Teaching the Bible in public school

[WriterDom]

http://www.cbs46.com/Global/story.asp?S=6453623&nav=menu140_1



Georgia is just starting to offer bible classes. I don't see anything wrong with it as long as the course is an elective. The two classes they will be offering here are both full.

 

[intothewoods]

I'm fine with it, as long as they stick to this:

The classes must be taught "in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students."

 

[Shankara20]

Why can’t it just be included in an existing literary fiction class?


yes - as a matter of fact I AM in a wise-assed mood today, why do you ask?

 

[SweetGigi]

i have no problem with it. I think it would be a great idea to offer a teaching on the other books of 'big' religion. I think it would give lots of children the chance to be educated on something they otherwise would never have the chance to really know.

might even create an outlet for them instead of foster prejudices.

 

[Chicklet]

When I was in high school I took a global religion class... it was VERY interesting. We studied parts of the bible along with parts of the quaran, and other books that for the life of me i can't remember. We learned about the pilars of islam, about buddhism, all sorts of other isms... did comparisons, just had discussions, just learned about the different aspects of the religion and how it shaped the countries which were predominantly populated by those religions. It stands out as one of my favorite classes from high school.

I think it's a shame that so much intensity is involved with religion in this country. I totally believe in keeping church and state seperate - hell, I'm an Athiest. But I still think religion has its place in american life and in human existance altogether.

Teaching religion through the bible or whatever other way is important, in my humble opinion, so that everyone has a choice of whether or not to believe what their parents believe, or what their peers believe. it's too easy just to follow our parents on whatever religious path they want, whether or not it's christianity or athiesm or wicca.

 

[BiBunny]

Why can’t it just be included in an existing literary fiction class?


yes - as a matter of fact I AM in a wise-assed mood today, why do you ask?

We have a "Bible as Literature" class here. Of course, this is college and not high school, but still. It's an English class, and I'm an English grad student; I may take it one day.

 

[Chicklet]

again, i'm an athiest, and i think the bible is quite interesting. you should totally take the class bunny.

 

[graceanne]

I, obviously, think it's a great idea. But I'll bet that their's going to be a stink - and soon they'll have to offer classes on the koran and stuff.

 

[Chicklet]

it's too bad everyone can't just agree to teach about all the religions.

last post in this thread i promise

 

[graceanne]

it's too bad everyone can't just agree to teach about all the religions.

last post in this thread i promise

Actualy I think that offering classes on all religions would be a good thing. But I know a lot of pain-in-the-ass Christians who'd make a fuss about their children learning about other religions. Plus I don't think that you can really cover the depths of each religion on a multi religion class. Maybe like a semester of every religion - but even that would just skim the surface.

 

[Chicklet]

wow i totally already broke my promise.

my high school religion class was year round, with a focus on different regions each semester. it worked out really, really well. if i could repeat any class i think i'd repeat that one

what really irritates me is when i talk to other athiests and they don't know squat about any religion. how can you make a decision to be an athiest without the education?

 

[Shankara20]

and stuff.

such as -
Vedas
Upanishads
Qur'an
Torah
Guru Granth Sahib
Tao-te-ching
Karmaprabhrita
Pearl of Great Price
I Ching
Katha
The Diamond Sutra
Kangyur

more on request....

 

[intothewoods]

such as -
Vedas
Upanishads
Qur'an
Torah
Guru Granth Sahib
Tao-te-ching
Karmaprabhrita
Pearl of Great Price
I Ching
Katha
The Diamond Sutra
Kangyur

more on request....

Thank you. It's incredibly important to learn about the world's religions and "great books" - and I don't just mean for touchy feely let's all love each other reasons! (though I have nothing against that as a reason either) You can't truly understand history, culture, politics, sociology without reading at least the major players.

 

[RawHumor]

I'm a Christian, but I really agree with Chicklet and company here. I find religions interesting, and I abhor it when people spout off on topics about which they're totally ignorant.

It'd be nice if more schools had electives about global religions as a whole... even in colleges.

