should public schools offer classes in comparative religion?

[Tlaloc]

mlchance:

And that still holds true today. If you take the current population of the United States (294 million), about 246 million Americans claim to be Christian.

gc.cuny.edu/studies/key_findings.htm

“a. the proportion of the population that can be classified as Christian has declined from eighty-six in 1990 to seventy-seven percent in 2001;
b. although the number of adults who classify themselves in non-Christian religious groups has increased from about 5.8 million to about 7.7 million, the proportion of non-Christians has increased only by a very small amount – from 3.3 % to about 3.7 %;
c. the greatest increase in absolute as well as in percentage terms has been among those adults who do not subscribe to any religious identification; their number has more than doubled from 14.3 million in 1990 to 29.4 million in 2001; their proportion has grown from just eight percent of the total in 1990 to over fourteen percent in 2001”

Furthermore the demographics pretty clearly indicate that a strong belief in Christian faith is increasingly correlated with age. The Younger generation are less likely to be Christian and among the Christians less likely to consider their faith a central aspect of their lives.

 

[Exporter]

GoodKnight1443:

There is no provision in the Contitution that calls for separation of Church and State. [Congress shall make no law (http://javascript:changer(‘explain/121_explain.html’,‘121’))[respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; (http://javascript:changer(‘explain/122_explain.html’,‘122’))[or abridging the freedom of speech, (http://javascript:changer(‘explain/123_explain.html’,‘123’))[or of the press; (http://javascript:changer(‘explain/124_explain.html’,‘124’))[or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (http://javascript:changer(‘explain/125_explain.html’,‘125’))** **

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• If there is separation of Church and State who doe sall our currency bear the words “In God we Trust?”
• Why does each session of Congress begin with a prayer?
• Thomas Jefferson’s famous “wall of separation” between church and state comment was made in a letter to a group of Baptist clergymen January 1, 1802 in Danbury, Connecticut, who feared the Congregationalists Church would become the state-sponsored religion. Jefferson assured the Danbury Baptist Association that the First Amendment guaranteed that there would be no establishment of any one denomination over another. It was never intended for our governing bodies to be “separated” from Christianity and its principles. The “wall” was understood as one directional; its purpose was to protect the church from the state. The world was not to corrupt the church, yet the church was free to teach the people Biblical values. It keeps the government from running the church but makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government.

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THIS IS WORTH READING AGAIN. Thanks GoodKnight.

 

[puzzleannie]

I’d be thrilled if they would teach writing, reading, grammar, science, math, geography and history

 

[GoodKnight1443]

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THIS IS WORTH READING AGAIN. Thanks GoodKnight.

You are welcome brother…

 

[Mfaustina1]

At first, I wanted to vote yes, Public schools should teach about differing religions. Then I thought to myself, "wait!..what does any given instructor know about such religions? I then changed my mind. I do not want the personal bias of a teacher…and he or she almost always does have a bias to teach my children in my place what they ought to follow! Isn’t that the parent’s job? Can’t the child if older and inquisitive enough research like I did? I think it’s not the job of the public/government to instruct my child if I had one in matters concerning religion. - Mfaustina1

 

[ProudArmyWife]

IComparative religion can mean many things - for elementary school it can actually talking and doing things about Christmas (a current pet peeve of mine)! It gives students an opportunity to learn about other religious holidays that are on the calendar, who observes them, and what the holiday is actually about. It doesn’t mean faith formation, but an understanding of a huge socio dynamic - especially ones that are directly in the child’s classroom. My son’s K teacher was Jewish and what a great learning experience that was for him to learn about the Jewish faith. I have found that the kids are actually coming home and asking questions - further deepening their own faith.

 

[Funky_Cedars]

puzzleannie:

I’d be thrilled if they would teach writing, reading, grammar, science, math, geography and history

AMEN!!

i trust the state to do this right, oh, say, *not at all! *
and there are enough funding problems as it is, the money to be spent on texts/materials and teacher prep would be better spent in before- and after-school programs.

peace, t

 

[RomanRiteTeen]

Uh… no. Religion has little place in the school outside History/Social Studies, an after-school class, or the student’s private prayer and discussions. The Christian Faith would be butchered if ever taught at all, and the classes would become more of a “Every Eastern Religion, Cult, and Islam!”.
I think a competent teacher could handle an after-school class on Comparative Religion for the ‘gifted’ students, but I doubt every religion will be mentioned. Perhaps something more specific, such as the Religions that shaped America, or the Religions of Europe. In the classroom however, I think it would be disturbing at best.

 

[GoodKnight1443]

Very interesting point. Public School would find a way to muddle the message. I’d like to see more pro-life teen clubs in school etc. Sadly the public school my children attend have just started a Gay- Straight Alliance club to meet after school. If they could only focus soem energy onsomething more productive like feeding and clothing the homeless…

 

[bengal_fan]

Mfaustina1:

… I then changed my mind. I do not want the personal bias of a teacher…and he or she almost always does have a bias to teach my children in my place what they ought to follow! Isn’t that the parent’s job?..

they already are inserting their personal bias in other areas like: their methods of teaching, sex-ed, history and it’s impact on today. all of these lead to a personal bias yet we trust them in these areas. there is nothing wrong with offering a religion class but it should not be mandatory. and, yes, it is always the parent’s job to follow up on what is being taught in the schools. not just when it deals with faith.