Your Thoughts on Religion Taught in Schools
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I do not plan to educate my children in the public school system anyway, for fear of them turning into one of my wretched classmates. They'll be sent to either a good Evangelical school nearby, or schooled at home.
As for public schools today? I would advocate that all the major religions get airtime with most of the emphasis being placed on Christianity as it has been possibility the greatest factor in the development of Western Civ. Different subdivisions of belief would be taught and challenged by the students in a discussion format.
As for public schools today? I would advocate that all the major religions get airtime with most of the emphasis being placed on Christianity as it has been possibility the greatest factor in the development of Western Civ. Different subdivisions of belief would be taught and challenged by the students in a discussion format.
N
I live in America, which is a country that has freedom of religion. I think it would be difficult to actually teach all the different religions around to be fair. I know Christians want Christianity to be taught but I don't think that would be fair to other religions. Also everyone is freaking out because apparently since the Bible and prayer have been taken out of the schools; the generation of children have been worse. I don't think that's the issue, if a school's allowance of prayer and Bible is the only reason your child is behaving well, you're not doing your job as a parent. You can teach your child to have the Bible inside of them. I think the problem is Christian parents want the school to do their job. It is the parents job to teach their children right from wrong; not the schools.
Back to Judeo-Christian basics I'm afraid.
When I was at school in Britain, we were taught a few Bible stories and had to recite the Lord's prayer in assembly once a week. In Religious education classes we were taught a little more about Christianity, very basic stuff, and then given a very general overview of the other major World religions.
This is ideal for three reasons:
1/ It's not poured down your throat. There's no force, no threats and no danger of unsound doctrination, but it still makes the child aware of the religion that made Western civilisation and the foundations of Jewish and Christian principles.
2/ It enables to child to understand that there are other viewpoints around the World and gives a little historical and geographical perspective.
3/ (this is the most important) By making a child aware that the Bible actually exists and who Jesus is and was, if at anytime later in life a person is ready to turn to God, they know where to start to find him.
I have met young children of 'modern' Atheist parents who have been told that there is no God, are being educated in modern norms (told about homosexual and Lesbian couples) and surprisingly enough the children have never even heard of Jesus and do not know who he is. This shocked me and I fear for their future salvation.
Of course these children also go to secular schools where they are taught nothing about religion either, except of course a few lies about Islam, because pampering to Islam seems to be the general trend at the moment.
This is worrying indeed!
When I was at school in Britain, we were taught a few Bible stories and had to recite the Lord's prayer in assembly once a week. In Religious education classes we were taught a little more about Christianity, very basic stuff, and then given a very general overview of the other major World religions.
This is ideal for three reasons:
1/ It's not poured down your throat. There's no force, no threats and no danger of unsound doctrination, but it still makes the child aware of the religion that made Western civilisation and the foundations of Jewish and Christian principles.
2/ It enables to child to understand that there are other viewpoints around the World and gives a little historical and geographical perspective.
3/ (this is the most important) By making a child aware that the Bible actually exists and who Jesus is and was, if at anytime later in life a person is ready to turn to God, they know where to start to find him.
I have met young children of 'modern' Atheist parents who have been told that there is no God, are being educated in modern norms (told about homosexual and Lesbian couples) and surprisingly enough the children have never even heard of Jesus and do not know who he is. This shocked me and I fear for their future salvation.
Of course these children also go to secular schools where they are taught nothing about religion either, except of course a few lies about Islam, because pampering to Islam seems to be the general trend at the moment.
This is worrying indeed!
I would be against it for the same reason I am against other subjects. The reason is that most teachers, such as science and history, don't know what they're talking about. All they know is what they've been told in school themselves. Most of US history I was taught was false........ some of the science I was taught was false. If the government controls the teaching of history and science, they would control Christianity also. The only thing kids would learn about Christianity is "another Jesus", and more than likely it would be pointing to the Antichrist.
