religious studies teachers are religious studies teachers to me!!

the question i think the author wants to ask is...
"should only the religion christianity be taught in schools"..
and if not...
"then what other or should no religion be taught in schools"

dont beat around the bush...
:friday:

how do you tell a born again christian anyways..NO ONE KNOWS!!!

OK, if you put it that way, perhaps you are right. Here are my answers.

"should only the religion christianity be taught in schools"..
No.
and if not...
"then what other or should no religion be taught in schools.

Judaism, it is the religion from which sprang Christianity.
Islam. This is a religion that is much in the news. It is a good idea for kids to know what it really teaches.
Christianity, of course.

I also think it is important that kids learn a bit about the other religions that are present in the community; Hinduism, Taoism, just to name a few - lets not forget Buddhism. :cool: The course does not have to be extensive. It could just touch on the core beliefs of these faiths, and a bit of their history. Anyone, any good teacher that is, could teach such a class. All the teacher needs to do is to know his material.

I am sure you know that learning about a religion is different that practicing it. But it is import to know what others, that live around you, believe. That way myths about these peoples can be dismissed, suspicions can be proven groundless. Perhaps, we can also find that there is more that unites us than divides us.

The question I have about this issue is do you think the Public school system or rather the Ministry of Education would allow other religions besides Christianity to be taught in the public schools? I imagine not, and I could forsee alot of christian organizations rallying against it, because they feel that it "corrupts" students from Christianity. I personally dont think it is a bad idea to teach different religions as a part of the cirriculum of Religous Knowledge, as it does imply different religions not just Chrisitianity, unless we change the titile to Christian studies it would be a more fitting title. But do you think religion of any kind can be taught in an objective way that its goal is to inform instead of trying to transform? Just my thoughts.

:bouncy:

The question I have about this issue is do you think the Public school system or rather the Ministry of Education would allow other religions besides Christianity to be taught in the public schools? I imagine not,
I imagine not as well! Very short-sighted of them.
and I could forsee alot of christian organizations rallying against it, because they feel that it "corrupts" students from Christianity.
Yes, that would be the standard complaint.
I personally dont think it is a bad idea to teach different religions as a part of the cirriculum of Religous Knowledge, as it does imply different religions not just Chrisitianity, unless we change the titile to Christian studies it would be a more fitting title.
Alas, most Christians think that theirs is the first, the only and the last religion. The truth is none of that is true.
But do you think religion of any kind can be taught in an objective way that its goal is to inform instead of trying to transform?
Yes, I do. I did it for years! (Not here!)

I studied religion in college, and it was one of my most exciting courses that I studied. I enjoyed going to learn about these other religions that are out there, and it opened my eyes to my own faith as well, strengthening it in some cases, and weakening it in others, really making me look deeper into my spirituality. I think that they need to teach about all major religions in schools, but at certain levels, like senior high, between grades 10 -12, when the students would be more stable to be impartial to the faiths.

I studied religion in college, and it was one of my most exciting courses that I studied. I enjoyed going to learn about these other religions that are out there, and it opened my eyes to my own faith as well, strengthening it in some cases, and weakening it in others, really making me look deeper into my spirituality. I think that they need to teach about all major religions in schools, but at certain levels, like senior high, between grades 10 -12, when the students would be more stable to be impartial to the faiths.

Now that makes sense. But they must also teach of the tragedies caused by Christianity. To teach that interpretations are not absolute and correct. Don't know if I am going to say this next part right but here goes. That Christianity is as flawed as the people that practice it. As in the interpretation and how right or wrong is the interpretation is lived by.

Well I don't think targeting specific religions is fair, it should be unbiased. I'm not disagreeing with your statement Vicky, but just expanding on it. Everything that is documented on the religions should be taught. Influences and historic events, whether good/ bad should be discussed for all faiths so that the students can have full knoweldge of them; so they can make their own decisions/conclusions as to their spiritual direction. :hammer:

Well I don't think targeting specific religions is fair, it should be unbiased. I'm not disagreeing with your statement Vicky, but just expanding on it. Everything that is documented on the religions should be taught. Influences and historic events, whether good/ bad should be discussed for all faiths so that the students can have full knoweldge of them; so they can make their own decisions/conclusions as to their spiritual direction. :hammer:

Excellent addition sorry I did not add it in.

Now that makes sense. But they must also teach of the tragedies caused by Christianity. To teach that interpretations are not absolute and correct. Don't know if I am going to say this next part right but here goes. That Christianity is as flawed as the people that practice it. As in the interpretation and how right or wrong is the interpretation is lived by.



I dont think religion needs to be taught in that light. Every religion I believe has flaws, and some tainted past or history. Pointing out those flaws would be extremely biased and then the problems begin. I also dont think a religion syllabus should try and interpret the doctrine of any religion, as is obvious by this post, persons hold various interpretations to religous doctrine. We should simply focus on teaching the fundamentals and basic doctrine of each religion, and leave it up to the individual to decipher what is what.

It should go without saying that religions, because they are populated by humans, are subject to errors, mistakes and down right malevolent acts. But when one is teaching a course, particularly an introductory course, one should teach the ideals of the faith, it beliefs, and its doctrines and not how well the followers adhere to them. Such things are best left to a later time when the students have really understood a given faith. A course on the History of Religion might be a better place.

