Good question, the answer is simply no.
If you read the bill of rights, our founding fathers specifically said that government has no authority to *LEAD* any religion to the people.
It is simply on behalf of the individual's personal responsibility. As a parent, it is your responsibility to teach your children on whatever you believe in, not the govenment's.
I read this in the Time Magazine Article...I was gonna make this thread, but Alliance beat me to it 😠
My answer is yes. As long as the Bible is taught, not preached, then it doesn't violate the Constitution.
The Bible, the Quran, the Lotus Sutra, the Vedas Books of Wisdom, Buddha's teachings, etc. should all be taught.
People should be made aware of the details and history of other people's religions. It should also be taught as objectively as possible.
People should be allowed to decide for themselves what to beleive, after being taught everything there is to know in terms of ancient and current human knowledge and history.
Honestly though, I notice that many of you are afraid that being taught about the Bible, and being compelled to actually read the Bible will brainwash young children/teenagers into becoming Christians, without giving them the chance to decide for themselves....
Have you ever considered that maybe if more people READ the Bible, they would be better able to make up thier minds ?
According to Time Magazine, a servey was taken which revealed that 44% of Evangelical Teenagers do NOT know that much about the Bible...these 44 % cannot name the Gospels, nor do they know the difference between the Book of Genesis and the Book of Revelations !!!!!
Ironic , No ?
Devout people of a religion who do not even know thier own text....
The TRIGGER which turned me OFF to Christianity was ACTUALLY READING THE BIBLE....
Before I actually started doing Bible reading, I beleived that Christianity was flawless, I beleived that this God was all good, I beleived in Jesus, etc. Without any true doubts.
Once I started actually READING the damn Bible, I turned away....I got to know the basis of my religion, and found that I did not personally agree with it.
Beleive it or not, many Conservative Christians do not actually read the Bible !!!
They just rant a bunch of crap thier parents and teachers preached them, without question, and don't even know the majority of what thier religious text states.
My catholic High School actually avoided the subject of Hell....entirely....did not even mention it. They avoided teaching MANY MANY MANY things about the Bible....
IGNORANCE is the TRUE PROBLEM....KNOWLEDGE is the ONLY WAY to actual FREEDOM.....
Everyone should be taught about the Bible....everyone should be taught about EVERYTHING...the Quran...the Vedas Books of Wisdom....Lotus Sutra...Buddhism....Evolution....scientology...EVERYTHING
Only then do you have the true freedom to make up your own mind....
Originally posted by Atlantis001
No, preaching should be limitated to the churches. However there could be a discipline to teach the philosophical aspect of religion including the paradoxes but not like a christian oriented discipline.
You can't trust humans to do the right thing. Someone will always abuse the system.
Originally posted by ShakyamunisonSame with most other subjects. Perhaps we should simply get rid of public school altogether and let private schools do it all meanwhile depriving poor kids of a good education.
You can't trust humans to do the right thing. Someone will always abuse the system.
Bible studies aren't offered in any public secondary schools in Canada that I can think of which is odd considering that Canadian public education is generally better and better subsidized than American public school... what xmark said.
Re: Should the Bible be taught in US public schools.
Originally posted by AllianceNo, but then I only went to public school through 8th grade. Early graduate and all.
Were you taught the Bible in your public school?
Originally posted by AllianceYes, it should be taught along with all other religion in an eclectic theology class. Theology is an enormous elephant in all of history, to not teach a religions class is like saying general physics exists, is wonderful, but we won't be studying it because there is some controversy over which physicist was the best, but we will be studying astrophysics. Religion is too big a concept with too much impact to ignore in the education system, an eclectic approach is necessary, imo.
Should the Bible be allowed to be taught in public schools?
If so, how should the Bible be taught in public schools?
Re: Re: Should the Bible be taught in US public schools.
Originally posted by Regret
No, but then I only went to public school through 8th grade. Early graduate and all. Yes, it should be taught along with all other religion in an eclectic theology class.
How could you consciously cover global religion in a class?...not only EVERY religion, but how that religion has changed over time, including athiesm and agnocsticism of course.
Originally posted by AllianceI was taught the Bible in my Primary school, but not as fact, more as something I must know and I should use to better myself. I find it ridiculous, and it shouldn't be taught in schools. Something like this should be taught in the home.
Were you taught the Bible in your public school?Should the Bible be allowed to be taught in public schools?
If so, how should the Bible be taught in public schools?
Originally posted by Lord UrizenWhy bother? You shouldn't make people choose a religion. Religion should be chosen outside of school in one's own time. That's pretty much how people become religious.
Honestly though, I notice that many of you are afraid that being taught about the Bible, and being compelled to actually read the Bible will brainwash young children/teenagers into becoming Christians, without giving them the chance to decide for themselves....[b]Have you ever considered that maybe if more people READ the Bible, they would be better able to make up thier minds ?
According to Time Magazine, a servey was taken which revealed that 44% of Evangelical Teenagers do NOT know that much about the Bible...these 44 % cannot name the Gospels, nor do they know the difference between the Book of Genesis and the Book of Revelations !!!!!
Ironic , No ?
Devout people of a religion who do not even know thier own text....
The TRIGGER which turned me OFF to Christianity was ACTUALLY READING THE BIBLE....
Before I actually started doing Bible reading, I beleived that Christianity was flawless, I beleived that this God was all good, I beleived in Jesus, etc. Without any true doubts.
Once I started actually READING the damn Bible, I turned away....I got to know the basis of my religion, and found that I did not personally agree with it.
Beleive it or not, many Conservative Christians do not actually read the Bible !!!
They just rant a bunch of crap thier parents and teachers preached them, without question, and don't even know the majority of what thier religious text states.
My catholic High School actually avoided the subject of Hell....entirely....did not even mention it. They avoided teaching MANY MANY MANY things about the Bible....
IGNORANCE is the TRUE PROBLEM....KNOWLEDGE is the ONLY WAY to actual FREEDOM.....
Everyone should be taught about the Bible....everyone should be taught about EVERYTHING...the Quran...the Vedas Books of Wisdom....Lotus Sutra...Buddhism....Evolution....scientology...EVERYTHING
Only then do you have the true freedom to make up your own mind.... [/B]
Re: Re: Re: Should the Bible be taught in US public schools.
Originally posted by AllianceExtremely general overview, high school courses do not provide much information most times, this wouldn't be an exception. It would merely introduce the subject.
How could you consciously cover global religion in a class?...not only EVERY religion, but how that religion has changed over time, including athiesm and agnocsticism of course.
General current beliefs, general very quick overview of history, general influences on and by religion throughout history, etc. Your question seems to imply the need for a more thorough examination of the subject at the high school level, such should be and is available at the university level.
Re: Re: Re: Should the Bible be taught in US public schools.
Originally posted by Alliance
How could you consciously cover global religion in a class?...not only EVERY religion, but how that religion has changed over time, including athiesm and agnocsticism of course.
How should he know? He graduated "schools" after the 8th grade? Likely because his parents thought he might entertain an independant thought that doesn't center around god and baby Jesus.
In my old highschool we learned about many of the different religions in my world history class. I see this as really the only feasible way of doing it, since it was from an analytical perspective and was not meant to persuade people towards one religion or another. To select only one would be discriminitory against the others.