For example, I was taught in school that gasoline and diesel engines were basically at the peak of engineering capabilities........ that no other fuel works as well. But if you check the "real" history, you'll find that back in the early 1900's, Henry Ford built an engine perfectly suitable for alcohol. The strange thing is, when other inventors started looking at alcohol as a clean substitute fuel for the combustion engine, the United States suddenly went into what's known as Prohibition. If you do the research on the Internet, you will find out that prohibition was started by the oil barons, not by church folks wanting alcohol banned. None of that is listed in science or history.
You will find once you research it that there was no reason to add lead to gasoline except to destroy the ability of newly invented carburetors in the early 20th century. More than a handful of them were invented to get over 80 miles per gallon out of a V-8 engine. When lead was outlawed, gasoline producers put new chemicals in the gasoline to destroy the ability of these new carburetors. None of this is listed in science or history, because someone had the finances to keep it out.
Also, one of the first electric cars built got 20 miles to a single charge. Yet it was also buried so no one would find out. So, yes, US history and science is badly flawed due to the covering up of the truth. How much more would you think the same government would cover-up the truth about Christianity?
You will find once you research it that there was no reason to add lead to gasoline except to destroy the ability of newly invented carburetors in the early 20th century. More than a handful of them were invented to get over 80 miles per gallon out of a V-8 engine. When lead was outlawed, gasoline producers put new chemicals in the gasoline to destroy the ability of these new carburetors. None of this is listed in science or history, because someone had the finances to keep it out.
Also, one of the first electric cars built got 20 miles to a single charge. Yet it was also buried so no one would find out. So, yes, US history and science is badly flawed due to the covering up of the truth. How much more would you think the same government would cover-up the truth about Christianity?
B
I don't think religion should be taught in school as fact.
I graduated last year so high school is still fresh in my memories. Freshmen year we take geography where we learn a little about a lot of religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, etc. It was really quite interesting. Then later on you can chose to take a world religion class, but I'm taking that in college instead. I haven't met anyone who's had a problem with how my school taught religion. Students were free to make Christian clubs to meet before or after school, as long as it met the requirements all our clubs had to meet. We had two I think, Christian Athletes and FIRE (don't remember what it stood for but it was a bible reading group that met Friday mornings).
I liked the way this was run because you could learn about religion without feeling like it was being forced on you. And if you were more curious you could take more classes on them. I thought it was very interesting.
I graduated last year so high school is still fresh in my memories. Freshmen year we take geography where we learn a little about a lot of religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, etc. It was really quite interesting. Then later on you can chose to take a world religion class, but I'm taking that in college instead. I haven't met anyone who's had a problem with how my school taught religion. Students were free to make Christian clubs to meet before or after school, as long as it met the requirements all our clubs had to meet. We had two I think, Christian Athletes and FIRE (don't remember what it stood for but it was a bible reading group that met Friday mornings).
I liked the way this was run because you could learn about religion without feeling like it was being forced on you. And if you were more curious you could take more classes on them. I thought it was very interesting.
D
The problem with religion is that there are so many different ones and even within the same religion their are often drastically different views. I don't want anyone teaching my kids religion. Even after church sometimes, I'll talk with my kids about things I don't agree with that the pastor said.
I expect my children to develop their own ideas about what they believe or don't believe. But as long as they live with me, I will share what I believe and encourage them to consider it for what it's worth.
The Faith I encourage in my kids is not grounded in fear for their souls, but in the Love of God I wish for them to know. In other words, I don't tell them they will burn in hell if the do or don't do something. That is the kind of fear a grew up in. While the intentions were good with regard to my upbringing, the approach left some scars.
I don't care for religion, I'm about God and Faith. I don't care if someone is Catholic, Protestant, Agnostic, Atheist, etc. When someone tells me they don't believe in God, it doesn't bother me. I don't feel the need to save their poor soul. Because whether they believe or not, God still exists. It's just that they don't have the blessed joy of knowing Him on a meaningful level.
