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?

They should absolutely be taught about different religions as it supports tolerance and understanding, not specific faith.

I was brought up Christian, but not religious at all now. But we were discussing with the dc yesterday how interesting it was that this year there is Passover, Easter, the start of Ramadan, and the Hindi festival of colour all in the same week and how interesting all the different religions are.

I'm hoping to bring the DC up in a way that they are respectful to people's faiths and understand what people believe, even if I don't believe much of it myself.

On of dd's best friends is Muslim and she has recently started wearing a hijab. Dd understand what it means and why she is more careful if she is on FaceTime with her friend if my DH is in the house - dd doesn't have the same beliefs, but she knows enough to respect that her friend doesn't want my DH to see her hair even over video.

RE/RS in schools for GCSE tends to teach about different religions or different branches if the same ie catholic and Protestant. And now snore religion has to be taught so in my school we did Islam too. But I think the thing a lot of ppl don't realise is that a large part of the GCSE is also ethics in which abortion, homosexuality, right to die and many other subjects are taught and discussed. Certainly when I taught (couple of years ago) these we would discuss different religious beliefs but also have a class discussion about individuals thoughts and I allowed students to ask any questions (particular interesting when teaching sex education element!!). I think this worked as covered religions but also discussed everyday life.

@TrainWhistleChoir

I absolutely think we should teach religion. It enables a non-biased explanation of why the student / person in the street in your class wears a headscarf / turban / keeps their legs covered in hot weather and helps to counter parental "interpretations" that may be given to children at home. In non-religious households, families may not know enough to explain religious views. RE at GCSE includes visits to different places of worship etc. which is an insight into other communities in your area.

I agree with this - and I would add that a lot of art in different cultures is based on their religion or uses themes from it, so a basic understanding of different faiths will help people understand their art.

Imho teaching about religion should only be in the context of citizenship or social studies - discussion of the beliefs and culture of others and the need to respect those, but it should be clear no particular faith is being presented as "true".

Where I live it's really frustrating. Theres only one school and its cofe and the local church has a huge influence. The next nearest school on the edge of the next town is also cofe so the reality is parents really don't have a choice.

Lots of schools teach 'Philosophy and ethics' as their RE class. I think it's important to know some basic ideas of at least the major religions for children to flourish in the work place.

I've taught more Health and Social Care than I care to remember but I LOVE teaching the 'equality and diversity' units.

Most level 3 students are going on to study nursing and allied health professions so it is important to know things like not cutting threads of someone's wrist or that some people ignore their newborn for a few days.

Teaching that religious exist, and roughly what they believe, is helpful.

Schools shouldn’t teach religious belief. (We are not religious: it’s not lack of belief, it’s an active belief that people who believe in god are horribly mistaken, just like m an adult still believing in Santa.)

So when my child was told by her teacher that ‘god loves you and now we will write letters to god’ she lost all respect for her teacher. If teachers want credibility with children (and parents!) they need to stick to teaching facts.

Religion, spirituality and morality are all positive for society.

People need to stop trying to destroy them.

And every religion needs to be respected (it's not ok to bash one religion e.g. Catholicism and respect others)

@tangerinelollipop

And every religion needs to be respected (it's not ok to bash one religion e.g. Catholicism and respect others)

The right of everyone to practice a religion, or not, needs to be respected.

Catholicism would come under the 'Christianity' banner. Christianity has so many denominations and divisions within denominations. Non Christians faiths are the same.

It's fascinating.

We should be teaching religion. It's impossible to understand literature; science; history; politics - without understanding religion.

@tangerinelollipop

Religion, spirituality and morality are all positive for society.

People need to stop trying to destroy them.

I don't think anyone is, are they? I'd argue that religion is not universally a force for good though, and that it is perfectly possible to have spirituality and morality without religion. I've said on this thread that I agree with teaching about religion - but I'd like to see that done as part of a curriculum that includes ethics and philosophy as well, and which touches on atheism as an equally valid choice.

@whenthebellsring

I wasn’t complaining at all. I was told what school I was going to, I didn’t get to choose. It was based on geographical, family, availability etc. I was sent to a school which was previously A school which only accepted a certain religious group of students. Years later, it was changed to an all encompassing, all welcoming school of all faiths. I was purely stating that we were gently pushed towards a certain persuasion. Perhaps I should have said that first.

