Public Schools -VS- Religion

[Merika]

Do you feel that The Bible should be taught along with science, health and religion in the public school system as an alternate thought which represents the 'culture' of a large group of people?

I don't have a prob with Greek gods....Muslim....African....Buddah....Darwinism.. ..etc teachings. Apparently, it isn't taken the same way if the Christians, Catholics or Jews have a voice or opinion in the matter.

I find this puzzling.

[Mondo]

At schools in the UK there are religious studies but it teaches about religion and the history of it and its influence on culture.

It also doesn't focus on any particular religion, just most of them.

Personally IMHO the Bible should not be taught in schools, neither should the Koran or any other religeous text other than to study the history of the parent religions they came from and there effect on history, which is usually covered in bloodshed.

The UK being one of the most diverse ethnic communties going it would be inappropriate to teach any individiual religeous teachings to children who are to young to make up there own minds on what to belive and given the ethnic mix I think allot of Muslims and Hindu's would get very upset. It also would lead to segregation based on religeous belives, not somthing that is a good thing in the world right now.

[Merika]

I don't think it should focus on any one religion either. Do you think each should be given equal time....such as 'Creation: Darwin -vs- Creation?

What you said about kids not yet being old enough to make up their own minds is a great point! Out of the home they would only get perhaps a one dimensional parental perspective....but an overall school teaching would give them enough basis to build an opinion on later in life......I would think.

I'm just asking opinion since this all seems to be such a controversy these days. I also wonder if we, those of us who are parents, expect our children to blindly chose our own beliefs? I don't want my kids to do that....which is why I somewhat back the ideology of every religion/belief to be presented.

[Mondo]

I was taught about different religions in classes but it was just part of the sylabus, the focus wasn't on teaching what the religion preaches though, just the history and culture over time. Its not about equally teaching them all, its about there impact on history and culture rather than rationalising them.

I personally think thats all that should be taught. I don't think school or an educationally sylabus is any place to give children an education to pick a religion. School should be about language, history, math, science and proven fact. Not preaching of any sort.

Im not sure about the US but 10 years ago in the UK this was already a hot topic as we (used to) take in pretty much the bulk of refugees and imigrants from the middle east, Africa and the former Soviet block nations of all the EU countries so in a bid not to offend anyone, religious traditions could be followed in school but things like the traditional chrisitian hymn signing assemblies at the start of school became optional to the parent.

[Duke]

Teaching's fine, preaching sux.

I agree that focusing on one religion regardless of geographic location or demographic is a big mistake.

[Ayla]

I think that the "religion" shouldn't be taught in schools in any shape or form. However, the culture and history should be. And it should cover all the religions, not just the top 5 or whatever.

[Isis]

I first leard the culture/history of religion in 6th grade. I am now in high school and i think that as many teens are graduating high school they should have a chance to find out different beliefs of all the main religions. I believe that a sort of religion class should be an option as an elective. A type of class where ( with the consent of the parent) you can discuss different religions freely without worrying about what the breif overviews of religion in a history class might overlook as to not upset a person or their parents..

[Duke]

I think children should also have a say in what their taught. They should come to this decision with their parents too. We pay the schoolteachers salary, we should also have a say in some of the content. I say "some" because parents can take issues way too far sometimes.