Religion and public schools. Do you agree or disagree?

[mellowboy]

Ok I had this little arguement with this,what would be a good term..."Bible thumpers?" He's actually a family's friend's friend. A Baptist. So he brought up this discussion about public schools should teach Christianity. I of course disagreed with him. Not because I am a Muslim but because in this country (USA) will not work. There's all kinds of people with different beliefs and backrounds. Not everyone is going to be interested in learning Christianity. However, we do have religious private schools that people can attend to. He somehow disagreed. He did not acknowledge me about USA being a Christian country but I do have the feeling thats what he thinks.

Reasons why I disagreed.

1. Its another form of forcing someones belief on others.
2. It has nothing to do with your feature career goals. Unless you wanting be a pastor or a priest?
3. Religion can be a sensitive subject. Some people can't handle what others belief and can create tension between different people with different beliefs.


Oh by the way he sent me this video link through email and tells me that its a "must watch." You'll find this video very corny in the begining.

Link

Discuss!! I'm interested on what everyone here thinks about this topic.

[drunken monkey]

in the UK, schools don't teach religion; they teach about religion.
of course, there are still strictly catholic schools here and there but these tend to be private institutions and so don't really apply to this discussion.

[xeroinfinity]

When I was in gradeschool in the 70's I remember we prayed before lunch and said the pledge of allegiance every morning. Most kids today dont even know what it is because of the "religion in schools" situation. I feel the moral facts should or could be addressed in a non religous way.

I'm not for it, nor am I agianst it.
I was raised christian , today I dont have the need for such things. So I do think thier was a god but I highly doubt he'll be back anytime soon, who'd want to come here , we all suck! Why do you think we are out here in the back 40 of the universe?

Mankind, gods biggest mistake.
.... or god, mans biggest mistake.

Maybe this is whats wrong with most of these crazy people these days.

[blazee]

Yes, I think that they should teach Christianity..... I think that they should teach all religions. A lot of the problems people of different religions have are caused by ignorance. Ignorance leaves them open to the suggestion that any religion other than their own is bad, and therefore the people must be bad. Children should be taught to understand everyone's religions and not to discriminate against people because of it (while they're at it, they should teach adults the same thing). In my experience Christians are by far the worst offenders of not tolerating the beliefs of others. I'm an agnostic atheist and have had several Christians try to convert me, the funny thing is that while discussing religion it normally becomes clear that I know more about their religion than they do. I respect everyone's right to believe what ever they want, I just want the same courtesy.

[mellowboy]

Originally Posted by blazee

Yes, I think that they should teach Christianity..... I think that they should teach all religions. A lot of the problems people of different religions have are caused by ignorance. Children should be taught to understand everyone's religions and not to discriminate against people because of it (while they're at it, they should teach adults the same thing). In my experience Christians are by far the worst offenders of not tolerating the beliefs of others. I'm an agnostic atheist and have had several Christians try to convert me, the funny thing is that while discussing religion it normally becomes clear that I know more about their religion than they do. I respect everyone's right to believe what ever they want, I just want the same courtesy.

I have no problem learning about religions at all. I'm talking about spreading the "message of Christ" to the students. Not trying to understand the religion. I'm talking about teachers giving you a good whooping if you break the rule in the Bible. That sort of stuff. What you are talking about already have those courses available in college called World Religions or whatever the other schools call it. And people do have the choice to learn it if they want to. And to have that kind of course in elementary through high school is going to be tough because not all parents would agree with it. Theres a school in Tempe Arizona that took off the history of the Abbassid Empire because it was Islamic related. They took the program off because of the complaints the school district recieved from the students parents.

It would be a good idea to have world religion course but it would also require someone who is extremely educated on all religions and have to be unbiased.

[03cavPA]

To answer the question: No, I don't think my tax dollars should be used to promote any specific religion in the public school system. You do realize that the term "bible thumper" is a rather intolerant way to refer to the Baptists, don't you?

Originally Posted by mellowboy

I have no problem learning about religions at all. I'm talking about spreading the "message of Christ" to the students. Not trying to understand the religion. I'm talking about teachers giving you a good whooping if you break the rule in the Bible. That sort of stuff.

Is this actually happening? Are students receiving corporal punishment for "breaking the rule in the bible"?

