Children learning about religion

[Tara.]

Would you feel comfortable with your children learning about religion at school (specifically public school)?

How far is too far when it comes to your child's teacher introducing him/her to new religions?

[Kate*]

As someone whose entire education was public, I personally wish I'd gotten some kind of religious instruction since, by my senior year we were just expected to know stuff (I got called on to answer a question about the Bible in English when I didn't raise my hand). Anyway, I would like my child to learn something about it or about different religions so they could make up their own mind about what to believe. I don't think it should be required in public school though. Maybe offer it as an elective and let parents and kids decide for themselves. As for how far is too far, introducing a religion or belief is fine, converting, or pushing a belief on students would be going too far.

[Double X]

Religion. In a publicly funded institution. I am giggling to myself

never. ever.

[Lizzie]

I think that religious studies classes should be offered in middle in high school and some sort of course that would cover several different types of faith should be required at least once. It’s a major part of our lives and our society as a whole and correct informative information should be taught in older grades at least once mandatorily.

[MegaMadness]

As long as they teach all the major religions and don't force people into following any then I think it's fine.

[eunoia]

I think teaching about religion in public schools is fine. I attended public schools and was taught about many major religions. Teaching religion, though, in terms of what is and is not truth does not belong in public schools.

[Kyeto-X]

In some colleges they offer a "world religions" class as an elective. (It's one offered at my school, and it's a private Christian institution.) I think something like that as a history/sociology credit would be good. It's not a bad thing to LEARN about other religions or religious beliefs in general. In my world civilization class, we had to name the five Pillars of Islam and know the differences between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims. I saw no harm in that nor did I see anyone start to convert religions.

However, It needs to be an upper level course in grade school. We also learned about government in high school, and never once did my teacher say anything or persuaded any of us into any political party. I think if we design the curriculum into a survey course with little to no bias, then it should be a required course in order to become a world citizen and aware of other cultures.

If you want to learn more about any of these religions, either go to a religious center for that religion, or perhaps offer an ELECTIVE with signed parental consent, specific in that religion of choice.

[John 6:29]

Why? I personally don't see a point, but our education systems wastes countless money on needless other courses, so why not? I don't care. Either way is fine. However, I do believe that ID should look at as a possible explanation, which unfortunately, generally caries a very religious bias along with it.

[Kitty.]

I believe that children should learn about religion in public schools.

[Pelios]

I wouldn't mind if they teach my children religion in school. Children should have at least a glimpse into the different religions because religion is part of our history. I really don't see why some people are saying there is no point to it.

I wouldn't mind if my child was given an overview of some of the major religions of today. I think exposure is a great thing, and I would want my child to decide for herself what she wanted to believe as a teenager and adult. Even when I attended Catholic school, I learned about religions like Islam and Judaism in both religion class and history. However, I would have a problem if the school was dwelling on one religion in particular and attempting to instill its values into the children. I definitely believe in a freedom of religion and I would not want anything to be forced on my child.

[Megan1]

Well, I am Christian and am definitely going to raise my kids as Christians. I am going to teach them to follow Jesus. I am also going to teach them ABOUT other religions just so they can be aware of other things in the world and aren't nieve. However, I don't know if I would really want them having a whole class about God in public school.....because I'd be afraid that the school wouldn't teach it in-depth or would teach it in a way that would just confuse my kids or turn them away from God because the messages are boring or don't make sense. Plus, I don't really like the idea of them learning about Jesus in order to get a grade in school- I want learning about Jesus in order to grow closer to Him, not to get a grade in school or because they have to.

I do want my kids to go to a school where God is incorporated into every class (meaning they will not teach anything that is against the bible like evolution, the teachers are Christians and can freely mention God's name, and everyone including teachers are allowed to pray). I wouldn't even think about sending them to a school if it didn't have that. My kids are going to Christian school for sure. I just don't really know if I want them to have an actual Christian class. They will be learning about God at home and church, they don't really need an actual class for that at school too. I want a school that is about God, but not nessicarily an actual bible class.

But if you mean a "world religions" type class where they learn about ALL religions and not just their own......that'd be fine with me once my kids are older (high school) if they want to take that. I am actually taking a World Religions class this year. It's good to know about other religions. If you are going to evangelise, you are going to get asked a LOT of questions about false religions and why they are wrong......so taking a class like that would help in that area a lot. I don't want my kids to be clueless, I do want them to know what is going on in the world with other people.

[Brandon]

Because religion is part of the world, there's no way that they can avoid it. Might as well teach about it. I don't think that any major religion should be excluded from teachings. Even if I was a Christian, I'd still want them to acknowledge and learn about what's out there. If I were to ever have a child, I'd want to be a father...not a dictator.

[Heretic]

I took World Religions my junior year of high school, and I loved it.

I think that religious courses should be offered, but not until the high school level, when a child is old enough to understand the message and history of each religion. And I doubt that a teacher who is using an approved curriculum could convert a child, unless he was going against the rules and Supreme Court ruling that forbids teachers or schools from promoting any particular religious following, creed, or denomination.

