Bible reading: Compulsory in schools

[Archer]

I think an ethics class covering all historic faith's is an exellent idea. I took one in, never mind it was in another life.

 

[Falvlun]

Review the thread.

I just read the thing as it unfolded. I don't think an argument has really been presented as to why a world religions class should be a mandatory rather than optional class in highschool.

 

[tumbleweed41]

I fully agree but until people realize a lot of things and get away from the rampant materialism that is destroying the world it is only a dream.

A dream worth pursuing, but like you said, a hard battle to fight.

 

[Storm]

I just read the thing as it unfolded. I don't think an argument has really been presented as to why a world religions class should be a mandatory rather than optional class in highschool.

Several have. If you wish to debate one, do so. Saying they haven't been made isn't really productive.

 

[Falvlun]

I think an ethics class covering all historic faith's is an exellent idea. I took one in, never mind it was in another life.

Problem 1: Ethics is much more than religion, and a philosophy class would actually be better suited.
Problem 2: Religion involves much more than just morality. It really wouldn't serve the purpose.

 

[Archer]

A religion class should be mandatory because:
1. It leads to an understanding of the root concepts of LAW
2. It leads to an understanding of the root concepts of Civility
3. It leads to an understanding of the root concepts of Business
4. It leads to an understanding of the root concepts of what the US credit system was based on (cycles)
5. It leads to an understanding of the root concepts of Marriage (none of this a woman must obey crap but a man should lay down his life for his wife and respect her)
6. dont make me get on my pulpit.

 

[Falvlun]

Several have. If you wish to debate one, do so. Saying they haven't been made isn't really productive.

Argument 1: Reading the Bible would make people look at their (Christian) religion more critically.
~It was tongue-in-cheek in the first place
~It was pointed out that it really wouldn't do that since it would likely be rather watered down, and only focus on all the stories people have heard time-and-again, and are therefore immune to.

Argument 2: Religion is a major force in our world.
~This has been asserted, and I agree, but it is simply a statement, not an argument of why religious studies should be a mandatory, rather than optional, class in highschool. Should all things that are major forces in the world be made into mandatory classes? Highschool would never end.
~If the purpose of the religious class would be to gain a better understanding of different cultures, than I think an anthropology class would be better. Otherwise, as noted in my previous post, why would religion be any more special than art, or music, etc?

Those were basically the only two arguments presented at the time of this post.

 

[Storm]

Argument 2: Religion is a major force in our world.

You left out the part about understanding it being vital. How to understand without education?

Those were basically the only two arguments presented at the time of this post.

I'm fairly sure there were others, but I don't feel like looking them up for you.

 

[ericoh2]

I think it would be beneficial for children to have something like a "religions of the world class." I'm not going to debate whether it should be mandatory or not but the school system seems to have no problem making history a required class, which in some cases seem to be a fairly one sided perspective of history. Of course for this class to be properly done it would be a class of simply giving the information and allowing the students to form their own opinions on the matter. There's a good chance that the teachers would bring up some bias or another but I'm not sure they would do it anymore than they do in history classes.

 

[Falvlun]

A religion class should be mandatory because:
1. It leads to an understanding of the root concepts of LAW

Wrong. Religion is simply one aspect of our root concept of law. Evolution, philosophy, and the development of social structures would probably be more coherent.

2. It leads to an understanding of the root concepts of Civility

Religion appears to me to be a lesson in how not to be civil. I certainly hope it is not the root of civility, because it is a pretty sandy foundation.

3. It leads to an understanding of the root concepts of Business

Prove it.
Besides, I think a business class covering basic financial things like investments (stocks, bonds, etc), retirement plans, loans, etc would be more helpful in this realm than a world religions class.

4. It leads to an understanding of the root concepts of what the US credit system was based on (cycles)

See response above. Even if you can prove that Christianity is the basis of credit systems, isn't a world religions class a bit of a round-about way to learn about the credit system?

5. It leads to an understanding of the root concepts of Marriage (none of this a woman must obey crap but a man should lay down his life for his wife and respect her)

I'm pretty sure people would of been hooking up with people they liked, and if they really liked them, they would have naturally protected them, even if religion never existed.

As it is, religion is the biggest road-block in allowing people to marry the person they truly love, either through arranged marriages or opposition to homosexual marriage.

 

[Falvlun]

You left out the part about understanding it being vital. How to understand without education?

