Should World Religion Be Taught In Public Schools

The question of whether or not religion should be taught in public schools has been an ongoing debate among parents and teachers for decades. In the article “Religion and Education: The Pitfalls of Engaging a Complex Issue” Martin E. Marty and Jonathan Moore express their views on the matter. They express that religion in public schools could potentially bring conflict to families. They also support the other scenario that religion classes would inform students of the different beliefs of the people they will meet throughout their lives. Religion in the public school system is still an ongoing debate, one that needs to be resolved. The children that will be affected by the outcome of this debate are the future leaders of America, therefore, we should not take this decision lightly. Children everywhere and in all schools need to be taught about different religions so they can make a firm stand for what they believe in.

Issues involving public schools and religion have been topics involving intense debate. It is difficult for the government to elucidate the appropriate boundaries of religion in the public schools. It is true that teaching about religion is permitted in the public education systems, but the real question is where the margin should be set between teaching religion and simply teaching about religion. It is almost impossible to teach about the history of the United States without teaching that religious beliefs associated with the history, artwork, and literature. More than the public is lead to believe, The Constitution permits religious activities in and around public school buildings. It is unfortunate that the

Early educators considered religion and politics important. Now paranoia about inappropriate indoctrination prohibits such topics. The implication that teachers would seek to indoctrinate students and that those students would be unable to discern their own opinions via critical thinking, points toward a huge lack of confidence in both teachers and students. The urge to control every facet of the educational process inhibits the process of learning and great progress could be made if teachers could simply be empowered to teach all pertinent information. Trust in the relationship between students and teachers would let teachers teach, and children learn.

From 1999 to 2011 there have been a 600+ increase in the number of hate groups in America and Montana, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Jersey, and Texas all have over sixteen active hate groups (@splcenter). “According to the FBI Hate Crime Statistics released in November 2009, hate crimes are at their highest rate since 2001,” (RAC). Out of every 2,000 religion based offenses roughly 1,050 of them are aimed at Jews. In 2010 alone there were 3,949 victims of a religiously motivated crime (FBI). In 2005 there were 5,190 cases of hate crime by murder and manslaughter. Although most people believe hate crimes to be against just an individual but 17.6 percent of reported victims were businesses, financial institutions, religious organizations, society or the public. Most people think that hate crimes would be committed in an unpopulated place but 31.4 percent average of all hate crimes were committed in or near a residence or neighborhood. All of the statistics that are provided for by any agency or organization are under-rated by the fact that not everyone will report a hate crime of fear and intimidation. Most of the statistics of hate crimes are leveling out since 2011 with mild increases or decreases because of the awareness that people are creating with the

Religion is one of the largest controversies in the world, due mainly to different people with different backgrounds and cultures are in America. Religion creates positivity and brings people together, but can also cause arguments and debates. America founded its nation on religion; however, society has slowly pushed it away year by year. Religion is being pushed out of our classrooms, schools, and communities because of the miniscule percentage of people in America who aren’t religious. People are becoming offended easily by religious topics, which is causing the negativity among American citizens. America’s youth are being deprived of an education that includes world religions and culture. There hasn’t been a single successful effort to reinstate religion into schools despite efforts to slowly take away the changes that have been made to take religion out. I propose to reestablish religion into Athens High school because it forms good morals that will help America’s youth become better contributors of society.

Religion is by far the most controversial and non-debatable topic in the world. The topic of religion is hard to speak about and debate because it is solely based on faith. Faith is defined as having complete trust and confidence in someone or something. Everyone has faith in something whether it’s having faith that a loved one’s surgery will go well or faith that they will win a race at a track meet. Many have faith on some things, but not someone like Buddha or Jesus or maybe Muhammad. But why is that? The answer is because the schools aren’t giving these kids any education when it pertains to beliefs and religion. As a result, young children and young adults do not know what they represent. Many atheists say that religion should not be discussed in schools at all because it offends their beliefs of not having any beliefs at all, but freedom of religion should express every type of belief briefly so kids have a true shot at picking a type of lifestyle to live.

