Should Religions Be Taught in Schools?

[Geneviev]

Some schools, particularly in the United States in my experience, have groups dedicated to certain religions, in which teachers or other adults teach children about their religion. In my experience, that religion is Christianity, although there are probably other religions that do the same thing. In these groups, children are taught that a certain religion is true by an authority figure, although they are usually optional.

Other schools teach religion as an official subject. In Germany, it is a required subject in public schools and is usually provided by churches. In these situations, religion, which usually Christianity, although there are sometimes secular or Muslim alternatives, is taught in a classroom, but it is sometimes less biased and students can choose not to be in the class.

In both of these examples, churches use schools to evangelize to students. What do you think, NSG? Should both situations be allowed, or only one of them, or none? Is there another method that you would consider more appropriate?


In my opinion, both of these should be allowed because they do not necessarily favor one religion over another, so students can make a decision. Allowing students the opportunity to learn about a religion they already believe in is better than using things like this to evangelize to more, but doing so should be allowed to protect freedom of religion.

No. Becuse


GOD DOES NOT EXIST. Period.

Even assuming that that is true, teaching religion can have benefits and there are many different religions that can do that.

[Baja California Autonoma]

Religion should only be discussed in a comparitive way, not focused on one religion's version over others but viewing them objectively as social constructs and hopefully dispelling a great deal of ignorance and tension from taking root further in society. As clubs I dont see why they shouldn't be allowed for students to organize for whatever purpose they like, as long as it doesnt violate the neutral focus of the curriculum (in a public school).

[The Alma Mater]

No. Becuse


GOD DOES NOT EXIST. Period.

Even assuming that that is true, teaching religion can have benefits and there are many different religions that can do that.

So how many should schools teach ?

[Geneviev]

Even assuming that that is true, teaching religion can have benefits and there are many different religions that can do that.

So how many should schools teach ?

Whatever is necessary that they can afford. There aren't infinite teachers, so they shouldn't teach Hinduism when there aren't many students who believe in it, for example.

[Jedi Council]

So how many should schools teach ?

Whatever is necessary that they can afford. There aren't infinite teachers, so they shouldn't teach Hinduism when there aren't many students who believe in it, for example.

That's going to be hard in a very diverse country.

I went to school with Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Wiccans, Pagans, and a myriad of different Christian denominations.

If you teach one religion, you have to teach them all. And it's going to be a pandoras box; just wait until different denominations just within Christianity feel ignored.

Classes about religion should be optional, and should be in University. Period.

[Katganistan]

"Frankly, at this point the dark arts are our only hope of remaining accredited."

Historically, the teachers position in the defence against the dark arts class has seldomn been filled by a qualified competent teacher.

The position itself was cursed, if I recall correctly.

As long as they are in a club for it and interested, sure. But some kid telling others who want nothing to do with it that they are going to hell is a bully.

No one will listen if they're not interested, though. That kid is more likely to be bullied.

And that statement is based on what, pray tell? The "all Christians are automatically victims" meme?

[Albrenia]

God's existence or lack thereof isn't decisive on if it should be taught anyway.

Religion has a pretty powerful influence on many people's lives, and has done so throughout history. It's worth studying the how and why even if it is all as true as the Lord of the Rings.

[Katganistan]

Actually, entirely yes. Banning the learning of other religions is the sign of a shit religion.

Not really.

Yes, really. What are they afraid people will learn if they don't ban teaching about other religions?

[The Alma Mater]

God's existence or lack thereof isn't decisive on if it should be taught anyway.

Religion has a pretty powerful influence on many people's lives, and has done so throughout history. It's worth studying the how and why even if it is all as true as the Lord of the Rings.

Very true..Problem.is that so many different religions had an impact. On society, art, morals etc. Teaching them all is impossible, a selection would cause people to protest being ignored.

Other then accepting that fact and making a selection, urging kids to do their own research if they wish to learn about other religions, I have no solution. But ignoring the subject is unrealistic.

[Albrenia]

God's existence or lack thereof isn't decisive on if it should be taught anyway.

Religion has a pretty powerful influence on many people's lives, and has done so throughout history. It's worth studying the how and why even if it is all as true as the Lord of the Rings.

Very true..Problem.is that so many different religions had an impact. On society, art, morals etc. Teaching them all is impossible, a selection would cause people to protest being ignored.