I attended a course called, "Where Did God Go Wrong?" It dealt with many of the "misdeeds" of Religion. It was a humbling experience because no religion had "clean hands." To make a long story short, the course ended with all of us agreeing that God did not go wrong, we did! Sometimes we "hear" God's words, but we don't listen to his words. We look into the Holy Books but we don't see! We read, but we don't understand.

Holy Writings are like no other writings in the world. They cannot be read by the ego, but by the soul!

me personaly i have no problem..."CG" with teaching all religion in school, especially public school!!

i have no quam with that..in fact i encourage it becasue how else would we be able to really say we are teaching religion!!

but, who are you gonna get to teach it...
most of the religious studies teachers are christian teachers who do it part time, or do other subjects!

we can avoid all of the christian yadda yadda yadda..oh they hate this and the christians are this, and give you guys a fair opportunity!
:bahamas:

but, who are you gonna get to teach it...
A teacher who has been trained in the teaching of Religions.

The teacher must remember that teaching Religion as a subject differs greatly from teaching it as system of beliefs to follow - that is best left to the teachers of that specific faith.

Religion is just another subject like Math, English, etc..It requires some proficiency in its teaching. A good teacher must not express a preference for any of the religions he teaches about, in fact he should teach them all so well that his students don't even know which faith the teacher follows. It is not his job to convert, but to educate. He should not be a "trumpet blower" for any religion. But he should be a "trumpet blower" for that uniquely human institution that is as old as time, and is to be found in every society that has ever been, from man's earliest glimmers of self-understandings to this very day. That institution is man's desire to seek beyond - expressed in the religions of the World.

It is an endlessly fascinating subject that can hardly be master in one life time. It is a shame that all to often it is relegated to the teacher who drew the "short straw."

religious studies teachers are religious studies teachers to me!!

the question i think the author wants to ask is...
"should only the religion christianity be taught in schools"..
and if not...
"then what other or should no religion be taught in schools"

dont beat around the bush...
:friday:

how do you tell a born again christian anyways..NO ONE KNOWS!!!


No, that was not my question..and I did not beat around the bush my dear yk2bad.....To let you in on something they are already taught in the schools right now as i type but only a few.........Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism ..this is to expose the children more into a wider culture of Religion......plus it has been noticed that the children they are seeing and noticing a lot of religions around them so it is to enlighten them that they exist, some have different philosophies than others but they do exist!....so what you said was not my question....it was all urs.....!

Just wanted to know, a few point on the Religious teacher...because I have seen that they are treated a different way.....they are expected to carry on like Christians and I heard it from a statement from a person in a high position in the ministry...So to a certain extent Religious Teachers are expected to be Christians or else they are not suppose to teach Rk in the schools.....so you may say not but the big people in charge looking at it from a different point of view....I see RK as another subject....and I think if anything it should not Be Religious Studies but Christian Studies and I still believe that the children need to know more about other religions instead of those three....Rastrafarianism is and has been a group that has been here for years....why is that not taught...Children are already exposed to these religions....So teach them the truth and nothing but the truth!

No, that was not my question..and I did not beat around the bush my dear yk2bad.....To let you in on something they are already taught in the schools right now as i type but only a few.........Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism ..this is to expose the children more into a wider culture of Religion......plus it has been noticed that the children they are seeing and noticing a lot of religions around them so it is to enlighten them that they exist, some have different philosophies than others but they do exist!....so what you said was not my question....it was all urs.....!

Just wanted to know, a few point on the Religious teacher...because I have seen that they are treated a different way.....they are expected to carry on like Christians and I heard it from a statement from a person in a high position in the ministry...So to a certain extent Religious Teachers are expected to be Christians or else they are not suppose to teach Rk in the schools.....so you may say not but the big people in charge looking at it from a different point of view....I see RK as another subject....and I think if anything it should not Be Religious Studies but Christian Studies and I still believe that the children need to know more about other religions instead of those three....Rastrafarianism is and has been a group that has been here for years....why is that not taught...Children are already exposed to these religions....So teach them the truth and nothing but the truth!



First of all 'What is the truth?' As is obvious from this forum, we all have our own opinion on what is the truth, or rather what isn't. The goal of a Religion syllabus should not be to present any religous doctrine as a truth, but rather to present the basics, the history, and belief system of that religion's doctrine, and simply that present it. If the individual wants to take it any further and apply it to their own belief system then that is their concern.

Secondly I dont think that Religion Teachers should be elevated to a higher expectation in regards to their moral code of conduct than teachers of other subjects. Teachers of all and any subject I think should conduct themselves in a way as a positive example for their students.

First of all 'What is the truth?' As is obvious from this forum, we all have our own opinion on what is the truth, or rather what isn't. The goal of a Religion syllabus should not be to present any religous doctrine as a truth, but rather to present the basics, the history, and belief system of that religion's doctrine, and simply that present it. If the individual wants to take it any further and apply it to their own belief system then that is their concern.

Secondly I dont think that Religion Teachers should be elevated to a higher expectation in regards to their moral code of conduct than teachers of other subjects. Teachers of all and any subject I think should conduct themselves in a way as a positive example for their students.


Now when I say truth I meant the facts then....They go and explore the other religions and do not know completely their philosophies.... or the orgin etc of the other religions.....when i say the truth i mean the true identity of the religion....many times you don't usually get the facts from those who are in the group they are usually covered up and some are misguiding people...!