Providing students to explore one’s religion or spirituality can begin to bridge the separation that exists between faith traditions in institutions. Dr. Casey mentions repeatedly that “the term religion is problematic,” and although this is true, this perspective can change. Religion is so deeply engrained in individuals and this does not have to form a type of “war zone,” but instead, it can provide us with an opportunity to learn about other citizens, rather than creating a sense fear or anxiety within us. Although we may be living in “an age of chaos today,” building understanding amongst global citizens is the prominence of religion in this

In 2007, according to the Federal Bureau Investigation of the Nation’s law enforcement agencies “there were 9,535 victims of hate crimes; of these victims17.1 percent were victimized because of a bias against a religious belief which totaled to be 1,628 victims of an anti-religious hate crime” (1). Almost ten thousand people were victims of hate crimes alone in 2007. That is something to be alarmed about because part of living in the U.S.A as minority is to have freedom to do and be anything you want and yet we find that you really don’t have that freedom because you get attacked for practicing that freedom. The increasingly rate of hate crimes is soaring that many states like New York, New Jersey and California now have the highest

Another reason why a variety of religions should be taught in schools is because it educates students so they can have a right to choose their religion. Many people tend to stick to their family religion because they are not educated about other religions and so they do not have the same flexibility as others when it comes to choosing a religion for themselves. If schools teach students a variety of religions, students will have an understanding of a wider range of religions and by having this knowledge, they are able to choose what type of faith they would like to believe in. Instead of teaching only one religion, a whole range of religions should be taught, in order for people to select a religion that they truly believe in. A fair amount

The subject of religion in public schools is one that has been debated vigorously and passionately. The warriors from the Right and Left fail to appreciate the facts because they are caught up in the rhetoric and have difficulty viewing this emotional topic dispassionately (Haynes, 2011). Both sides are right about one thing: this is an important subject.

Should it? Should it? It depends on what the religion itself imparts. If it imparts morals that can relate to success in your future life. Words of spiritual leaders can motivate the people. You need to know some elementary wisdoms of the 5 major world religions. And I’m going to get a lot of disapproval for this. We’ll go principal to slightest.

Some teachers may have a personal bias against certain faiths or religion in general. These problems can be dealt with. According to this article, “To address the challenge of teaching about religion without proselytizing, we must explore the assumptions and causes underlying each set of factors…” (Passe, J., & Willox, L. 2009). We should ask ourselves what lies beneath the problems of teaching religion. We should look to see if prejudice and impartiality are factors motivating against religious teachings.

One of the avenues of influential learning is in school. The place where students spend half of their life. Going to school aids students in acquiring knowledge, establishing rapport and developing skills. When students attend school, they showcase not only their characters traits and attitudes, but they also carry with them their cultural differences and religious practices. (Green & Oldendorf, 2005). Looking at how diverse our society is, the question of teaching religions and their ideologies at a school-level rise. Whilst the state practices neutrality towards religion, there are still issues and challenges when it comes to accommodating religious diversity and its integration in the education system (Berger, 2013, p.104). Therefore, integrating religion in the education system can lead to

Religion ranks as one of the most divisive factors in the world today dividing not only believers and non-believers but as well as those of different sects. Different ideals, and views of the diverse religions spur negativity amongst countries, races, friends, and family alike driving wedges whilst creating problems between individuals. However it also has brought billions of people together, going on to forge a sense of shred belief and unity of purpose across wide racial and geographical divides. A not well known, but funny fact is that the word religion actually derives from the latin word re-ligare, a term that literally means to bind together which our world today fails in actually comprehending. The Oxford dictionary point out, though, that the etymology of the word is doubtful it is assumed that it helps explain the power of religion. Towards the end, one will have found acute evidence and reasoning as to why religion should be taught to our students whilst also explaining what depriving it will do to them. Students should learn about the world religions so they can gain religious literacy, knowledge of worldviews other than their own, and insight that some religions they refute actually infuse with the one they follow.

A considerable amount of research has been carried out on what should be taught in religious education, and how it should be taught in classrooms. REDCo was one research carried out in eight European countries with students from the age of fourteen to sixteen, this research really got me interested in the content being taught to students, as they expressed their own attitudes