It makes no sense to need proof of God, though the breath in us and the Love that heals and lifts us up through our sorrows is evidence enough. But it's like trying to understand how we can even exist. If God is not the beginning, what is? It makes my head spin just thinking about it. From a more analytical perspective, it seems wiser to believe which only seems to be an affront to one's ego as opposed to not believing and risking dire consequences.
I think people have a bad habit of overthinking things when it comes to Faith. Many people want to debate and argue over every little detail when it's quite simple if you let go and let God guide you. I'm not saying people shouldn't want to get other perspectives or get a better understanding of some things. I'm just saying it shouldn't be about proving someone is right or wrong. People will often attempt to lift themselves up by tearing others down. And soon enough they will find themselves falling.
Let God lift you up. And if you fall, let Him lift you up again. Don't fret if you feel lost and discouraged from time to time. It can happen to any of us. When I feel heavily burdened I fast and pray. After which, I feel renewed. I seek His guidance throughout the day because I know I don't have the strength to face the challenges of life on my own. And I find strength in fellowship with others who seek Him.
I expect my children to develop their own ideas about what they believe or don't believe. But as long as they live with me, I will share what I believe and encourage them to consider it for what it's worth.
The Faith I encourage in my kids is not grounded in fear for their souls, but in the Love of God I wish for them to know. In other words, I don't tell them they will burn in hell if the do or don't do something. That is the kind of fear a grew up in. While the intentions were good with regard to my upbringing, the approach left some scars.
I don't care for religion, I'm about God and Faith. I don't care if someone is Catholic, Protestant, Agnostic, Atheist, etc. When someone tells me they don't believe in God, it doesn't bother me. I don't feel the need to save their poor soul. Because whether they believe or not, God still exists. It's just that they don't have the blessed joy of knowing Him on a meaningful level.
It makes no sense to need proof of God, though the breath in us and the Love that heals and lifts us up through our sorrows is evidence enough. But it's like trying to understand how we can even exist. If God is not the beginning, what is? It makes my head spin just thinking about it. From a more analytical perspective, it seems wiser to believe which only seems to be an affront to one's ego as opposed to not believing and risking dire consequences.
I think people have a bad habit of overthinking things when it comes to Faith. Many people want to debate and argue over every little detail when it's quite simple if you let go and let God guide you. I'm not saying people shouldn't want to get other perspectives or get a better understanding of some things. I'm just saying it shouldn't be about proving someone is right or wrong. People will often attempt to lift themselves up by tearing others down. And soon enough they will find themselves falling.
Let God lift you up. And if you fall, let Him lift you up again. Don't fret if you feel lost and discouraged from time to time. It can happen to any of us. When I feel heavily burdened I fast and pray. After which, I feel renewed. I seek His guidance throughout the day because I know I don't have the strength to face the challenges of life on my own. And I find strength in fellowship with others who seek Him.
I don’t think it makes much difference if religion is taught in the schools or not. However, I object to our children being taught humanism along with the idea that religion is not intellectual.
A world that believes that God can be put into a different compartment from other areas of living, for instance our government and jobs, is too worldly to be able to teach about the forces in our world relating to creation and God.
Children learn more by the media, and the values they see around them and at home. What is taught in the schools is more a reflection of those than a cause.
In high school my daughter took a course on critical thinking, based completely on worldly reasoning without any knowledge of the spiritual. This influenced her so that for years she looked at bible teaching without any God thinking in her reasoning. When she did understand scripture again, it was with greater depth.
A world that believes that God can be put into a different compartment from other areas of living, for instance our government and jobs, is too worldly to be able to teach about the forces in our world relating to creation and God.
Children learn more by the media, and the values they see around them and at home. What is taught in the schools is more a reflection of those than a cause.
In high school my daughter took a course on critical thinking, based completely on worldly reasoning without any knowledge of the spiritual. This influenced her so that for years she looked at bible teaching without any God thinking in her reasoning. When she did understand scripture again, it was with greater depth.