Another one here who feels it's one thing to teach about religion and quite another to teach religion itself

Trouble is there's a lot of trust involved; all you need is one rabidly religious teacher after brownie points with their "leader" - and yes I had one - and before you know it indoctrination has taken the place of education

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Another one here who feels it's one thing to teach about religion and quite another to teach religion itself

Trouble is there's a lot of trust involved; all you need is one rabidly religious teacher after brownie points with their "leader" - and yes I had one - and before you know it indoctrination has taken the place of education

Very true. DD1 had one of those in Yr 8. She threatened DD with internal exclusion because DD (politely and in the course of a debate) questioned the existence of God.

She 'retired' at the end of that school year, having been unsuccessful in recruiting young minds to her brand of evangelical Christianity.

@pointythings and others...

But don't you realise that's what the RS syllabus is? I've not taught in schools for over 10 years but when I did it was philosophy (Bertrand Russell etc ) and ethics and also religious perspectives .

I think people are arguing against somethig that isn't the case. (Except in religious schools - I imagine they may teach their religion...)

Debating the existence of God is part of the course - they need to know arguments for AND against...

@SavingsQuestions I agree - that's the syllabus my DD1 followed, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. It was RS as it should be taught. That doesn't happen consistently, however - by the time DD2 hit GCSE age, she had hit and miss RS teaching and was not offered a full GCSE. What she did get was very heavily skewed by her teacher of the time, another very committed Christian. He wasn't as bad as DD1's teacher, but debate got mostly lost, and he always steered ethical discussions towards the Christian viewpoint. That shouldn't happen.

RE is obviously an important part of the curriculum given the fact the majority of the world’s population still believes in God. I’m an Atheist but I think lack of education breeds ignorance and bigotry. It’s always important to learn about other people’s beliefs even if they’re opposite to yours.

As for religious schools, my DC attend a CofE school because we live in a small village so it’s the only option. They pray at lunchtime and at the end of the school day but that’s it, they still get taught RE as any other school would because all schools follow the curriculum. I can’t really see much issue with the praying, my DC aren’t forced to do it at gunpoint and have told me they mostly pretend to move their mouths.

I'm so sorry this kind of disgrace happened to your daughter too, pointythings; unless you're speaking historically I'd hoped such things had been stamped out, but it seems not

As said, it's exactly this sort of practice that worries me, and sadly those involved in it are rarely the sort who'll listen to reason

It's not very clear to me which way your poll is meant to go, but I definitely think we need to teach our children about religion. It is still a major force in UK and world life, with huge social and political implications. Whatever you believe or not, ignorance of religion is not a good thing for the next generation.

I can’t really see much issue with the praying, my DC aren’t forced to do it at gunpoint and have told me they mostly pretend to move their mouths.

The fact that they even feel the need to pretend suggests they've already accepted the religious aspect as something that cant be questioned or challenged, which would bother me

Yes, teaching about religion is a must, lots of our problems today and cultural issues relate to how religion shaped the world centuries ago and to understand the world today you need to understand this.

RS/RE should include all major world religions and also how religious cults and sects develop and how they are different from your “normal” church.

It should not teach religion as a fact or promote one.

Schools should also be totally secular, if I want a religious school I should go private and pay for it. These schools should also be under strict regulations and assessments to avoid issues like some of the Islamic and Jewish schools have. Religion has nothing to do with the normal school day.

Schools should also be totally secular

I will agree with this only when someone can guarantee that all schools are 100% neutral and free from any ideological agendas being pushed

No.

Honestly the UK would be a better place if religion were a strictly private matter, and not in schools.

Of course; this is not enough for some. But actual religion is marginal in how most of us manage our lives, and that should include schools, and there should be better attempts to teach critical thinking skills.

Religion is after all the old form of considering the world. There are lots of others which are more useful. Morality comes from parenting but schools have to educate everyone.

I think that teaching the basics of different faiths is a good way to teach tolerance. I have no issue with my children learning about what different people believe. I have more concerns with being taught religion as in the automatic default that people believe in a God/s.

It will be interesting to see the census and what the majority of the UK believes. I found it difficult to answer because I'm atheist as is my husband (we weren't always and that's a whole other story), my eldest who is 11 doesn't seem to believe in a god or gods of any kind. However, my three younger children are taught in schools and do believe in a God as the schools does the Lord's Prayer, and talks religion and songs songs etc, so when asked, they say they believe.

It was hard for me to put Christian, but that's what they are as that's what they were taught, and I don't want to have those children who try and point out the fallacy in their religious teaching. I'm sure it will change, as least for some of them, but there it is, my children are, for the most part, Christian or identify as, without being Christened, because that's what their schools (both they attended) teach that.