AIBU to think we'd have less religious extremism if

[BubblesInMyBath]

Schools actually taught history regarding religion, and not just the basics of each one?

Maybe it's changed since I was at school but all I remember was learning simplistic things like what various festivals were about

I feel people perhaps wouldn't take it so literally if they were taught in more depth about different religions and could see the similarities/differences and how interpretation has changed through history?

BubblesInMyBath Mon 09-Mar-15 15:03:42 I agree I was astonished to learn about classical civilsation and all the god worship and detail, you can see how its all a clear forerunner for the big ones.

it doesnt have to be in depth, just clear back ground, that this isnt be all and end all.

teach them to question texts, look at wider back ground.

You basically have to teach children that, well, don't believe everything the Bible says. And that works these days with Christianity. But not Islam. It is the height of heresy to even hint that the Koran or Sunnah are anything less than the perfect words of Allah and Mohammed

well its not a problem schools should worry about it, its what school is for to learn how to question everything

I agree, AlPacino. Schools should be secular - and indeed, critical thinking is a skill that should be taught.

Most parents do encourage their children to question and think....but it's the ones that don't who are causing all the problems. In some cultures it's exceptionally disrespectful to question your parents. What to do then?

In some cultures it's exceptionally disrespectful to question your parents. What to do then?

give the dc an arena in which to safely question things, which is school without offending their parents

Yabvvu. Your agenda seems to be that schools should be encouraging people to abandon their faith. As if, if only people knew enough about their faith they would see it is a load of bullshit. I don't really want to get side tracked into why that is just a bit stupid and very offensive, so I will concentrate on the fact that religious studies is not about supporting faith or disbelief. Religion is part of the world and just as much an academic area of study as any other part of the world. There are many different parts of it to study, literature, art, architecture, sociological, psychological, history etc. etc. But it should never in our schools be about promoting or undermining belief because that fails to give it it"s proper place and proper respect as an area of academic study,
No part of it should be taught with the agenda or intention of which you are speaking.

There would be less extremism if we hadn't had an illegal war against Iraq and if we didn't have Guantanamo bay rendition (torture) centre and all the other torture centres.

Your agenda seems to be that schools should be encouraging people to abandon their faith. As if, if only people knew enough about their faith they would see it is a load of bullshit.

I didn't take the op as that just that its good to question things and not be spoon fed absolute truths.

Religion stands up to scrutiny doesnt it? Questions are allowed? I also think many generations just do it, because its what they do and never actually question it.

paxe what have the kurds, christians Yazzi etc got to do with war in Iraq, didnt they all suffer as much as anyone else? why are their heads being lopped off.

I think you are being a little naive about how willing some children are to question their parents beliefs, Al.

Whois You have completely misunderstood every word the OP has said. Well done.

I certainly don't mean schools should encourage people to abandon their faith, or that their faith is BS. I mean schools should teach history of religions.

Just that extremist views where people then harm others as a result of their faith may be less common if people were more educated.

I say that, as a person who previously had extreme views, which I think were actually harmful to my peers. I didn't lop anyone's head off over mine, thankfully but I'm sure it caused a lot of hurt. I still find my faith very precious to me, but it has morphed into a less rigid and more tolerant form of faith

I dont know caffe look at past generation, and young generation. religion is loosing its grip.

religion is loosing its grip. Religion might, but faith isn't.

Religion does seem to be losing its grip, but in the way that people who discover it now tend to have more extreme views as its less a part of our culture/tradition so the types that are surviving are more radical and I suppose exciting.

Bubbles (love the name) but that would be a valid case for ensuring religion remains a part of our culture/tradition and like someone said previously, just look at America and its secular education, what good has that done?

OP when you say "history of religions" in what context do you mean? as a collective or as separate religions (don't they already do this?)

I think I mean - go back as far as they can and what did people believe then and why, right down to the major religions today

Teaching about how/who/when scriptures were decided to be
'scriptures'

I'm aware it may not be practical and schools may not have enough time left to do it but IMHO this type of thing would be more valuable than the little I learned at school which was along the lines of Muslims celebrate Eid, Christians have christmas, I don't see how it particularly helped me be tolerant or educated about other beliefs

I doubt it. Ww2 and hitler are pretty well covered in schools afaik and there seems to be a rise in far right groups.

Also, how do you explain things like conflict in Israel or Ireland in a balanced way that is acceptable to everyone?

Aren't those far right groups religiously based usually?

No - they are usually a bunch of vicious twats with too much time on their hands.

I never learnt about any of those beliefs except Islam and i'm pretty tolerant. I don't think this is what imbues tolerance somehow. I think in a way you're talking about 2 different things.

I'm tolerant because I was never taught any other way and christianity also affirms it. Personally i don't believe teaching about religions at school is what creates tolerance. I think its something that is taught at home, from parents.

Teaching the history of religions - its unclear what your agenda for this is, it does come across as you wanting children to be taught in such a way it turns them away from their beliefs. You cannot divorce faith and belief in scriptures since that is the book you receive spiritual guidance from.

Which makes me wonder about some of the Church of England clergy who claim to not believe in the bible

Good idea Bubbles

i didn't school in the U.K but was taught a lot about Islam and Christianity at school. We covered the beginnings of Islam (not that i remember it all now) the first jihad, Mohammed's early life, marriage, kids etc. We covered the bible from beginning to end, at A'level we had critical reviews of the synoptic gospels. Is this the kind of thing you're talking about?

I feel I became more tolerant of other faiths when I learned just how similar a lot of what they teach is.

I was very definitely indoctrinated that evangelical Christianity is the ONLY valid true belief.

With absolutely no idea what exactly those other "false" religions taught their "poor deceived followers" (this is the type of language I was raised with)

I don't think teaching real history would be teaching kids in a way that turns them away from their faith personally, but that it may turn them away from extremist views to understand how religion evolves over time.

I appreciate my faith now, it remains - just not a literal interpretation

If faith goes, faith goes but you cant not teach wider background in fear that it will go.

It is TJ'swife but going back past the major religions today. Ancient religions right down to now

Just to add, tolerance will increase when parents start making more of an effort not to segregate themselves into their comfy groups "their own type of people" and have have wider friendships, encouraging wider friendships amongst their children and welcoming them into their homes.

You can teach the history of religion till you're blue in the face at school, if a child has never associated with someone of a different religion, never seen mum or dad going out for a drink with asian hindus, or inviting black muslim friends round to the house, they will always view others be it religion or race with fear and suspicion.

OP do you have any friends that are Buddhist, muslim or hindu? and i mean that you visit each other at home regularly?

I btw completely get why some CofE clergy can say they don't believe the bible but still hold on to their faith. The sins of scripture is a good book by one of them explaining

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Sins-Scripture-Exposing-Bibles/dp/0060778407

Don't mean anyone must read or buy it, just couldn't remember who wrote it