Religion at schools

I am okay with religion being taught in schools as long as your child goes to a school that teaches your religion. Why is your child in a school that teaches religion if you are not a member of that organization?

As long as they are teaching about all religions, I think it is a great thing. I think kids should be all exposed to all differences in religions and cultures and at a very young age. I was raised catholic and I was exposed to many different religions and even attended ceremonies of various religions as a child. It did not hurt me at all. When I was at my mormon friend's house, I obeyed mormon rules and when I went to their church, I went by their rules. Same with other religions and other ways of living. I don't think learning about other religions will hurt your son at all as long as your particular religion does not preach that all other religions are wrong. It's not like they are going to be preaching to him about what to believe...just teaching him that there are many other belief systems. I think it'll be ok.

i think this is a necessary evil.i think,you have to start telling him of your beleifs also.The presence and extent of religion in public schools is one of the most difficult and contentious issues when it comes to the separation of church and state. On the one hand are those who sincerely believe that a lack of religion in the schools "teaches" atheism or secular humanism, resulting in a decline in morality and performance. On the other hand are those who sincerely believe that state sanctioned religion and state supported religious observances infringe upon the religious liberties of all students.

I find myself agreeing with barehugs (and this doesn't often happen..) I don't see any harm in children learning about different religions - that's how it was taught in my school and I loved to learn about different faiths and went on to study others in my own time. I remember a lot of what I learned about Judaism and Islam to this day and can only think of it as being a positive experience. (Doesn't have any effect on my own faith at all...) I'm a little confused as to why you would think Catholicism would be taught in a state school?? Is this really the case - if so you should be given the choice to opt out of acts of worship and you should be able to check that they teach religious studies in an even-handed way. Get some advice from whatever Orthodox sources you can - I am sure it is likely that this is an issue that has been addressed before by someone somewhere in your locality.. There should be established guidelines for teaching religious studies which you can get from your local education authority. Your approach to the teachers should be about ensuring that their curriculum keeps to those guidelines.

Religious studies at school is not a very good idea, specially in today's world. During my school days we use to have a subject called moral science which was of great help and in that it did not cover any particular religion but it was good for everybody. School should not try to impart a particular religious subject as it will create an unhealthy society as we can see today in various countries even without this education.

Yes, its Ok to teach religious studies in Public Elementary Schools, but with conditions. I would insist that at least 3 religions be studied, and the children given a chance to talk about each one, and make comparisons. In Catholic schools the kids are brainwashed with Catholicism, and not given any chance to ask questions or make comparisons.The Catholic Church, failing to find sufficient recruits for their Religious Seminaries, is desperately trying to retain their faithful, and to sign up as many as possible. Public schools need to teach religion as a subject, rather than a creed,( as the Catholic Schools do.) Don't ask the teachers, Tell Them how you want your kids taught. If your wishes are not followed pull your kids out of that class and teach them yourself!

The younger the better is how I have always seen it. I think you should start teaching your son now about your own religion. About the school, thats a hard one since you have different views & not the same religion... I wish public schools would make their mind up... one minute they don't allow it, then the next it's a must... I think if it was me, I would be okay with it, depending on what is going to be taught. I think letting a child explore different religions is a good thing. Usually in public schools when they do have things like this, they usually don't get to into it with younger kids or even the older kids. I think they throw small things out here & there. I would talk with the school & find out what it is they talk about & then you can decide if you want him to be around that or not... I do belive if you request him not to be around, they will probably do as they do at most schools... & that is move the child to another room to color or something else & then bring him back to his class when they are done doing what they do... Goood luck....

i think it is unncessary for the small kids to teach about religion at their tender age as these children dont understand any thing.i think u can change the school with which you are comfortable.i think government should take steps in eliminating religious actions that are performed in the school.it is better that you join him in a school that preaches your religion...happy mylotting .........have a nice day.....

