Should religion be taught in schools?

[The Dark Lord]

Just wondering what everyone thinks. I don't think religion should be taught until children are old enough to understand the concept of God and are free to make their own decisions. My little brother is 5 and is being filled with Nazi-like propaganda about God which I think is unfair and manipulative.

[Severus Snape]

Taught about religion, not that it is truth. Because I think that is impossible for most people I don't think religion should even be taught at all until they can separate education about religion and indoctrination. Its an important distinction.

[Disco Jones]

Learning about religions is a vital part of any social studies curriculum. Education is the greatest weapon against intolerance.

[The Dark Lord]

Learning about religions is a vital part of any social studies curriculum. Education is the greatest weapon against intolerance.

Surely learning about religious prejudices such as homophobia encourages intolerance. I can't find any positive arguments for religion at school as it is just filling children's minds with concepts they can't understand

[UnknownError]

We get taught it and to be fair none of us give a fuck and we laugh and talk through the whole lesson.
Its a waste of time.

[Justwondering]

I don't think that religion should be taught in public schools. If a parent wants their children to learn about religion, they should send them to a school that teaches religion. If there isn't this opportunity then I think that if parents wanted their kids to learn about it that bad, they would find the time and teach them.

[deadpie]

There's a difference between telling about the history of religions and preaching religion.
Yes, I think it's important for students to understand the history and informations on religion, because it's important for people to know what the hell they're talking about when that topic is brought up.
No, I don't think preaching religion in schools should happen. Why? Because people have there own choice to decide what they want to believe. You can leave your beliefs at the front of the door and pick them up when you leave.

[Justwondering]

There's a difference between telling about the history of religions and preaching religion.
Yes, I think it's important for students to understand the history and informations on religion, because it's important for people to know what the hell they're talking about when that topic is brought up.
No, I don't think preaching religion in schools should happen. Why? Because people have there own choice to decide what they want to believe. You can leave your beliefs at the front of the door and pick them up when you leave.

Agreed 100%. I think it's perfectly fine for people to teach about this history of religions, only if they remain unbiased.

[Disco Jones]

Surely learning about religious prejudices such as homophobia encourages intolerance. I can't find any positive arguments for religion at school as it is just filling children's minds with concepts they can't understand

students shouldn't be taught government because there is a possibility for bias, if they want to know how their country operates they should learn it themselves

students shouldn't be taught mathematics because they can't understand it, if they want to develop critical thinking skills that's up to the parents

students shouldn't be taught chemistry because they could use the information to make weapons, if parents want to flirt with such dangerous knowledge they're free to


I see what you're saying, though. The best way to deal with conflicts is to ignore them, rather than teach students about why they exist and let them explore solutions through discussion.

[Atonement]

We are taught about communism in school. Are we told to believe in communism? No. We make up our own minds.

In a secular school, I believe religion should be offered, not necessarily required. It is necessary to our development to understand our world to grasp people's cultures and religions. We shouldn't be forced to believe in the religions, but should be educated on the ideaology.

[Sage]

I think learning the history of religions can be very important in the way of understanding cultural and societal trends/changes over time. Anything beyond that, however, I feel would be better suited to an elective, like Philosophy.

[scuba steve]

I think learning the history of religions can be very important in the way of understanding cultural and societal trends/changes over time. Anything beyond that, however, I feel would be better suited to an elective, like Philosophy.

i also think that it's important to teach religion but not to the extremes on saying which one it true. If it was my choice kids would be taught an wide overview of many religions so they learn the facts and not be plagued with nonsence. like for example the Northern Irish R.E (Religious Education) corriculum is very narrow minded in what you are taught, at the start of secondary school we where told that we would be learning the ways of various traditions and religions throughout the world but instead right through the course and even onto GCSE all we were taught was how special "our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" was. i attended an "integrated" school.... or so they say, not from what i've noticed anyway.

[Jess]

Yes but just talk about it and how it formed. that's what we learn in World affairs. we just learn the history and all that.

[Hanyo]

Yeah, it depends. Its good to learn "about" religions in school, so that people can understand things more, but the school shouldn't be pushing one religion over another.

Parents however, SHOULD teach religion to their kids. If they're not teaching their children well, they're not doing their job as parents.

[Jess]

My parents don't teach us religion.....I don't even know what their religion is.

[Eskimo]

I suppose it's ok, I mean your responsible on how you act from what you learn.

[dead]

Yeah, it depends. Its good to learn "about" religions in school, so that people can understand things more, but the school shouldn't be pushing one religion over another.

Parents however, SHOULD teach religion to their kids. If they're not teaching their children well, they're not doing their job as parents.

A parents job does not have to include religion.

