great way of thinking :thumbsup

I guess all religions should be taught to a basic degree. Not only can children then make thier own minds up, but they can understand different religions etc meaning understanding different cultures and ways of life etc.

You mean basic things like evolution and science too?
You do realize those are "theories" and there is a ton of faith put into both.

The bible is an IMPORTANT historical book just as the Koran and other texts. Its funny you should mention atheism because thats exactly what they teach in schools. So your kids are already being "back doored" with your blessings.

Again with the attack against christians, you are a biggot I can see why you are so full of idiotic viewpoints. Tolerance is something religions teach, obviously you have never learned it.

Do you mind if I interject here ?*

Are you eluding to monetheism here ?


Very well put.


Again very well put.



Only the truth will set us free - the secular world is mainly just an extention of the religious one.

religion has a huge influence in world politics, wars, business, etc. but you don't wanna educate your children about them? that's just as bad as those people that send their children to those christain brainwashing camps. i feel bad for anyone that grows up not understanding religions and their role in many peoples lives. you can sit here and be an ignorant fuck saying they cause nothing but problems and have never done any good for you, but every person here today has been influenced by them. we are where we're at today because of them. our current laws, politics, and personal belief systems have been molded by them.

no one with an open mind should be shunning the study of religions.

You keep failing to give any specifics. Why don't you tell us how religion would be studied. What sort of class are you talking about and what religious texts would be looked at? How would the material be covered? Would you present all religious texts (i.e. the bible and the koran) as equally valid?

Give us some specifics Splum.

should evolution be taught in church? leave the bible where it belongs.

and where exactly is that I wonder ?

ah, good, got somebody's attention.

actually, I think it's amusing (and sad) that people seem to think evolution and religion are mutually exclusive. why couldn't god have created the earth the way scientists say it began, and let evolution take over from there?

All it takes to be set free is to lose your fear :thumbsup

Ah, so quickly round to god but nevermind. ....." God created the earth the way scientists say it began" ........Which scientists & which theories feed your statement I wonder..........

The bible is an IMPORTANT historical book just as the Koran and other texts. Its funny you should mention atheism because thats exactly what they teach in schools. So your kids are already being "back doored" with your blessings.


though we never had a teacher say" there is no god" or "there IS a god",
we did have one teacher who had us read Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn, which raised the interesting thought that every creation story, such as Genesis, is just that: a story. That led to quite the spirited debate, as I recall. Most kids in my class were Christian and quite offended by it. I never really felt atheism was being taught in that class though. our teacher encouraged us to have our own viewpoints, share them, and respect those of others.

my sister declared she was an atheist one day in grade school and almost got kicked out for causing a disruption. she only declared it because someone else said anyone who didn't believe in god was stupid. (this was during a class discussion.)

what difference does it make which scientists & which theories? pick one. let's say the universe began with the "big bang". who's to say god didn't orchaestrate the big bang?

by the way, I do not believe in "God". I believe in the interconnectedness of all beings and all energies. There may or may not be a "higher power" of some sort holding it all together.

Sorry Splum, I erased the quote box in #112. that first paragraph's yours. nobody ever accused me of being computer-savvy.

how about if schools started teaching satanism?

We arent talking about teaching how to practice satanism but the history and beliefs of satanists.

When you say "valid" what do you mean by that? I would encourage all major religions to be studied to some extent but not how to "worship" those religions. I think people get that confused when I say teach it in schools.

to teach the bible teaches how to live like a jew and xtian

Thats like saying to teach the works of shakespeare is teaching how to practice infidelity. Look this thread is for intelligent people dimwit.

Then if you do not belive in god isn't your first statement somewhat superfluous & contradictory to your second statement ?

Interesting. This week, Time's cover story is an essay arguing in favor of teaching the Bible in schools, which can be boiled down to this: "Of course the Bible should be taught in schools. Duh. It's religion that shouldn't be." On the cover of its international edition is a story that is less easily boiled down: "The Truth About Talibanistan," about the resurgence of the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan (and also, Pakistan), and how it's "the next battleground of the war on terrorism." The story is in the U.S. edition of the magazine but not on the American cover, presumably because Rick Stengel & co. think the Bible will do better newsstand (even though it is a singularly unattractive cover).

This episode echoes a similar decision made by the Newsweek brass in October when the international editions all ran a cover called "Losing Afghanistan: The Rise of Jihadistan " about the resurgence of the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan (and also, Pakistan),
and how it's a place from which "Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups [can] hatch the next 9/11." The American cover? An exclusive cover shot and story on Annie Leibovitz entitled "My Life In Pictures" (which was also controversial for whitewashing her life as a lesbian); presumably Jon Meacham & co. thought it would do better on the newsstand.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/0...o_n_44220.html

The pitfalls of religion are the reason it should not be tought. Like i said before, if there was objectivity and questioning it would be a different case but that is the huge problem with religion. It doesn't promote debunking theories or looking beyond what is already established. Those things are viewed as blasphomous.

A basic knowledge of religion is fine but its the abuse of power that is my main concern. You get the teacher who is a hardcore *whatever* and of course his teachings are going to be biased.

Also, you keep pointing out that 90% of people are religious, ect. So what? At one time most people were racist too but thankfully that is one thing we've tried to end and as much good there might of been in religion man has totally perverted it and used it for his own gain. The only kind of spirituality i could ever promote is that of personal spirtuality because of this.

Also i should mention that there are some universities who offer theology courses and do a good job at staying fairly objective but you get church officials in there "teaching" or devout *insert religion here* and its no longer about expanding minds as it is a propaganda session.

thats what i fear. what happens when a devout religious person teaches a course on the history of the bible in a public school?

if you bothered to read his book, you?d know that he?s FOR teaching it in schools, alongside greek mythology, and other religious pieces of literature. What he is against is teaching it as a religion, or using it in pseudo-science, such as intelligent design for example

There are subjects it falls into already, called theology and literature.
All holy texts should be covered. Why not? School is not church and vice versa.