I don'y support studying religion in school at such young age. Its the time when they learn to explain or reason everything and teaching religion at such tender age will develop people who are either fanatics, atheists or a person with confused belief in later part of their lives. Every school should rather have a subject at later stages when the child is older and the subject should teach about all the religions of the world on a comparative basis so that the future person not only knows his religion but understands that all religions are different way to live and should be respected. Also something as personal as religious belief should start its roots from home and not school. Parents should have the freedom to teach their beliefs to their children.

hi Violeta =) i think to get a religius study at school is important, but if its the same religion with the parents. if not, i'd rather my child skip the class when it comes to a different religius class. why can i say this ? coz in my country, every public school has separate every different religions to its own classes. so there's no way that a moslem student get into the christian's class, and vice versa =) n i agree with u, the parents will always hoping that their childs will follow their belief first, if they could forever. either i will do that to my childs when i will have one tho lol coz i havent married yet neither have a child lol. have a nice day violeta..oh n btw, its a good topic

Well to tell the truth you shouldn't be sending a kid to a school where they teach about religions as you kid might actually oppose you later if you do. Religions as a part of study isn't really good as they are for life not for course. You should probably send your kid to some other school or otherwise just tell the teachers that you don't want your kid to be learning some kind of foreign religion. at least tell them that you don't want your kid to give up the religion you guys are following.

I think it is great that they are teaching religion to children that young! It is never to young for a child to begin to learn about God and Our Savior Jesus Christ! As far as the Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic question I would ask your Priest what you should do first, because the last time that I was listening to the radio they actually commented about the Orthodox church starting to become more like the Roman Catholic church. So I would use your priest as a starting point. Wonderful that a public school has finally woke up and decided to do what is right and teach the law of God! About time that they did something for themselves rather than worry about what the liberal government and naysayers will say. I support that school 100% and hope that they never change on teaching religion!

Although you might disagree, I consider that introduction of religious studies (even ecumenical) in any educational programs should be avoided. - first of all due to the high risk for proselytism to occur(certain norms, rituals, visions could be presented as the 'true ones'). A Roman Catholic believer would impose a Christian system of values based on the 'primacy of Rome' variable, a variable contested by all other Christian Churches. - secondly because serious religious studies can't be covered in one hour each week (taking into consideration that there are at least 5 dominant religions (3 Abrahamic monotheistic ones and 2 polyteistic ones). Atheism, as the main alternative to religion itself, should be also defined and studied. You might ask why? The answer is simple: during ages there were many atheist personalities that played an important role in the developement of the human civilization; needless to say, there is a possibility for one of the children in that class to become a new Thomas Paine, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Galileo Galilei, Friederich Nietzche, John Adams, Thomas Huxley, Percy Shelley, etc) Presenting only a part of this portofolio of religious beliefs might affect the developement of a child's system of values. Religion should be shaped around the concept of "free will", not imposed even under the form of "historical analysis".

Hey violeta, Religion is a very controversal subject, emerging since man first appered on earth and has survived till this day. To answer your question, I guess as long as they teach a variety of religions and not just one, it is okay. But then again, I never studied religion while in school, I got taught that at home by my parents. So, in a way, I only learnt my parents faith, which is good. For me the key, is to teach your son your faith but to also teach him to acknowledge that other people have different beliefs, you don't have to accept it but it should not affect how he will treat other people (my father made that mistake, he has eight kids, he has the lost the oldest five emotionally, the fifth being me, we are alive but we don't really have a daugther/son and father relationship). To decide whether or not whom which religion is right will be his, eventually. Till then, that task falls to you. Since it is a public school, maybe you can ask the teachers to put him in another class that is doing another subject - english, maths etc...which to me will be far more beneficial than a human who did not bring him into this world, teaching him beliefs, morals etc...because quite frankly that is your job. Lol...Good on you for wanting to teach your son your beliefs, it is a dying art.

Oh that's a lawsuit waiting to happen. Not that I condone that kind of thing but these public schools need to learn they're not churches.