Should Religion be banned from schools?

[viperbitex]

when I was in high school, we spent an entire trimester on religions. We studied that root, reason, and rise of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. It was awesome. We were taught about the different religions, their beliefs, and their customs. Learning about religions helped me and others make our own choices about faith. Teaching about religion and Preaching religion are two different things.

[Harijan]

Oh yes our culture certainly has those influences. What you said however was that it was based on them.

Netherland was conquered by Caesar around 0 BC and was under Roman control until the Batavian revolt around 100 AD. By 1,000 AD the whole of Netherland had been converted to christianity and was part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Netherland has been Christian for about 700 years longer than Anywhere in America and specifically the United states. If Netherland is only "influenced" by judeo-christian culture then the United States certainly cannot be considered "based" in the same.

Netherland's modern history is just as entrenched in judeo-christian history as Italy, France, Germany, or even Rome itself.

As of 2002 Netherland's population religious break down
31% roman catholic
13% dutch reform
7% Calvinist
5.5% muslim
2.5% other
41% none

51% of the population considers themselves members of a christian denomination.

As of 2001 75% of the United States population considered themselves Christian.

So when you go home today take note of all the Christmas decorations and remember that your country has been christian longer and deeper than not only the United States, but most of Europe as well.

[Frigidus]

Oh yes our culture certainly has those influences. What you said however was that it was based on them.

Netherland was conquered by Caesar around 0 BC and was under Roman control until the Batavian revolt around 100 AD. By 1,000 AD the whole of Netherland had been converted to christianity and was part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Netherland has been Christian for about 700 years longer than Anywhere in America and specifically the United states. If Netherland is only "influenced" by judeo-christian culture then the United States certainly cannot be considered "based" in the same.

Netherland's modern history is just as entrenched in judeo-christian history as Italy, France, Germany, or even Rome itself.

As of 2002 Netherland's population religious break down
31% roman catholic
13% dutch reform
7% Calvinist
5.5% muslim
2.5% other
41% none

51% of the population considers themselves members of a christian denomination.

As of 2001 75% of the United States population considered themselves Christian.

So when you go home today take note of all the Christmas decorations and remember that your country has been christian longer and deeper than not only the United States, but most of Europe as well.

Wait, how does that justify teaching Christianity in schools again? 51%? What?

[bradleybadly]

Nice tainting of the question. In other words, if you mention religion then you're not open minded. But if you do ban religion from being talked about then you're open minded.

Education is supposed to prepare you for the real world. The real world has people with different opinions on religion and other subjects. You can try to deny that millions of people in the world are religious by not talking about it, but then you would be an idiot for attempting to do so.

[jennifermarie]

when I was in high school, we spent an entire trimester on religions. We studied that root, reason, and rise of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. It was awesome. We were taught about the different religions, their beliefs, and their customs. Learning about religions helped me and others make our own choices about faith. Teaching about religion and Preaching religion are two different things.

We had a similar class, only it was for a semester (i was at a public school) we learned about the above religions, along with a short bit on Jainism, Sikhism, and the Native American Religions. Our teacher had a hard time getting permission from the school board to even have the class, but once they finally gave in, they saw how great an idea it was and have expanded it to both high schools

[Minister Masket]

I got a D in Religious Studies.
I vote yes!

[edwinissweet]

dude there is no religion in public schools... i go to a catholic school but thats cus my parents want me to not becuase the government wants to brainwash me

[Caleb the Cruel]

we all know religions like to "brainwash" people so should religion be banned from schools and the such so students can think freely?

I MEAN IN SCHOOLS ALONE!!!


and before you all start ripping into me i want to try and have an open "kind" and "clean" debate on the topic...so if you want to flame me, go to flame wars!!!

What? Your own post is far from "clean & kind"!

[Ocidean]

Most children gain there religious veiws from there perants. and so it is idiotic to teach religion at schools. it is also very discrimanant to single out a particular reglion in school and teach it, be it compolsery or not.

P.S. Sorry about my spelling

[Bavarian Raven]

u teach your religous views to your kids...where is their "Free choice?"

[muy_thaiguy]

u teach your religous views to your kids...where is their "Free choice?"

Parents teach their views to their kids, no matter what those views are. I fail to see what point you were trying to make there.

[strike wolf]

There is no way you should ban religion from school. And it's really unrealistic to try.

[hrryflashman]

yep.

[bradleybadly]

u teach your religous views to your kids...where is their "Free choice?"

Funny how you guys don't apply that same logic towards the homosexual parent issue.

[Napoleon Ier]

An education must present two sides. But any decent education, Christian based or not, will teach analytcal and critical thinking not facts, so Id argue that children properly taught by jesuits are better off in terms of free choice than those going to a perfectly secualr schools. Just look at people like Voltaire.

[Frigidus]

An education must present two sides.

Why is that? Math only has one answer, science only has one real answer (we just don't have it yet). The "side" that Christianity presents has no scientific basis, hence doesn't belong in a science class. A class in philosophy would be a much better choice.

[Napoleon Ier]

An education must present two sides.

Why is that? Math only has one answer, science only has one real answer (we just don't have it yet). The "side" that Christianity presents has no scientific basis, hence doesn't belong in a science class. A class in philosophy would be a much better choice.

Im not arguing for creationsism, which I find ridiculous, read my post. To an extent, why not teach it? Let the kids decide...

[Nobunaga]

... OK, a few Yes or No questions (opinions, explanations welcome)

... In US public schools, should the following be permitted?

... 1. Kids praying (on their own or in groups of kids) before lunch.

... 2. Kids wearing "Jesus Loves You" shirts.

... 3. Teachers wearing "Jesus Loves You" shirts.

... 4. Teachers wearing "Who would Jesus bomb?" shirts. (seen those?)