 

[neonflux]

These are the only two methods for teaching religion (and the Bible, Q'ran, Vedas, or any other religious text) that I find acceptable within a public school system. But then, I'm from San Francisco, LOL! Neon

We have a "Bible as Literature" class here. Of course, this is college and not high school, but still. It's an English class, and I'm an English grad student; I may take it one day.

When I was in high school I took a global religion class... it was VERY interesting. We studied parts of the bible along with parts of the quaran, and other books that for the life of me i can't remember. We learned about the pilars of islam, about buddhism, all sorts of other isms... did comparisons, just had discussions, just learned about the different aspects of the religion and how it shaped the countries which were predominantly populated by those religions. It stands out as one of my favorite classes from high school.

I think it's a shame that so much intensity is involved with religion in this country. I totally believe in keeping church and state seperate - hell, I'm an Athiest. But I still think religion has its place in american life and in human existance altogether.

Teaching religion through the bible or whatever other way is important, in my humble opinion, so that everyone has a choice of whether or not to believe what their parents believe, or what their peers believe. it's too easy just to follow our parents on whatever religious path they want, whether or not it's christianity or athiesm or wicca.

 

[graceanne]

such as -
Vedas
Upanishads
Qur'an
Torah
Guru Granth Sahib
Tao-te-ching
Karmaprabhrita
Pearl of Great Price
I Ching
Katha
The Diamond Sutra
Kangyur

more on request....

I am not patient enough to list them all. LOL I just named the first couple that came to mind.

 

[FurryFury]

I've made it a requirement for my kids to study the religions of the world in high school.

I'm a bit paranoid that they not become involved in a cult. Perhaps in part because my ex took my little girl to one.

I made sure that I took her to a loving tolerant church at that time even though I'm no longer religious. I felt she needed a counterpoint to the religious, controlling, secretive, patriarchal thing he was forcing her to go to. This whole thing was pretty scary for me and her.

I was willing to go so far as to go through the preparation to join the church, taking catechism classes, to help my girl. I made sure it was a religion that was NOT considered a cult in case his constant threats to take me to court were ever acted on. Fortunately he died before that all happened.

Fury

 

[graceanne]

I've made it a requirement for my kids to study the religions of the world in high school.

I'm a bit paranoid that they not become involved in a cult. Perhaps in part because my ex took my little girl to one.

I made sure that I took her to a loving tolerant church at that time even though I'm no longer religious. I felt she needed a counterpoint to the religious, controlling, secretive, patriarchal thing he was forcing her to go to. This whole thing was pretty scary for me and her.

I was willing to go so far as to go through the preparation to join the church, taking catechism classes, to help my girl. I made sure it was a religion that was NOT considered a cult in case his constant threats to take me to court were ever acted on. Fortunately he died before that all happened.

Fury

That's very smart. The best thing you can do to guard against cults is education.

 

[FurryFury]

That's very smart. The best thing you can do to guard against cults is education.

Thanks.

That's what I thought. Two of my biggest fears for the kids are cults or being crazy religious in a mainstream religion and drugs.

Fury

 

[graceanne]

Thanks.

That's what I thought. Two of my biggest fears for the kids are cults or being crazy religious in a mainstream religion and drugs.

Fury

I've known and talked to people who've been in christian cults, and the majority of people in them have NO knowledge of the bible. They just do what they're told. The bible even says to READ God's word, so that you'll know when someone shows up saying things that aren't consistent.

Satan is also known as The Liar - he can twist anything the bible says. He does know the bible, he knows it inwards and outwards, and he WILL try to catch you up. He'll take a bit out of context, and use it for his means. Look at when he and Jesus met up, the lies he was telling Jesus.

 

[FurryFury]

My kids don't strike me as the being sheep type.

I've read the bible all the way through a few times. I was waaaaaaay religious once.

*nods*

Fury

 

[graceanne]

My kids don't strike me as the being sheep type.

Mine, either. LOL But we also read the bible with them pretty routinely. We've already read it front to back once, and are about halfway through reading it again.