Teaching about religion in a public, structured environment, using curriculum based on cultural ideas and history (while keeping a clear head) is a great way to avoid theophobia and misunderstanding among believers and non-believers about faiths and theologies they are unfamiliar with.

[dr2005]

Originally Posted by Double X

Religion. In a publicly funded institution. I am giggling to myself

never. ever.

Interesting that you would prefer to perpetuate a state of ignorance about part of human history and society in an educational institution...

Anyway, as the above probably demonstrates I'm in favour of children being taught about religion in schools, and to be made more aware of all the major world religions and belief systems. I think I've lost count of the number of times I've heard people saying things on TV or the Internet which show they have very little idea what they're talking about and are regurgitating inane soundbites, and anything to promote knowledge and make the debate more rational is a good thing in my mind. I'd want all religions to be taught on an equal basis and properly evaluated, though, so people can come to their own decisions without being led one way or the other.

[Jocelyn.]

All religions play a major role in the world around us, and even though I don't identify with any of them its still helpful to be informed about them. I would love for my son to be offered a World Religions class in high school.

[Fucking Done]

Last thing I want is my kids to be learning about religion.

[BasicFacts]

I'm all for children learning about religion.

However.

It should NEVER be taught as fact. And they should be learning about all major religions (INCLUDING the lack thereof) rather than just, say, Christianity.

I think that a religious studies course should be a course option that's available to students. However, I think that such a course should give an accurate, unbiased overview of multiple religions, and not serve to favor or endorse a particular one.

[Double X]

Originally Posted by Megan1

I do want my kids to go to a school where God is incorporated into every class (meaning they will not teach anything that is against the bible like evolution, the teachers are Christians and can freely mention God's name, and everyone including teachers are allowed to pray). I wouldn't even think about sending them to a school if it didn't have that. My kids are going to Christian school for sure. I just don't really know if I want them to have an actual Christian class. They will be learning about God at home and church, they don't really need an actual class for that at school too. I want a school that is about God, but not nessicarily an actual bible class.

You sound like my friend's parents, who made him go to a Christian school. He is now atheist, and said most of his school was just superficially Christian. Good luck with that.

[Megan1]

I can't force my kids to be Christians. If they tell me that they don't want to be Christians or don't want to go to Christian school, I can't force them because forcing them will only turn them farther away from God. However, I am going to raise them to WANT God as much as I possibly can. Of course it's possible that they will turn away anyways, and if so I will still love them just the same (just won't love their decision).

I know tons and tons of parents who raised their kids as Christians going to Christian school and the kids became Christians too, willingly. Of course that doesn't happen 100% of the time, but you can't say that my kids are going to turn away from God just because I send them to Christian school.

[Ontheverge]

Just mirroring what other people have said, there needs to be the balance of all the major religions.
Stopping religion being taught in school just seems a ridiculous idea. You may as well remove art and literature if we are going to remove some thing that is so anchored in our social identities.

[Double X]

Originally Posted by Megan1

I can't force my kids to be Christians. If they tell me that they don't want to be Christians or don't want to go to Christian school, I can't force them because forcing them will only turn them farther away from God. However, I am going to raise them to WANT God as much as I possibly can. Of course it's possible that they will turn away anyways, and if so I will still love them just the same (just won't love their decision).

I know tons and tons of parents who raised their kids as Christians going to Christian school and the kids became Christians too, willingly. Of course that doesn't happen 100% of the time, but you can't say that my kids are going to turn away from God just because I send them to Christian school.

I know. It sounded like you were saying that sending them to a Christian school will make them stronger in their faith. But if you are going to indoctrinate them from birth, the plan sounds good.

[Kyeto-X]

Originally Posted by Megan1

I can't force my kids to be Christians. If they tell me that they don't want to be Christians or don't want to go to Christian school, I can't force them because forcing them will only turn them farther away from God. However, I am going to raise them to WANT God as much as I possibly can. Of course it's possible that they will turn away anyways, and if so I will still love them just the same (just won't love their decision).

I know tons and tons of parents who raised their kids as Christians going to Christian school and the kids became Christians too, willingly. Of course that doesn't happen 100% of the time, but you can't say that my kids are going to turn away from God just because I send them to Christian school.

I am IN a Christian school at the moment and I can tell you going to a christian school does not guarantee anything. In fact, being surrounded by so many like-minded people can make some people grow lazy in their faith by not being antagonized and having to defend anything, so they grow use to being spoon fed the Gospel and Bible and never having to DO anything to grow. Sometimes being in the world and meeting people with different ideas gives you more to defend your own ideas with.

[forfrosne]

The only time religion should enter the lives of any child is during an RS lesson.

[hopefaithlove]

I think it'd be awesome if teachers could teach all different religions throughout public school. As an education major, I'm taught that we have to teach about all different cultures and I think that in some cultures, religion is a HUGE part of it. It would've been neat to get information about all different religions. I took a World Religions class in college. It was interesting.