[ShatteredWings]

Learning about, yes. People (paticuraly americans) are far too ignorant on religion outside of Christianity, for the most part.

But I don't think schools should enforce a religion on students.

[Jess]

A parents job does not have to include religion.


yeah I agree.

[INFERNO]

Religion is all around us, perhaps not everyone is religious but society in general is. If students are not taught about this, then they enter the world with pure ignorance. I don't think schools should focus on teaching the details of religions since it can become forceful, cover only a fraction of the religions in the world and may not learn the philosophical underpinnings. I believe if religion is to be taught, it should be from a philosophical and/or historical perspectives.

[Asylum]

i think all religions should be taught at schools like world religions classes this way there isn't a this is what you hsould believe the only right beilfs or you are going to hell, this way kids can choose the path themselves

[INFERNO]

i think all religions should be taught at schools like world religions classes this way there isn't a this is what you hsould believe the only right beilfs or you are going to hell, this way kids can choose the path themselves

If you mean teaching students of the religions, that's not possible given the fact there are so many the education system would automatically have to select which to teach (i.e. main ones and if time some others). Depending on your definition of religion, atheistic and agnostic philosophical religions would be taught, so there would be even more to learn making it even less possible. There is also an issue with as more and more are taught, they'll be taught in less detail or students will be excessively rushed, such as coming to class with the homework being learning, say, 5 religions. Lastly, students would be overloaded in that they'd learn the history, philosophy and practice of all religions, in addition to their other studies.

In theory it's great, have the students learn and decide but getting all that information to stick in their heads and learn in the first place is not practical.

[Hanyo]

At school religion shouldn't be taught for the purpose of getting kids interested in religion, I totally disagree with that. The purpose should be so that kids will have insight and understand other cultures. Its useful for being able to relate to people in international settings and communicating peacefully with people from other parts of the world, or at least understanding why they think the way they do.

Inferno, again, your logic and idealism is quite impressive. You do have a point. I would say though that for the purpose of helping kids to understand the way people think in other parts of the world, it would be best to stick to the largest religions, and stick to a purely academic approach.

Forcing kids to get involved with actual worship practices would of course be wrong. The classes on religion should stick to teaching what the core beliefs are, and the important information related to context etc.

You're right, there's no way to cover EVERY religion, or even EVERY detail of even one religion, but SOME education about it is better than none right? So you have to prioritize, which is why I think its best to stick to the largest religions (because you have more of the world's population represented) and stick to the main points that summarize what the religion is all about.

When I say parents are the one's who should teach religion, I mean that they're the one's who should be telling their kids what religion to follow, and how to worship.

For people who think its not parents' job to teach religion, than who's is it? Government? TV? Church? Nobody??

Really, who would care more about a child's spiritual development than their parents?

[freak4m]

I absolutely agree it shouldn't be taught in schools if you can not choose which religion. In Croatia, it's a school subject, but the problem is that there's no choice which religion (only Christian catholic). So I think it would be better to move it altogether in churches. The only good thing is that it's an optional subject, so you don't have to attend it if you don't want to. Unfortunately, almost every parents impel their children to attend it (I had the luck to choose).

[Perseus]

I say yes, on the subject of history and other things to help you understand the religion. In my AP Human Geography class, a chapter was about religion. It broke it down into universalizing religions and ethnic religions. I learned something new, such as Judaism was an ethnic religion and that Buddhism is a universalizing religion. I also learned a lot of other things about religion in general and not just about the religions. I think it's good to have a class to teach about religions. In my school, there is one. It helps people become tolerant of other religions; to learn new things about a certain religion.

Now, I don't think a certain religion should be preached in the school, unless, y'know, it's a private school, then they have every right to. It's just the people usually teach it wrong because they were taught it wrong.

[Hanyo]

Good point perseus, I didn't think about private schools. They do have the right, but as you say, they usually teach it wrong. That's another reason why its good for parents to be smart on religion and teach their kids, so that kids learn it right. (Not that most parents these days are qualified to teach it either, but they SHOULD be!)

[Disco Jones]

Guys, you can be interested in religion and mythology and gain insight into a culture through that knowledge without actually subscribing to that religion. I'm not a Muslim, but I really enjoy studying Islamic history and practices.

[INFERNO]

Inferno, again, your logic and idealism is quite impressive. You do have a point. I would say though that for the purpose of helping kids to understand the way people think in other parts of the world, it would be best to stick to the largest religions, and stick to a purely academic approach.

Forcing kids to get involved with actual worship practices would of course be wrong. The classes on religion should stick to teaching what the core beliefs are, and the important information related to context etc.