Why is it vital to have an entire class devoted to religions?

I'm fairly sure there were others, but I don't feel like looking them up for you.

There weren't. This thread is fairly short and the entire page 3 was taken up in a debate about whether rape victims of priests should be discussed or not.

 

[Storm]

Why is it vital to have an entire class devoted to religions?

You could ask the same of history. Religion is as big an influence on world events.

 

[Falvlun]

You could ask the same of history. Religion is as big an influence on world events.

History is more all-encompassing. Why not include a section on religion in history class?

EDIT:
And maybe history shouldn't be mandatory. Just because we have a class that happens to be mandatory when it really shouldn't be doesn't mean that we should make other unnecessary classes mandatory as well.

 

[Archer]

Wrong. Religion is simply one aspect of our root concept of law. Evolution, philosophy, and the development of social structures would probably be more coherent.


Religion appears to me to be a lesson in how not to be civil. I certainly hope it is not the root of civility, because it is a pretty sandy foundation.


Prove it.
Besides, I think a business class covering basic financial things like investments (stocks, bonds, etc), retirement plans, loans, etc would be more helpful in this realm than a world religions class.


See response above. Even if you can prove that Christianity is the basis of credit systems, isn't a world religions class a bit of a round-about way to learn about the credit system?

I'm pretty sure people would of been hooking up with people they liked, and if they really liked them, they would have naturally protected them, even if religion never existed.

As it is, religion is the biggest road-block in allowing people to marry the person they truly love, either through arranged marriages or opposition to homosexual marriage.

I need prove nothing. If you knew the book's you are against I might actually answer your requests for proof.

As it is I will generalize: The credit systems older 7 year cycle of clearing to books of bad debt in in the old testament, loaning money is in that same Bible as well.

I said the root, you know how it was laid out, the earliest recorded (not the earliest) template.

I and many others do not believe in gay marriage as all marriage should be handled by a religious entity not the state. All couples should be seen as equal by the state if they live in the same house, us married people get screwed at tax time.

LOve thy neighbor?
Love thine enemy? I really dont need to get into this as you post seems to be uninformed.

 

[Storm]

History is more all-encompassing. Why not include a section on religion in history class?

Both topics are quite large enough, I think. Anyway weren't you arguing that it shouldn't be mandatory?

And maybe history shouldn't be mandatory. Just because we have a class that happens to be mandatory when it really shouldn't be doesn't mean that we should make other unnecessary classes mandatory as well.

History unnecessary?

I'm done.

 

[Falvlun]

I need prove nothing. If you knew the book's you are against I might actually answer your requests for proof.

I know the Bible pretty well. 20 years of hard core belief, and I mean hard core.

As it is I will generalize: The credit systems older 7 year cycle of clearing to books of bad debt in in the old testament, loaning money is in that same Bible as well.

I'm pretty sure my student loan won't just go away in 7 years.

Also, I'm pretty sure that all cultures had some sort of system of loaning money.

Lastly, this doesn't address why we would need a mandatory religions class just so we could find out that it is (or in this case, may not be) the foundation of our lending system.

 

[Gentoo]

EDIT:
And maybe history shouldn't be mandatory. Just because we have a class that happens to be mandatory when it really shouldn't be doesn't mean that we should make other unnecessary classes mandatory as well.

George Santayana: Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

 

[Falvlun]

Both topics are quite large enough, I think. Anyway weren't you arguing that it shouldn't be mandatory?

Yes, I don't think a world religions class should be mandatory. What gave you the opposite impression?

Just wondering: Is social studies mandatory? I was homeschooled, so I kinda missed out on things.

History unnecessary?

I'm done.

I never stated that it shouldn't be mandatory. I said "maybe". Besides, the sentence after was the point I was trying to make: just because we may have some class that is currently mandatory, and probably shouldn't be, this does not give license to create other mandatory classes that probably shoudn't be as well.

 

[Falvlun]

George Santayana: Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

I think we repeat it anyway. Humans like reinventing the wheel, and the younger generation will always think it knows better than the older generation.

And see my reply to Storm. I wasn't seriously saying that history shouldn't be mandatory. I was making a different point.

 

[Storm]

And see my reply to Storm. I wasn't seriously saying that history shouldn't be mandatory. I was making a different point.

Which you completely undermined by reiterating "and probably shouldn't be."