[Marguerite]

I went to a Catholic primary school and I'm an Atheist. I don't think sending a kid to a religious school really indoctrinates them. I was taught it as fact day in day out, daily prayers and weekly church visits and RE classes. It didn't make a difference because at home my mother, while technically Catholic and believed in God, was fairly indifferent to Catholicism. We never really talked about it and I didn't go to Church (outside of school).

If you teach your kids from an early age that God or Gods exist then until atleast a later age they will believe everything. I don't think school makes a difference.

In year six we got a choice whether we wanted to go through with comfirmation or not and I opted not too, so my disbelief in God isn't something I figured out later in life.

Personally though I am opposed to religion being taught in public schools as fact but I would encourage them to teach about different religions (as theories).

As for religious schools, I am not opposed to them.

[Megan1]

Originally Posted by Kyeto-X

I am IN a Christian school at the moment and I can tell you going to a christian school does not guarantee anything. In fact, being surrounded by so many like-minded people can make some people grow lazy in their faith by not being antagonized and having to defend anything, so they grow use to being spoon fed the Gospel and Bible and never having to DO anything to grow. Sometimes being in the world and meeting people with different ideas gives you more to defend your own ideas with.

Of course it doesn't guarantee anything. Nothing guarantees that my kids will be Christians.....but if I raise them knowing the truth about God, they see their parents living it, AND they have Christian fellowship at school/church/home, there is a much better chance than if I do nothing.

And I definitely agree that they will need to sometimes be around non-Christians so that they can share their faith and grow stronger by knowing that there are other things out there and that the world isn't all a perfect happy Christian place. However, they can experience the "real world" without actually having to be a big part of it, simply by the random people who they meet every day. There are tons of non-Christian places that we will have to go every day (stores, the park, being around kids in the neighborhood, family, any extra curricular sports and acitivities that they are in outside of school, etc).

[OMFG!You'reActuallySmart!]

One religion I think would be interesting to have taught, and I may be biased on this, is Satanism, both theistic and atheistic sects. Many people shun this belief but not many seem to actually know much about it at all. Even if someone says they're a Setian (and probably explains what it is), they'll likely get condemned as a "devil worshiper" which is nonsense as it's not regarding Christianity or the other Abrahamic religions. Problem though with this would be enormous complaints from parents. I would teach my kid about Satanism, introduce them to the various texts, possibly churches (if I join one), etc... .

I'd be unsure if my kids were to learn about religions in school (private or public) because it's not going to be a representative view of all the religions, which is understandable. That means certain ones will be picked out and emphasized on according to what the school cirriculum and school board say. As long as one of the religions that is taught isn't emphasized more than the others that are taught, I'm less hesitant with it then. The other factors are whether this course(s) will be optional and at what grade would it be taught at.

I do think the kids should know of some of the dominant religions because they affect the world drastically but I also wouldn't want them to accept the religion according to what was taught without using their intelligence first to look at the opposing sides. Whether Intelligent Design or Creationism is taught, I don't really care but I suppose it would be if certain religions were taught. I wouldn't want it though to try to refute biological evolution because they're on two different levels as to the questions they answer, the paradigms they use and how the information is acquired.

I'm uncertain though if I'd like it as an optional class or a required class. I suppose it could become an optional one at higher grades but it's still something I'm conflicted about. My concerns are more of what is taught in it though. Once it gets to the point of saying one religion is the truth, non-believers in the class get condemned and so forth, that's something which could provoke interesting discussions but would have to be at a higher grade level for the students to have developed the higher reasoning.

[emma01]

Because all children are brought up differently, children will come across children with other beliefs and customs and I think that even though i HATE religious education at school, I think young children should learn it to accept other people who may be different. Because religion is such a big thing, they can't really not learn about it. I dont think there is any harm in learning it anyway, most of the time its not going to change what children think, as most children will follow their families (although if my child wanted to believe in God or something, I would have no problem with that). I have been learning Religious Studies since I can remember, and not once have I ever believed in any of it, mainly because my mum and I do not believe. It used to be quite fun though, but now I feel im missing out on another subject I could be learning and I pretty much use it as a bum class anyway, so now I am older I don't want to learn it so much, but for public schools, the young ones should learn it I think. But option for older children.

[TheWhiteTornado]

I personally wouldn't see much of a problem with it, but I'd say they cross the line when they don't tolerate other religions. If it was to be taught in school at all I'd be happiest if there was equal education on the major religions (I say major as saying every one of them would be unrealistic). I don't see an issue so long as there's no intolerance or repression of expression.

[MadPoet]

I think that kids have the right to learn about religion. It's not fair to automatically wish for them to have the same beliefs as their parents. It's only fair to have them educated on many religions so they can decide themselves what they believe.

[Rosalie]

I think that introducing children to different religions (I.E. the Muslims believe...Jewish faith is based off of...) is really beneficial, but telling them that a certain religion is "right" or "true" isn't right.

[forfrosne]

Teach them about the main religions, and teach them equally. I don't like the idea that religion is in children's lives, but if the family are religious, it's monumentally important that they learn that there is no objectively correct religion.