Should religious schools exist?
By arthi_88
@arthi_88 (1516)
India
December 21, 2008 10:21pm CST
Well the question is quite simple and easy...Are there any need for religious schools like Gurukul, Madrasa or anything else exist?...According to me religion should be taught at home and as personal faith or belief and at an age when the person can differentiate between good and bad...Why at such tender age when they need to enjoy life and learn basic etiquette and cultural things...Shouldn't every child attend a school which teaches everybody and not children of any one religion...
3 people like this
15 responses
@XaresAssassin (28)
• United States
22 Dec 08
I don't want religious schools.
Theres are religious wars going on right now.
And kids making fun of other kids religions is bad enough.
Just because there is a catholic school nearby, does not give kids the right to make fun of kids who are Muslim.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
22 Dec 08
Hi!
That sort of thing never happened to our community. We actually have a lot of non-Catholics in our schools but never has there been an issue like that (concerning religion as a point of ridicule), I guess you should talk to the school authorities and enlighten them on what is happening outside the school so they could be able to do something about it.
@XaresAssassin (28)
• United States
23 Dec 08
yeah. Im an Atheist, but that dosn't mean I don't respect others religons.
Its not that bad really.
Its just sad to see random kids running around the block talking bad about other peoples religons.
1 person likes this
@Isabellas2007 (192)
• United States
22 Dec 08
Religious schools are GREAT! I think that they provide a good foundation of teaching some of the more in depth beliefs of the persons religion than the parents can bestow on them. This could be because the parents do not know, or they have just forgotten about that portion of the religion. Either way the religious schools allow for a better understanding of ther persons religion and gives them a basis for learning about their religion.
@headhunter525 (3548)
• India
22 Dec 08
I would personally prefer schools where children of every religion come to study together. However, that should not take away the right to some people to study in their own religious institutions. I think in a country like India where 'secularim' means giving respect to all religions, it's important to give space to people to practise their religion. I would dislike 'secularism' being understood as throwing out religion and bringing in atheism, as least for India.
I think what we need to do now is to reform these schools syllabus.
I also disagree with the idea that religious teaching should be given at an age when the child can differentiate between good and bad. I feel that aggressive proponents of this idea are atheists, and they want to get rid of religion this way. However, I think they fail to understand the propensity for evil in human heart or what Aristotle would call 'weakness of the will'.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
22 Dec 08
Yes I believe Religious Schools are prejudicial to their own Religions. This is not right, because elementary school children are too immature to make a choice. Facts are, Catholic Schools Brag- If we can get them at 5, we can keep them for life. Religious belief in the School, is faultily presented to the child as proven fact, when it is not Proven, cannot be Proven, and can only be Assumed. Religion should be taught as multiple beliefs only, and there should be no onus on the child to choose any one religion from the lesson course. I'm a Great Believer is the Separation of Church and State. But would like to see that extended to, The Separation of Church, State, and School System!
@Isabellas2007 (192)
• United States
22 Dec 08
I actually am Catholic and I have never heard a Catholic school say that. I do not know what school area you are talking about, but I know that the schools that I have worked with in the past did not say that. Children are at a tender learning stage at that age so I agree with you there. However, if the parents want them to learn that religion it is the choice of the parents is it not? Hmm last time I checked the religious schools that are around me, Catholic, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, charge to hvae the kids sent to them. So I think that you are wrong there, because it is a freedom of Religion, if the parents choose the religion and pay the cost for the school why should the kids not be allowed to attend them? They do teach other religions in most schools that I have seen the lesson plans for. Unlike in Public schools they might get taught some of the Greek and Roman mythology, but nothing else.
How can multiple beliefs be taught as there is only One God, and his Only Son Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you can give me the source of your so called fact. I would like to see that in writing. So please show me the sources for your facts.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
22 Dec 08
I agree with Isabella. I for one have been brought up in Catholic schools. They never try to brag that, neither do they force the kids of other religion to join the sacraments, they merely invite but never force. Neither do they ever say that being Catholic is the best choice, in fact no school ever does that that's Catholic. As far as I have experienced, Catholics never really recruit people anyhow, it's purely personal choice.
I think you misunderstand religious schools barehugs, what I like about Religious schools is the fact that their manner of teaching is based on the core values of love. That's why they're great teachers because they strive to imbibe upon their students that value while instilling them of information of the world at large. They actually balance personal well-being and social concern as the doctrine of religions have. There's no religious organization or religion that would cause harm to their fellow-men, it will always be based upon the belief that we are all loved by one God and that we should love one another. Which actually shows us that regardless what personal gain we will have in the future, we should always be concerned or conscious about how we could help our communities or neighbors as well.
