Religion is US schools

Western history is largely based around christianity. To deny that simple fact is to be in complete denial of simple truth. Teach religion where it applies. If you're teaching western history you teach christianity/judaism and greek/roman gods. If you teach indian history you'd expect to learn about hinduism etc. I dont agree so much with teaching religion just to teach it. I believe it is necessary to teach religion where it had its impacts: namely science and the humanities. Our education is overwhemingly eurocentric. Should it be a surprise that Christianity will be the main focus as opposed to some obscure religion known only by some african tribe in zimbabwe(insert 99.9999% of religions here)? One religion has affected our country and our education far more than all the rest..combined.

So, Teach religion where it applies. That means, for America, Christianity will be predominant.

 

teaching religion when it applies to history is a lot different than having the students actively particiapate that religion in public school. i'm all for kids learning about how previous generations believed and how they lived their life according to that religion, but when teachers teach scripture without making it relevant to how a certain people lived, then thats wrong.

i think i got lucky. when we learned about the puritans, we learned the form of christainity they practiced by way of how they lived. when we learned about the native americans, we learned how they lived their life according to their spirituality. but i know many people who didn't learn about it that way...

 

I agree. Many people who yell "separation of church and state" don't though.

 

i'll tell you, why don't they just send their kids to Catholic school. you don't have to be catholic to go there. it would make things easier. we could get on without their bitching and moaning.

 

money...and not everyone wants their kids to go to a catholic school.

Why dont you accept that religion is important in education? You're only fooling yourself if you dont think it is.

 

No, I disagree... As an atheist, the last thing I want is for my kids to have religious bullshit shoved down their necks...

Within a history context, it's fine... but we all know that the right want to make everyone christian.

 

you're making baseless assumptions. Silly you.

Maybe you should educate your kids better so they can handle hearing the word "God" without freaking out and running to a church to convert.

we need to people to be truly tolerant..and not cry foul whenever they hear something they dont like..people need to learn to deal.

I'm NOT for shoving religion down anyones throat. I dont want religion taught in the context of trying to convert anyone. However, there is a historical importance to KNOWING about the religion. That is far different than PRACTICING the religion. I've learned about islam without converting..surely kids in america can learn about christianity without converting...

 

Christianity has always been taught at my schools- but it's been taught in a subtle yet powerful way that it's the universal truth. When learning about other religions, it's an "us vs. them" mentality. This is at public school mind you.

I have no problem learning the basics of a religion in class. But I DO have a problem when Christianity permeates things that it shouldn't. For instance- in my AP language class we are often asked to write essays or answer questions comparing our current text to Biblical themes. This is a bit of a problem for me because, while I have a grasp on the Old Testement, I have absolutely no time to read the New Testement in full. This is all too common.

Public schools should be kept on an agnostic, purely academia level. That's the only way for children to think for themselves.

 

Personally, I don't anything against Atheists. I am stating something that my teacher said and I fully agreed on. He worked for the Institute for global ethics.

In different schools, I know they teach about different religions around the world and so on...but what about morals and what about schools teaching right vs. wrong. I know this is a bit off topic about religion in schools, but it is something that we need to think about.

I know that anyone here would agree that no one should kill or hurt anyone else. Pretty much everyone can agree on the golden rule.

Please keep up the replies. I'm very surprised how many people have talked about my topic.

 

Morals shouldn't come from a religion. I consider myself a very moral character, but organized religion disgusts me. Morals can be taught to people who don't already have them in terms of economics and natural justice and stuff...basically, if you screw people, you're gonna get screwed someday too. The problem is (as I can see it) that malicious and stupid tendencies are not confronted. Most teachers won't tell someone when they're being stupid, 'cause parents will give them crap for it. And then students can be complete assholes to other students, and no authority figure will do anything, even when it's reported. Maybe if it's physical.

Giving immoral people morals is a good thing to do, but tricky, and it shouldn't be done by teaching religion is schools.

 

That's not true, the second most influential (and the MOST influential in later childhood/teenagers) on kids are their friends.

 

...Which might not be great for moral development, depending on the kids and the home life. I think generally, if the parents are willing to spend plenty of time at home with their kids, participating in their upbringing in a large way (as they are parents) moral development will probably be better.

 

schools teach agnosticism more than atheism. to teach that they'd have to say god and the devil do not exist. That's left out. I do think that if a religion class, teaching all religions, would be beneficial to allow people to see other aspects of life.

 

It sounds like your against Aethism thread starter. Schools teach what is out there, not religions with an icon.

 

Teaching religion and teaching about religion are two different things. Teaching about religion, with no particular focus or emphasis on any one, would undoubtedly be beneficial in some way, but I doubt it would do much for morals.

 

Atheists have morals, just like everyone else.

 

Well, the beauty of America is that majority vote rules!

If the majority of America wants Christianity taught in our public schools then it should be done.

If you don't like it, leave the country. Nobody is forcing you to live in America.

 

The constitution is there to protect the MINORITY, not the majority.

 

I've not read the entire thread, so excuse me if I repeat something that has already been said here, but I must state my opinion on this matter. It is up to each and every individual to determine FOR THEMSELVES what their spiritual beliefs (or lack thereof) are to be. This is sacred territory for each person, and not to be tampered with by the govt. in any form, including the schools. I feel that teaching "morals" in the schools, and pushing any kind of religious agenda is immoral, in violation of personal rights and in violation of the Constitution. This is not to say that people should not be able to follow any religious persuasion they choose in their personal lives, but it should not be put into the public arena for all to have to study. I am not a Christian, and, if I had kids, I would be horified if the school they attended tried to push Christian morals down their throats. Studying Christianity (and other religious/spiritual belief systems) from an historic perspective is another matter altogether, and not be be confused with actually studying Christian religious principles and "morals" in a public school setting. This is my belief.

 

every school should have a picture of the Pope "that out scare the shit out of them"