Other then accepting that fact and making a selection, urging kids to do their own research if they wish to learn about other religions, I have no solution. But ignoring the subject is unrealistic.

I agree. Studying the most popular current religions and maybe a few optional ones of particular interest from history seems adequate to me.

[The Alma Mater]

Historically, the teachers position in the defence against the dark arts class has seldomn been filled by a qualified competent teacher.

The position itself was cursed, if I recall correctly.

Perhaps, but most teachers at Hogwarts were shitty as teachers. anyway. Regardless of the subject, although we were never told about how maths, geography etc were taught.

[Katganistan]

That's your opinion Science should be taught in schools regardless of whatever. I don't think so.

That's pretty backwards.
You do realize this is the 21st century, not the 2nd?

[Shofercia]

Some schools, particularly in the United States in my experience, have groups dedicated to certain religions, in which teachers or other adults teach children about their religion. In my experience, that religion is Christianity, although there are probably other religions that do the same thing. In these groups, children are taught that a certain religion is true by an authority figure, although they are usually optional.

Other schools teach religion as an official subject. In Germany, it is a required subject in public schools and is usually provided by churches. In these situations, religion, which usually Christianity, although there are sometimes secular or Muslim alternatives, is taught in a classroom, but it is sometimes less biased and students can choose not to be in the class.

In both of these examples, churches use schools to evangelize to students. What do you think, NSG? Should both situations be allowed, or only one of them, or none? Is there another method that you would consider more appropriate?

In my opinion, both of these should be allowed because they do not necessarily favor one religion over another, so students can make a decision. Allowing students the opportunity to learn about a religion they already believe in is better than using things like this to evangelize to more, but doing so should be allowed to protect freedom of religion.

Religion should be taught in schools, and treated like subjects of History and Philosophy. However, we shouldn't exclude any from being taught, nor should we go "yours iz st00pidz cuz humanz no can have all answerz" or some such crap.

[Saint Nicholas and the Hussars]

Some schools, particularly in the United States in my experience, have groups dedicated to certain religions, in which teachers or other adults teach children about their religion. In my experience, that religion is Christianity, although there are probably other religions that do the same thing. In these groups, children are taught that a certain religion is true by an authority figure, although they are usually optional.

Other schools teach religion as an official subject. In Germany, it is a required subject in public schools and is usually provided by churches. In these situations, religion, which usually Christianity, although there are sometimes secular or Muslim alternatives, is taught in a classroom, but it is sometimes less biased and students can choose not to be in the class.

In both of these examples, churches use schools to evangelize to students. What do you think, NSG? Should both situations be allowed, or only one of them, or none? Is there another method that you would consider more appropriate?


In my opinion, both of these should be allowed because they do not necessarily favor one religion over another, so students can make a decision. Allowing students the opportunity to learn about a religion they already believe in is better than using things like this to evangelize to more, but doing so should be allowed to protect freedom of religion.

No. Because


GOD DOES NOT EXIST. Period.

This is an OOC thread bro

[Katganistan]

Selective breeding is physical evidence of the genetic process that underlies evolution.

What is selective breeding?

What sort of education have you had, that you do not understand this simple a concept?

I think we can all agree that no one is gonna convince La Xinga that he is being ignorant and foolish for rejecting the concept of facts, and likewise that this strategy is not going to convince any of us.

We might as well all stop trying.

I guess Dameron and Edgar Alan aren't alone in this world.

[Albrenia]

I see Kat's sifting through the earlier shite-show of a conversation we had here.

Poor bastard, it was bad enough living through it as it happened.

[Katganistan]

Probably, yeah.

Anyway, to go back to the thread topic, if religions are to be taught, they must be taught as objectively as possible. If teaching them objectively is impossible, it should not be taught.

Agreed, but what about religious schools? What to do about them?

The perfect place to learn about religion.
However, if they want to operate and have their education accepted to colleges and the like, they should be accredited, and should have to teach science properly.

[Peoples rebulic of india]

it shouldnt be taught in schools as it leads to riots,discrimination,massacre and violence of religious communities.We need to teach moral values and disciplin in schools instead of religion.Religion is a private property and it is practicised in homes and religious places.

[The Alma Mater]

Agreed, but what about religious schools? What to do about them?

The perfect place to learn about religion.
However, if they want to operate and have their education accepted to colleges and the like, they should be accredited, and should have to teach science properly.