Originally Posted by mellowboy

Theres a school in Tempe Arizona that took off the history of the Abbassid Empire because it was Islamic related. They took the program off because of the complaints the school district recieved from the students parents.

They actually said they removed it because it was "Islamic related"? They came right out and stated that it was done because of complaints from parents?

[mellowboy]

Originally Posted by 03cavPA

You do realize that the term "bible thumper" is a rather intolerant way to refer to the Baptists, don't you?

I was only referring the term to the person I was talking to and to people alike.

Originally Posted by 03cavPA

Is this actually happening? Are students receiving corporal punishment for "breaking the rule in the bible"?

I didn't say it was happening now did I? This is what this person I was talking to wants. He wanted strict rules to apply on the students. Thinking it'll reduce them from there ''bad behavior."

Originally Posted by 03cavPA

They actually said they removed it because it was "Islamic related"? They came right out and stated that it was done because of complaints from parents?

I'll see if I can find the source. This was back in 2004.

[03cavPA]

Originally Posted by mellowboy

I didn't say it was happening now did I? This is what this person I was talking to wants. He wanted strict rules to apply on the students. Thinking it'll reduce them from there ''bad behavior."

I never said you did. I was asking if it was happening now. Sometimes a question really IS just a question.

[mellowboy]

Originally Posted by 03cavPA

I never said you did. I was asking if it was happening now. Sometimes a question really IS just a question.

Not that I know of.

Link about removing Islamic history texts

[drunken monkey]

wait-a-minute....
how did corporal punishment in schools sneak into the discussion un-noticed?

[taranaki]

Religion in schools? Sure.


A few provisos though.

1.Should not be taught before high school - younger children lack the thought processes for critical review of the information offered.

2.Every religious group that wishes to share its teachings with the wider community should be given equal opportunity to put its case.

3.The teaching of religion should be carried out by people who are commited to and competent in their religion and qualified as teachers.

Would I want my children harangued by some scary old spinster along the lines of 'God will punish you if you don't behave in school'? No thank you. If parents are that keen to see their children taught the bastardised version of toughlove that passes for traditional christianity, perhaps those parents should get off their butts and convince their kids themselves.Schools are for education and informed choice, not brainwashing.

[xeroinfinity]

Religion in schools? Sure.


A few provisos though.

1.Should not be taught before high school - younger children lack the thought processes for critical review of the information offered.

2.Every religious group that wishes to share its teachings with the wider community should be given equal opportunity to put its case.

3.The teaching of religion should be carried out by people who are commited to and competent in their religion and qualified as teachers.

Would I want my children harangued by some scary old spinster along the lines of 'God will punish you if you don't behave in school'? No thank you. If parents are that keen to see their children taught the bastardised version of toughlove that passes for traditional christianity, perhaps those parents should get off their butts and convince their kids themselves.Schools are for education and informed choice, not brainwashing.

[drunken monkey]

i think the general consensus is likely to be that schools should not be a religious environment.

[Shpyder]

Originally Posted by taranaki

Religion in schools? Sure.


A few provisos though.

1.Should not be taught before high school - younger children lack the thought processes for critical review of the information offered.

2.Every religious group that wishes to share its teachings with the wider community should be given equal opportunity to put its case.

3.The teaching of religion should be carried out by people who are commited to and competent in their religion and qualified as teachers.

Would I want my children harangued by some scary old spinster along the lines of 'God will punish you if you don't behave in school'? No thank you. If parents are that keen to see their children taught the bastardised version of toughlove that passes for traditional christianity, perhaps those parents should get off their butts and convince their kids themselves.Schools are for education and informed choice, not brainwashing.

Couldnt have put it better myself.

Religion should only be taught, in my opinion, as an elective at college, basically, post-high school. There is a fine line between preaching and informing, and for school's to promote the former would not be a good idea. Religion has no room in the classroom, or in politics. And yet, it has consistently found it's way into both over the years, sadly enough.

[DinanM3_S2]

The only context in which I see religion as being ok is history classes. You can't fully understand certain events or time periods without understanding the religious influences. I don't understand how someone could learn about the Crusades without understanding Christianity and Islam, or the Reformation without understanding Protestant/Catholic differences.

I believe that public school resources should not be devoted to the education of a specific religion. Public schools in America are struggling enough as is, why put that stress on the system. I would much rather a school buy more books and equipment, or hire teachers that specialize in something that all students can benefit from, like literature, foreign language, science, etc.