# Should religion be taught about in public schools? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 10, 2006, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841 "2006-11-10T06:01:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/41 "2006-11-11T05:19:19Z")
> [@](#): > > **MGibson** : Maybe, I used to have a much nicer view of Islam, but the more I’ve learned about it the less I like it. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Not that I’m advocating ignorance mind you I’m just speaking out loud. Sometimes communication doesn’t solve problems. Ignorance is not bliss in an educational system. I don’t want to form opinions of Islam until I understand it _well_. I have a long way to go. It’s true that communication doesn’t always solve problems. It may even create problems to be resolved. But I will chose it every time over misunderstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/42 "2006-11-11T05:19:28Z")
I think writing a text book, just about ‘Religions of the World’ would be a nightmare. The only thing worse would be seeing how the Kansas State School Board dealt with it. What would happen, in most cases, is that Christianity would be taught as the best religion and the others are for heathens who haven’t been saved yet. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/43 "2006-11-11T06:03:20Z")
[QUOTE=Martin Hyde] Why exactly is Judaism considered one of the big “three?” If we’re going to limit ourselves to a big “three” those three would definitely have to be Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. All three religions have over or around 1 billion reported practitioners (Christianity around 2 billion.) While the total number of Jews is a lower number than the population of the states of New York, Texas, California, and Florida. And only represents something like 0.22% of the world’s population, whereas Christianity is roughly 33%, Islam 21%, and Hinduism 14%. [/QUOTE] The big three as in related to one another, which all started in the same place. We studied Hinduism and Buddhism as well, when we studied India and Eastern Asia, respectively. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/44 "2006-11-11T06:37:14Z")
I’d go as far as a Lit. course on the Bible, actually. I think teachers of young children would have a hard time teaching about the Crusades or the Protestant Reformation without holding one side or the other up as a Bad Guy. As long as there’s a strict “No Witnessing” policy in place, I could see it at the high school level. ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@Manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/45 "2006-11-11T06:50:58Z")
Hardcore atheist checking in: of course religion should be taught in public schools. Given how huge a component of human culture and history it is, how could it not be taught? As someone upthread noted, I wouldn’t want it to devolve into indoctrinatioin, but I think that you HAVE to know something about the world’s major religions. (Actually, I’m hard pressed to imagine how you could not–the alternative is that you’d be living in the Chickiverse, which posits that there are people in America who have never even heard of Christ, a prospect that I find highly unlikely). ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/46 "2006-11-11T07:54:44Z")
I don’t know the last time I saw a GD thread where there was so much agreement! Virtually everyone in the thread so far agrees that religion should be taught in schools, with minor differences in how or when it should be taught. Very little debate, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![iano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@iano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iano)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/47 "2006-11-11T07:57:32Z")
[QUOTE=cosmosdan] Your friend needs to buck up. If you’re afraid to share your beliefs when it comes up then something is wrong. If people accuse her of worshiping Satan then she needs to set them straight unapologetically. Ignorance is rampant. Don’t foster it by silence. [/QUOTE] Something’s wrong? I don’t know about you, but I for one didn’t have this kind of television-picture-perfect high school. :eek: That’s how life is, I think she’s perfectly sensible. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/48 "2006-11-11T12:58:26Z")
[QUOTE=iano] Something’s wrong? I don’t know about you, but I for one didn’t have this kind of television-picture-perfect high school. :eek: That’s how life is, I think she’s perfectly sensible. [/QUOTE] Sorry about the knee jerk reaction to your friends situation. I don’t know the details. In the course of day to day there’s not much reason to bring up beliefs at all. I’m not a christian myself and have my own beliefs which most Christians would consider blasphemy. I get along fine with 99% of the Christians I meet because I treat them with respect and consideration. If your friend is a serious Wiccan my guess would be she does to. I reacted to your use of _afraid_. Choosing to not broadcast our beliefs does seem sensible to me, however I don’t think we should be _afraid_ to honestly be ourselves and discuss things if we are asked a direct question or if someone makes an uninformed comment about Wicca in her presence. Your friend shouldn’t have to defend her beliefs to anyone. On the fostering ignorance through silence, here’s a quick example. At a small social gathering some woman made a passing remark that put down gays in general. In polite society most of us including myself would have let it slide . My 24 year old daughter didn’t. She made a comment just to let the woman know she found that kind of attitude to be ignorant and unacceptable. When she did that so directly and unapologetically, {but not with hostility} I realized how right she was and how wrong I was to let it slip by. If someone makes a comment to your friend about Wicca being Satan worship then perhaps she should ask them what they know about it and what are their sources. She could suggest they actually find out what they are talking about before they start making assumptions and putting people down. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/49 "2006-11-11T15:18:16Z")