I actually strongly oppose the idea of a school teaching only one religion as absolute truth and pretending all others do not exist. Any suggestions how we can prevent that if you agree ?

[Katganistan]

And they didn't, they also failed to properly prepare her for life because of their beliefs.

I do not know what gender you are/are not, but imagine growing up not understand why your body functions the way it does. Imagine being 21 and now knowing how you get pregnant, or get someone pregnant. That level of ignorance is truly harmful.

It is shameful to say anyone deserves or is served by that level of dogmatic nonsense.

It's not my fault the parents didn't, or the school's fault.
What did they say about the biology?
UH, being 21 and not knowing these stuff? Perfectly normal.

It really isn't. I was taught in middle school what the reproductive system was, and how babies were made.

I was taught in high school how NOT to have unwanted babies, and how NOT to contract STIs.

Or they disagree with you while being the same religion as you.

Enter the Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox

One big squabbling family!

His mother, for sure. His father? He should at least respect him above other beings. That's what I think, you may disagree.

I think I am going to throwup.
Actually, tell me, how do you define the word respect?

I would imagine it's a four letter word. F-E-A-R.

[Region of Dwipantara]

But which brand of Satanism? I don’t disagree with the idea, but this whole denomination thing gets really wacky.

Well, that's the same problem with every religion, isn't it ? So many flavours, so little time.

Take Islam and the burka debacles for example. Islam fights against itself and broke into two faction (Sunni & Shia), then one of them broke into four (Hanbali, Hanafi, Maliki, Syafi'i), and then one of them broke into little bits of denominations with its own opinion of how much should a woman is covered, from 'not necessary' to 'full honey harvesting safety suit'.

[Katganistan]

Depends. Some are obvious scams like Scientology and others are just clear attempts at manipulation, but especially in old pagan faiths cults were neither of those, so it ought to be taught how to recognize a fraud from a legitimate group of weirdos.

Pagans are no weirder than christians.

Some I know are certainly kinder.

The perfect place to learn about religion.
However, if they want to operate and have their education accepted to colleges and the like, they should be accredited, and should have to teach science properly.

I actually strongly oppose the idea of a school teaching only one religion as absolute truth and pretending all others do not exist. Any suggestions how we can prevent that if you agree ?

In the US it gets into the sticky wicket of the First Amendment to demand that a religious school teach other religions.

I'd never send any kid of mine to a religious school.

[The Free Joy State]

Evangelism in schools -- which is not really what the title suggests (I thought R.E., not evangelism) -- no bloody way!

Schools are where children should learn about the world around them, and objective facts, not what some people think may be true -- whether my religion or anyone else's.

I have no problem with objective R.E. classes, where an objective teacher (ideally one without a rigid viewpoint, or who can pretend for the duration of the class) teaches "this is what X group believes and their history; this is what Y group...; this is what Z group..." in an effort to help students understand the people around them (for the major world religions and irreligion in their nation), without pushing any view as correct.

But actual evangelism -- "Join us, kids! We have pizza and the one true faith!" -- should not be in any state funded educational institution in any way at any time. Private religious schools are harder to legislate against, but should also have a legal obligation to keep religion out of certain classes (science and history, for example).

[Polding]

Of course, religion ought to be taught by school, parents and society at large. School must teach truth and not falsehood, and the Catholic Faith is the Truth. Different communities may teach their children their faiths too. School is to teach literacy and arithmetic, too, and skills for the performance of a persons’ duties. It is every person’s duty to worship God!

The proposition that schools can be separated from religion to assume an indifferent and impartial position is nonsense on its face. A clever but ill-intentioned ploy to subtlety supplant religion and enforce Atheism.That is to say, ‘secularism is is a byword State Atheism. See: Education in the US of America.

[Eudea]

Of course, religion ought to be taught by school, parents and society at large. School must teach truth and not falsehood, and the Catholic Faith is the Truth. Different communities may teach their children their faiths too. School is to teach literacy and arithmetic, too, and skills for the performance of a persons’ duties. It is every person’s duty to worship God!

The proposition that schools can be separated from religion to assume an indifferent and impartial position is nonsense on its face. A clever but ill-intentioned ploy to subtlety supplant religion and enforce Atheism.That is to say, ‘secularism is is a byword State Atheism. See: Education in the US of America.

So you may think. I’ve been perfectly fine without any religion and I can’t see myself existing otherwise.