature is littered with biblical references that add depth and richness of meaning to their stories, and that is completely missing without knowledge of the source and context.

The silly remark you mentioned suggests only one of the many problems that will be encountered in teaching the course, however. (By the way, surely the tomb and temple walls of the Egyptians are "histories" and they would have written such things on papyrus, too.)

The biggest danger I can see is that every Christian teacher who approaches the course will be affected by the special awe and reverence in which they hold the book, not as history nor even as literature, but as the Word of God. I strongly doubt that they would be able, over the course of 80 hours (or however many there are .. it's centuries since I was there ) of classroom time.

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evangelicalhumanist: Greek "eu"=good and "angelos"=messenger. Spreading the good news of Humanism.

I have only one problem with teaching the Bible, as literature or anything else, in public classrooms, and that problem has already been stated. The problem is that most people in America are Christian. I don't think that any teacher who is Christian will be able to seperate out their individual feelings about the book. I don't think that any theacher who is Christian will be able to convincingly teach the Bible as "just literature" It would be too difficult to restrain personal feelings.