You cannot actually separate the state and the church in schools, it's like saying that you should separate your emotion and your intellect while teaching your kids. Remember that the school is the second home, would you want your kids to experience learning without love?
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
22 Dec 08
I think religious schools should exist more. Non-Sectarian schools lack the capability of instilling values vital for the well-being of any person or student. Religious schools actually imbibe in their students important values to continually teach students what parents teach (or lack in teaching them) at home.
I could truly compare someone who comes from a religious school and someone who hasn't by the attitude and their perception on life, I could always detect the finesse in actions and words from those who come from religious schools.
With present situations where religion classes and values classes were stripped off the curriculum of schools (in public schools) you could truly see that children are becoming more and more worldly and somewhat uncontrollable as compared to those who still belong in religious schools.
Though I am not also for a school which bad mouths other religions and pushing or advocating their preferred religion, but indeed teachings on morality and other values can only be achieved by religious schools.
@Galena (9110)
•
24 Dec 08
that is not true.
while I am religious (Pagan) myself, I don't believe children need a religious framework to see right from wrong.
morality is not a religious issue.
I have morals, not because I believe my Gods will punish me, but because I believe in what is right and what is wrong.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
27 Dec 08
It's not about God punishing people for doing wrong things. It's actually about how God loves us and how we should also love each other because of this great love. Religion is centered in love, if you love someone you'd never do anything to harm them.
Right and wrong isn't the only thing one must know. If you don't help out someone, that's neither right nor wrong (it's actually your choice) but being our loving God's people, we should go beyond ourselves to be sensitive enough to help out.
@jess_chris (25)
• Philippines
22 Dec 08
For me, theres nothing wrong with it... as long as they teach the right Gospel and there ways are according to the Bible,
@vishnu_badlapur (560)
• India
22 Dec 08
I don't thing that religious schools are needed in the first place. Even if they exist that is not a problem unless they start preaching in such a way that children feel their own religion is above/greater/better than any other religion. More over, such children may also find it difficult to interact with other religion people after they come out of their schools. This may lead to further complications in their life and to the unity of the society.
@Galena (9110)
•
22 Dec 08
I think that schools should teach ABOUT religion. but not teach any religion as being more true than any other.
it's good for children to learn about different religions as this promotes understanding between people of different paths.
I don't think relgious schools are fair, because we can't assume that a child will follow the religion chosen for them by their parents. that's their own path to seek out in their own time, not the choice of the parents.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
22 Dec 08
I don't see anything wrong with a religious school... i was educated from primary to college in a Catholic school... and i plan to enroll my daughter one in the future... i think they are there to reinforce the faith taught by parents... and to make students understand the religion in a different light...
@cbreeze (1205)
• United States
22 Dec 08
It is our responsibility to teach our children from the moment of birth. Quite naturally we teach them according to our beliefs morally, ethically and religiously. If a parent wants their child to attend school where their religious beliefs are taught along with academics, it is their right. Children are not born knowing good from bad. They form their oppinions about good vs. bad from their parents.
@auntpondie (172)
• United States
22 Dec 08
i think its a parents choice to send them to any sort of school they see fit. my children go to public, but not because i dont approve af private or christian schools, but just because thats our choice. just like everything else, we should be able to have a say in where we want our children to go to school, or anything else we see fit in order to raise them the way we want as parents.
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
22 Dec 08
Even though I do believe that people can have their beliefs and ideals I don't think that religious schools should exist. When someone is as young as students are they absorb all the information that they come into contact with. If you go to a religious school you're only going to learn the beliefs of one type of people which isn't always necessarily right. Young children should have a choice of what they want to learn about and what style they want to live as well because they are human beings as well just smaller.
@LuvBr0wn13s (765)
• United States
22 Dec 08
I think religious schools are fine. It is just another area where parents are trying to instill the best things they can in their children in a world that is getting meaner and nastier as the years go by. It is also good for children to have a good stable foundation in their faith and values before these very things are tested by the rest of the world. when they have to go out and be confronted with people that don't have a good moral system in place it is good for them to have the foundation they received to reach into. Sometimes just teaching at home isn't enough since kids are so ready to rebel against or test their parents.