I agree the main religions would have to be taught education on multiple religions were to occur. Ignoring all the political, parental and possibly legal fiasco, there is a concern over simply teaching the history, philosophy and core beliefs. I'm going to use Christianity as an example here. In the bible, the beliefs whether in the Old or New Testament are unclear because either one version of the bible contradicts another version, the translations from the ancient texts are wrong or even within the same version and Testament, there are numerous contradictions.

If one were to summarize the belief, one point could be god is super-strong and cannot ever be beaten by any mortal other than Jesus. Seems fine until you bring into play:

And the Lord was with Judah, and he drove out the inhabitants of
the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the
valley, because they had chariots of iron. (Judges, 1:19)

IF this passage is taught, at the young age of the kids, it's going to confuse them, the same with much of the rest of the bible despite teaching at a very broad and basic level. I'm not against teaching the religion, I'm all for it actually but thinking about it makes me doubt it. Teaching one belief is hard enough, nevermind two or three others.

The historical parts is a little hard to teach without having studied it. You cant reliably expect the kids to be taught something like "Babylon was blown up and now nobody is said to be there" (false but whatever) without teaching what Babylon was. It's akin to teaching "the heart pumps blood to the circle of Willis and this is a very important structure so blood must be pumped there" without explaining what the circle of Willis is.


You're right, there's no way to cover EVERY religion, or even EVERY detail of even one religion, but SOME education about it is better than none right? So you have to prioritize, which is why I think its best to stick to the largest religions (because you have more of the world's population represented) and stick to the main points that summarize what the religion is all about.

Agreed. Just to be a real pain in the ass, I'm going to say one more obvious problem of with so many denominations and interpretations, which one(s) will be taught? This is really for when there are certain denominations that have so much differences it might as well be two different religions altogether. For similar ones, it doesn't matter for this. If you say it won't matter for the distinctly different denominations, then there's a question of is it getting too general? Point is, you're going to have the teacher's bias and denomination along with whatever the school board and system provides.

[JaiBrazier]

Just wondering what everyone thinks. I don't think religion should be taught until children are old enough to understand the concept of God and are free to make their own decisions. My little brother is 5 and is being filled with Nazi-like propaganda about God which I think is unfair and manipulative.
I believe that people should have a choice if they would like to do Religious Education, but that is just in my opinion

[Hanyo]

Sure, it can be an optional class. Even if it doesn't require kids to participate in particular worship practices, I could still see how parents might not want their kids to have to learn about a different religion than their own. So I would say it definitely shouldn't be mandatory, but highly encouraged is fine.

[Bawnji]

Religious preaching should not be involved within the school areas.
However, teaching the ethics and history of religions should be fine.

[Sith Lord 13]

I think learning the history of religions can be very important in the way of understanding cultural and societal trends/changes over time. Anything beyond that, however, I feel would be better suited to an elective, like Philosophy.

I don't think philosophy should be an elective.

[Perseus]

I don't think philosophy should be an elective.

Why not? Sounds kind of interesting, to be honest.

[Sith Lord 13]

Why not? Sounds kind of interesting, to be honest.

I think it should be mandatory. Sorry I didn't make that clearer.

[Perseus]

I think it should be mandatory. Sorry I didn't make that clearer.

Oh, lol. I thought you were gonna say something like that or something else.

[Sith Lord 13]

Oh, lol. I thought you were gonna say something like that or something else.

Something like that or something else?
So basically you thought I was gonna say something? :P
lolz

/tangent

[Perseus]

Something like that or something else?
So basically you thought I was gonna say something? :P
lolz

/tangent

You know what I mean. :P I had a feeling you meant mandatory, but I could have been wrong and you meant something else.

[ilovegirls15]

i think it SHOULD be atleast an option

[notanorchestra]

Philosophy should be mandatory, agreed.

I think that everybody should learn about as many religions as they can, but that no one has religion taught to them. With something like religion, I feel like it is easier to be mislead than to be taught. Religion includes a sincere belief, and, like sexuality, only you know what is for you.

[Death]

They should be taught about what different religions believe at a later age, but not be taught that they are true, because that would just be bigoted and childish (yes, lots of people in this world are). In fact, sometimes I wonder if they do that because they are worried that people are starting to see the truth about their religion.

[Camazotz]

No, I don't think religion should be taught in schools. Not its ethics, not its beliefs, not its origin, unless of course, it's historically relevant to the topic at hand. Religion has played a huge role on society throughout the ages, so it's obvious we'll need to connect its history with curricular history when necessary, but it should only be taught if it's related to the topic. I can't think of any other situation where I would find it acceptable because public education should remain secular, separate from church. Private schools can do as they please.

[crepesuzette]

i think that religion should be taught only to the point that it does not try to enforce their beliefs on others. i think it's best if we just learn the basics and that's it.

[Emerald Dream]

Please do not post in threads with more than two months of inactivity. :locked: