SHOULD we be teaching religion in schools?

[JustSleepAlready]

In light of recent events. I don’t think teaching about different religions is a negative thing per say- it promotes knowledge, understanding, and CHOICE. I’m not sure if I agree with specific schools for specific religions tho, perhaps this is mind blocking kids to other possibilities /beliefs in life?? Like I say, I’m not sure. I’m not religious, have never practiced religion. I have nothing against anyone because of their religion. I guess I would have something against you if you mean harm to me or my family ( despite your religion. Although if it’s BECAUSE of your religion I guess in a way I am against it?). What do others think? I’m in no way skating or referring to any single religion. As a ND person, just wondering what others think?

Maybe replace it with 'civic studies' that includes general details about all religions (or main ones), plus basic politics, finance etc. No point having referendums or even elections in a country that doesn't teach its citizens the basic details about its political system, finance system etc.
Just all the education a citizen needs to understand the basics of how the country runs, plus tolerance etc

My DC's school went into very great detail about a couple of religions, but not much about others. Some of that detail was far far too in-depth for general understanding and a broader curriculum that encompassed more understanding about society, politics, finance would have been much more beneficial.

@suspiria777

Sorry, non denominational. I agree with everyone. Teaching ABOUT religion is vitally important. And by a properly educated non biased teacher. I agree we should teach about links to government/control etc. I don’t think we should teach religion. I just want my kids to make up their own educated minds. Not that you’re uneducated if you raise your child in a faith- I just want them to know what they are agreeing to live by, since they have the choice. I was taught at a catholic school by a fairly open minded nun actually! But we did have that particular religion rammed down our throats in other ways.

Teaching about world religions? Yes. Very important to understanding the world imo.

Teaching one faith above all? No. If parents feel strongly about that they'll do it at home.

we should be teaching ABOUT religion.

and that should include the unpleasant history and present.

It's fine to talk about religion in school. But it is absolutely essential that they should not be promoting specific religions and freely discuss the negatives that religions can cause.

Personally in the Batley case I don't have an issue with them showing a cartoon and speaking about the fuss it caused. By not showing the cartoon, they would not have been talking about the issue objectively. The idea that a people of a certain religion might be up in arms over something so innocuous is an important message to teach.

It's fine to criticise the crusades for example, fine to criticise the Puritans, fine to criticise people who resort to intimidation and violence in the name of religion.

Suspiria, ND -neuro diverse.

I'm an atheist teaching in a CE primary school, and really think that, as a school, we do a good job of teaching RE to a very ethnically and religiously diverse community, where probably less than 5% of pupils come from practising Christians families. We have a lot of fun, working with parents and community groups where possible. We try to foster curiosity about a range of religious beliefs and cultural manifestations of such beliefs in children whose families are often very devout. My impression is that children love an opportunity to examine faith and religious tradition, and that seeing these explored in other religious contexts, quite the opposite to entrenching their own beliefs, it gives them the tools to critically examine their own traditions. I also see that, when pupils see their own and other religions treated with respect and "delighted curiosity", and an acknowledgement of the warmth of feeling the adherents of said faith have for their religion, pupils learn to feel magnanimous and respectful toward each other's religions or lack of faith. The "delighted curiosity" approach is one that I feel comes naturally to children once modelled.

But we did have that particular religion rammed down our throats in other ways

But it IS a Catholic school. I wouldn't call it ramming that religion down anyone's throats because that's what it says on the tin. I would say so if it were a secular school.

I wouldn't go to a Catholic school or school for Muslims or another religion and complain about having that religion rammed down my throat. I just wouldn't go to them at all.

Similar to attending any specialty school and complaining about that subject or specialty being rammed down my throat.

Religious instruction (brainwashing - remember the Jesuits?) Has no place in the life of under 18s and if we stopped that we could lose religion in a generation. That way the appalling bigotry caused by religion might be lessened. (Protestant v Catholic, demo outside Batley school, etc etc etc )

Learning about beliefs, yes - in the same way we teach Roman gods and customs, something that others believed. And also the reason for religion - control of behaviour and explanation of phenomena in a time before science.

Anyone who thought they could find Halal cabbage is beyond help.

I was once in a job where a customer asked me if the pork was halal. The fucking pork .

Admittedly not read the full thread. But I went to catholic primary school and high school, and whilst not in the least bit religious now it never bothered me. There was an ongoing joke that were learnt more about other religions than we did Catholicism in high school. And it was really interesting as we were used to the catholic teachings and stories, we loved learning about the others. Our RE also covered a lot of ethics too, viewed from all different religions. Not sure what the situation is now as that was nearly 20 years ago.

But I know no one from my school that goes to church now. In fact it was social suicide if it were known you when to church whilst I was a teen! So don't think they succeeded in indoctrination if that was their intention - plenty of girls had sex before marriage and babies out of wedlock, plenty of gay students and teachers too.

Perhaps mine was a minority in this? I don't know!

@wevs

Maybe replace it with 'civic studies' that includes general details about all religions (or main ones), plus basic politics, finance etc. No point having referendums or even elections in a country that doesn't teach its citizens the basic details about its political system, finance system etc. Just all the education a citizen needs to understand the basics of how the country runs, plus tolerance etc

My DC's school went into very great detail about a couple of religions, but not much about others. Some of that detail was far far too in-depth for general understanding and a broader curriculum that encompassed more understanding about society, politics, finance would have been much more beneficial.

I think Civic studies is a far better idea!

Myself and my children went and go to a catholic school and they learn about all kinds of different religions. I'm happy religion is taught in school as it gives my children to decide if they do or don't want to follow any religion.

Yes. In an increasingly hateful world, teaching young people about other cultures and beliefs promotes tolerance (at least it should).

@Tinydinosaur

I think we should teach about religion, without bias, but with respect for each religion.

This ^^

Learning about different religions should be compulsory, and I hope it will teach tolerance.

Religious Studies (the lesson) is very very rarely taught in schools as religious instruction in the old-fashioned sense. The entire point of it is to widen pupils' understanding of and respect for different faiths, to consider the ways (good and bad) that different worldviews impact on public and to look at the undeniable cultural heritage of religion.
I suspect most of the people on this thread have never looked at an RS syllabus. This is the case in faith schools as well. RS is an academic subject and can be taught by someone of faith or not - just like Maths, English, Science etc can be.
You seem to be thinking of assemblies in faith schools which is an entirely different thing. It is not helpful to conflate the two and it is parental attitudes that 'RS is for religious people' that stop kids getting the most from it. Ime the kids who believe that when they are learning stories that Muslims believe about Muhammad they are being taught this as 'truth' usually believe that because their parents have told them RS is indoctrination and therefore have completely ignored the teacher saying 'this is what Muslims believe'.

No clue what happened to my grammar there sorry. Toddler bouncing on me!

I'm a religious study teacher (in training)

@SchrodingersUnicorn

Religious Studies (the lesson) is very very rarely taught in schools as religious instruction in the old-fashioned sense. The entire point of it is to widen pupils' understanding of and respect for different faiths, to consider the ways (good and bad) that different worldviews impact on public and to look at the undeniable cultural heritage of religion. I suspect most of the people on this thread have never looked at an RS syllabus. This is the case in faith schools as well. RS is an academic subject and can be taught by someone of faith or not - just like Maths, English, Science etc can be. You seem to be thinking of assemblies in faith schools which is an entirely different thing. It is not helpful to conflate the two and it is parental attitudes that 'RS is for religious people' that stop kids getting the most from it. Ime the kids who believe that when they are learning stories that Muslims believe about Muhammad they are being taught this as 'truth' usually believe that because their parents have told them RS is indoctrination and therefore have completely ignored the teacher saying 'this is what Muslims believe'.

Totally agree. Personal religion is not part of my course. More like why we study religion and how we study religion.

Personally I don’t think they should at the rate they do. Lessons about other peoples cultures and history? 100%! But I don’t think weekly RE lessons are needed and I think it should be down to the parents to teach more about religion. I’d rather the time in school was spent teaching then about the real world.

@FedNlanders exactly! I'm an RS teacher, pastoral lead and an assistant pastor at my local church.
So I have a faith but it's incidental to my teaching and I wouldn't dream of telling my pupils what to believe. That would be really poor teaching.
In the department we currently have me (liberal Christian), a Buddhist and an agnostic.

@Planty13 well it's lucky that the RS syllabus includes ethics concerning environmental issues, euthanasia, abortion, issues of human rights, discrimination... Bit of politics thrown in there too.
Less than 50% of it is 'this is what religiona say' and even that bit tends to be related to their 'real world' (eg why does my Muslim friend fast in Ramadan? Why is my Buddhist friend vegan?)

Amazing how many experts here don't actually have a clue what is taught in schools and how religious lessons are delivered.

I taught religion education for 15 years and was head of department. I loved it and so did the kids because it wasn't the old, stuffy religious studies you remember at school but it is nowadays all about ethics, opinions, discussions. We are giving kids the tools to understand themselves and the world and male informed decisions based on the knowledge they have.

Religion studies is a framework for kids to explore the world, society and where they sit on topics that will affect them such as death, abortion, race, gender, stereotypes etc

At the very heart of religious education is allowing kids to form their own opinions and having the tools to express themselves. They are taught about different religions, societies, cultures which they can agree with, disagree with etc but they are doing it in an informed way.

If we go down the route of America or France where religious studies is not on the curriculum then you foster ignorance and intolerance. Look at the hate crimes in these countries. Pure ignorance and being scared of others fuels it.

The baying mob outside the school last week is a prime example of why we need religious education, I can guarantee of people who don't want freedom of speech I would guess they haven't had an all round education and show very little respect for views not of their own. Do we want to be a country that has zero understanding or appreciation of others?!

@Planty13

Personally I don’t think they should at the rate they do. Lessons about other peoples cultures and history? 100%! But I don’t think weekly RE lessons are needed and I think it should be down to the parents to teach more about religion. I’d rather the time in school was spent teaching then about the real world.

I think the real world does contain religion, Planty.

It's a good idea to teach children about religions in the world. Just one lesson a week with no bias. The kids can drop it when they are choosing their options but it's fascinating and makes them think.

Ime the kids who believe that when they are learning stories that Muslims believe about Muhammad they are being taught this as 'truth' usually believe that because their parents have told them RS is indoctrination and therefore have completely ignored the teacher saying 'this is what Muslims believe'

I agree.

I’d rather the time in school was spent teaching then about the real world.

Teaching about different religions, which is part of different cultures and history is also teaching about the real world, isn't it? Not something that can be covered in one lesson or one month. It should be part of continuous studies like every other thing. Although I think people should be allowed to opt out of the lesson at some point if they want.

I think teaching about the major world religions with no particular focus on one is ok.

I don't think that faith schools should be state funded if religion forms any part of their entry criteria. The taxpayer shouldn't have to pay for these schools which discriminate against children on the grounds of religion or lack thereof.