... 5. A student Christian club using school facilities (meeting in a classroom after school, ie)

... 6. Prayers said during school hours for all students after some great tragedy (9/11, whatever)

... 7. A school-wide "Moment of Silence" in the same situation

... 8. Kids wearing those little hats Jews wear (forgot what they are called)

... 9. Teachers in those hats.

... That's it.

...

[Frigidus]

... OK, a few Yes or No questions (opinions, explanations welcome)

... In US public schools, should the following be permitted?

... 1. Kids praying (on their own or in groups of kids) before lunch.

... 2. Kids wearing "Jesus Loves You" shirts.

... 3. Teachers wearing "Jesus Loves You" shirts.

... 4. Teachers wearing "Who would Jesus bomb?" shirts. (seen those?)

... 5. A student Christian club using school facilities (meeting in a classroom after school, ie)

... 6. Prayers said during school hours for all students after some great tragedy (9/11, whatever)

... 7. A school-wide "Moment of Silence" in the same situation

... 8. Kids wearing those little hats Jews wear (forgot what they are called)

... 9. Teachers in those hats.

... That's it.

...

1. Yes
2. No
3. No
4. 100% No
5. Yes
6. No
7. Yes
8. Yes
9. Yes

As long as it isn't in your face it's fine. No shirts with religious figures, period. Articles of clothing mandated by ones religion are of course acceptable.

[Nobunaga]

... I tend to agree with your answers, but that one about kids using school property after school hours.

... I'm just thinking lawyer-like here. Tax dollars paying for light and heat, etc..

...

[muy_thaiguy]

... OK, a few Yes or No questions (opinions, explanations welcome)

... In US public schools, should the following be permitted?

... 1. Kids praying (on their own or in groups of kids) before lunch.

... 2. Kids wearing "Jesus Loves You" shirts.

... 3. Teachers wearing "Jesus Loves You" shirts.

... 4. Teachers wearing "Who would Jesus bomb?" shirts. (seen those?)

... 5. A student Christian club using school facilities (meeting in a classroom after school, ie)

... 6. Prayers said during school hours for all students after some great tragedy (9/11, whatever)

... 7. A school-wide "Moment of Silence" in the same situation

... 8. Kids wearing those little hats Jews wear (forgot what they are called)

... 9. Teachers in those hats.

... That's it.

...

1. Yes
2. Fine by me, yes
3. I don't care one way or the other
4. That is being disrespectful of people's views, so no.
5. The only one I know of is FCA, which I have only done once, turns out to be a more of a Baptist type of thing really. So, I really don't care if that goes on or not.
6. If forced to, no, if asked, I don't see much of a problem
7. Yes, I don't really see how it is a Christian thing only, I thought it was only to respect those lost in a tragedy.
8. Yamakas (I think), I don't care if they do or not.
9. Same as 8

[Snorri1234]

Oh yes our culture certainly has those influences. What you said however was that it was based on them.

Netherland was conquered by Caesar around 0 BC and was under Roman control until the Batavian revolt around 100 AD. By 1,000 AD the whole of Netherland had been converted to christianity and was part of the Holy Roman Empire.

Netherland has been Christian for about 700 years longer than Anywhere in America and specifically the United states. If Netherland is only "influenced" by judeo-christian culture then the United States certainly cannot be considered "based" in the same.

Netherland's modern history is just as entrenched in judeo-christian history as Italy, France, Germany, or even Rome itself.

As of 2002 Netherland's population religious break down
31% roman catholic
13% dutch reform
7% Calvinist
5.5% muslim
2.5% other
41% none

51% of the population considers themselves members of a christian denomination.

As of 2001 75% of the United States population considered themselves Christian.

So when you go home today take note of all the Christmas decorations and remember that your country has been christian longer and deeper than not only the United States, but most of Europe as well.

Which is why I don't consider the USA to be based on religious traditions except for a number actually being based on them.
That was the whole point. Our laws aren't based on it. We allow gay-marriage, abortion and basically anything that has a reasonable (not a religious) argument. We quite clearly said there was a seperation between church and state and that the latter shouldn't influence the former. Sure we have traditions grounded in christianity but the fun thing is that they aren't inspired by law. Noone has to oblige by sunday-rest in little towns, noone has to oblige by the moral objection against gay-marriage. We are a land of the free where everybody can do what they want if it doesn't hurt anyone.

And our Christmas decorations aren't there yet. We just celebrated Sinterklaas (of which Santa Claus is just a ripoff).


Also I think it's very good that not all opinions are given equal time in class. We don't learn in history that the holocaust may or may not have happened because there are some people who deny it. Not all opinions are equal. Some are ill-informed or just plain crazy.

[Iliad]

... OK, a few Yes or No questions (opinions, explanations welcome)

... In US public schools, should the following be permitted?

... 1. Kids praying (on their own or in groups of kids) before lunch.

... 2. Kids wearing "Jesus Loves You" shirts.

... 3. Teachers wearing "Jesus Loves You" shirts.

... 4. Teachers wearing "Who would Jesus bomb?" shirts. (seen those?)

... 5. A student Christian club using school facilities (meeting in a classroom after school, ie)

... 6. Prayers said during school hours for all students after some great tragedy (9/11, whatever)

... 7. A school-wide "Moment of Silence" in the same situation

... 8. Kids wearing those little hats Jews wear (forgot what they are called)

... 9. Teachers in those hats.

... That's it.

...

1. Yes
2. During lunch sure
3. Yes
4.No
5.Yes
6. No.
7. Yes
8. Yes
9. Yes

[demon7896]

the constitution calls for a separation of church and state or school, i forgot

[muy_thaiguy]

the constitution calls for a separation of church and state or school, i forgot

Actually, that phrase is no where in the constitution. Only that no religion will be made the official religion of the country. That is all.