[QUOTE=cosmosdan] Your friend needs to buck up. If you’re afraid to share your beliefs when it comes up then something is wrong. If people accuse her of worshiping Satan then she needs to set them straight unapologetically. Ignorance is rampant. Don’t foster it by silence. [/QUOTE] Try being a nonbeliever at a cookout full of Evangelicals. Not so easy. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/50 "2006-11-11T15:43:39Z")
Just another parent chiming in that _it is_ being taught in public schools. My sixth grader recently coming home excitedly explaining the difference between Shiite and Sunnis doctrinely, for example (as taught in humanities class), and in-depth coverage of the world’s faiths in World History at the High School level. Helping my older kids prepare for tests taught me quite a few things. And my second eldest, a nice Jewish boy, had, in third grade, chosen to do a research presentation on Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. (Not taught at that grade, they could choose whatever they wanted, but we had read about it together. The teacher had no objection however. Nor did we hear from any other parents about it.) As already said, how can you understand the world today or of the past (and of course, very likely, of the future) without having some understanding of religion and its place in world affairs? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/51 "2006-11-11T15:58:29Z")
Like pretty much everyone else in the thread, I think relgions should be taught (about) in schools. My only concern would be how to organize it and what to include. “The Big Five” (Christianity sub.Catholic sub.Protestant, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) for sure - but do we want to include Hassidim, Reform, Conservative etc under “Judaism”? How 'bout Theravaya, Mahayana, Tibetian, Zen, Pure Land and Nichiren under Buddhism? Sunni, Shi’a, Sufi and Ahmaddiya under Islam? I can’t begin to list all the sects of Buddhism. Next, of course, would likely be Shintoism and Taoism, each with a dozen sub-sets. Of course, there are probably more Wiccans, Asatru and “other” neopagans in the US than Shinto, so we’d better include them. Native American and Aboriginal religions are tricky - do we teach what used to be, or what it turned into after the Victorian mores got hold (which is what’s mostly practiced now under the old Nations’ names.)? How 'bout African based New World religions, like Voudoun, Santeria, Yoruba-Ifa? How 'bout African - African religions, many of which don’t even have names other than the local word for “The Way Things Are Done”? Ceremonial Magickians? Satanists? New Age? Vampyres? Sooner or later, you get into things that make even the religiously tolerant go, “Uh…is this a religion or a marketing scheme?” Or, “That’s not religion, that’s crazy talk!” For some, that level starts right with the first list. Others, somewhere on the way down. I can see the big 5, and as a neopagan, of course that one seems interesting and harmless enough as well. But I find it hard to imagine most parents wanting their kids to learn about Satanism and Vampirism in history class, unless it’s spun negatively. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/52 "2006-11-11T16:03:57Z")
Oh, and MHO on **InvisibleWombat** ’s friend is that she should be as ignorance fighting as possible without putting herself in danger. In high school, that may mean not doing a whole lot at all, because there may be (depending on the school and the local attitudes) very real physical, academic or social danger in being “out” as a Wiccan. As she gets older, she’ll find it easier to be a crusader if that’s what she wants. If not, that’s okay, too. I’ve personally never found much of a problem with being open, but I’m older, I live in a major urban area which is not at all homogenous in demographics or religion, and, most importantly, I’ve \*chosen \*to make educating others a main part of my own personal path. Lots of people have indeed recieved death threats, had their kids taken away or lost their jobs for being a known Wiccan, so it’s not at all fair to say that people’s ignorance of our religions is not harming anyone. One of these days I’ve got to get that “Practicing in the Broom Closet” book written. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/53 "2006-11-11T19:25:27Z")
[QUOTE=cosmosdan] Your friend needs to buck up. If you’re afraid to share your beliefs when it comes up then something is wrong. If people accuse her of worshiping Satan then she needs to set them straight unapologetically. Ignorance is rampant. Don’t foster it by silence. [/QUOTE] Sometimes it just isn’t worth the trouble. And I’m not sure where everybody in the thread got the opinion she’s in high school. She’s in her 40’s. People chat at parties about religion. If she quietly wanders off or identifies herself as an agnostic, no problem. If she says she’s Wiccan, the evening is pretty much ruined. [QUOTE=MGibson] Sure, but to a fundamentalist Christian the Wiccan is worshipping Satan whether she’s aware of it or not. [/QUOTE] Are you honestly telling me that the majority of fundamentalist Christians don’t understand the meaning of the word “worship”? You can’t worship something if you don’t acknowledge its existance. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/54 "2006-11-11T19:39:42Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] Are you honestly telling me that the majority of fundamentalist Christians don’t understand the meaning of the word “worship”? You can’t worship something if you don’t acknowledge its existance. [/QUOTE] A fundamentalist would say that any religion worshipping anything OTHER than Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity (God the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit), is by default worshipping Satan. That those other religions are Satan in disguise. Of course, they’re wrong, but they refuse to believe otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/55 "2006-11-11T20:34:56Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] Are you honestly telling me that the majority of fundamentalist Christians don’t understand the meaning of the word “worship”? You can’t worship something if you don’t acknowledge its existance. [/QUOTE] I’m not quite sure where you’re coming from. Let’s take a look at this from a fundamentalist Christian perspective. Satan is real. Just as real as that tree over there. If I deny the existence of that tree does that mean the tree doesn’t exist? Of course not. So a Wiccan might not recognize the existence of Satan but from a fundamentalist Christian standpoint that doesn’t necessarily stop the Wiccan from being a worshipper of Satan. Do you understand where I’m coming from? Not that I agree with that particular stance but I can see where they’re coming from. Marc ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/56 "2006-11-11T21:43:49Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] …Are you honestly telling me that the majority of fundamentalist Christians don’t understand the meaning of the word “worship”? You can’t worship something if you don’t acknowledge its existance. [/QUOTE] Alot of fundamentalists simply believe that any deity other than Yahweh _is_ Satan in disguise. Or at least thats want I was told at Bible camp. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/57 "2006-11-11T22:54:45Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] Sometimes it just isn’t worth the trouble. And I’m not sure where everybody in the thread got the opinion she’s in high school. She’s in her 40’s. People chat at parties about religion. If she quietly wanders off or identifies herself as an agnostic, no problem. If she says she’s Wiccan, the evening is pretty much ruined. [/QUOTE] Er…that is…jeez, where did I come up with that idea? You’re absolutely right, you never said that. I guess I read **iano** ’s post (“Something’s wrong? I don’t know about you, but I for one didn’t have this kind of television-picture-perfect high school. That’s how life is, I think she’s perfectly sensible.”) and thought you wrote it as a clarifier. I’m sorry about that. I still stand by my statement, regardless of her age - she can choose to become an educator or not. Nothing in Wiccan doctrine says she needs to spread the word or educate others about her religion (thank goodness!) I, personally, have chosen to do so, but I don’t look down on others for choosing differently. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/58 "2006-11-12T00:46:38Z")
[QUOTE=Loopydude] Try being a nonbeliever at a cookout full of Evangelicals. Not so easy. [/QUOTE] I know it isn’t. I don’t present it as such. I don’t recommend anybody broadcast their beliefs when it’s not nessecary. If someone asks tell them honestly. If they want to preach or argue then “I think it’s best if we don’t discuss it” is an honest answer. After going with a friend to a pentecostal church we were having snacks and coffee at a members house. The hostess started talking about her son having real problems in school and how she gave the problem to Jesus and it went away. I asked her if she had ever talked to her child about what was wrong. “No because that would mean not having total faith in Jesus” I asked " Why should God take care of that for you if you’re not making an effort to solve it yourself?" It didn’t go over all that well but out of concern for her kids of the kids of other people in that group I wanted to at least ask. The subject was quickly dropped. I’m not talking about purposely looking for trouble. I’m just suggesting we not let certain things go completely unchallenged. We can do that and still respect that persons right to choose for themselves while claiming our own. In this case, being _afraid_ to stand up for our own beliefs just doesn’t set well with me. You don’t have to be combative to do that. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/59 "2006-11-12T01:00:20Z")
[QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] Sometimes it just isn’t worth the trouble. And I’m not sure where everybody in the thread got the opinion she’s in high school. She’s in her 40’s. People chat at parties about religion. If she quietly wanders off or identifies herself as an agnostic, no problem. If she says she’s Wiccan, the evening is pretty much ruined. Are you honestly telling me that the majority of fundamentalist Christians don’t understand the meaning of the word “worship”? You can’t worship something if you don’t acknowledge its existance. [/QUOTE] To some fundies who haven’t bothered to educate themselves about other religions the Mormons are basically a cult of Satan worshippers who just use the name of Jesus to disguise their true evil intent. That’s my point. By remaining silent in the name of politeness we allow the ignorance to continue. People should know not to chat about religion at parties. If she just chooses not to participate in those conversations no problem. If someone asks “are you christian” she doesn’t owe them anything other than a “No” If they say what are you I think she’s doing herself and others a disservice to say “agnostic” rather than Wiccan. It may be an opportunity for her to educate someone. If she sees that many people have an incorrect idea about what Wicca is then she might find one or two who are willing to learn something. The evening is ruined for who? I’m curious. How exactly would that ruin an evening? Is she surrounded by evangelicals who react with horror and the urgent need to “save” her? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841/60 "2006-11-12T01:03:31Z")
Yes, in a history and current events context. Also a basic understanding of the concept of God (or ‘Gods’) along with the concept of no ‘God’ should be included. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-religion-be-taught-about-in-public-schools/379841.md?page=4)