BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Spirituality Here's a neat article written by a non Christian

Read this article and post your opinion please.


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I don't mind if Bible classes are taught in the public school system as long as they are elective classes.

I, myself, have studied divinity at a private college, and at my public university I am a religion/philosophy minor. I am NOT christian, but a Reform Jew, but I also hold more spiritual and mystic views as well. I have found that in the public school sector, my religion classes are much more challanging and fulfilling. They tend to think outside of the box and don't force feed you their views and not let you think about the process and meaning yourself.

I don't think that the Bible should be taught as an exclusive class. Recently a Unitarian Universalist friend of mine who is a teacher asked me to come and do a talk on modern Witchcraft. The reason for the visit was that her classes were reading "The Crucible."

Before I was allowed to address the class I was interviewed by the school's Principle. He told me outright that this was not an opportunity for me to try and convert any of the children. I agreed that this was not my intention. So, I gave my talk from an earth based perspective without bringing in the religious aspects. However, when several of the students asked me if I believed in God, I gave an honest and straightforward answer.
The kids had also been asked to bring in signed permission slips from their parents which explained the content of the class. There were no parental objections.

We all had a wonderful time, and the kids left with a whole lot of misconceptions about modern day Paganism banished from their minds.

I was also asked to go to my daughter's school years ago and do Native American Medicine Card readings. Again, the kids enjoyed it immensely.

I think if in the process of learning an opportunity comes up for a speaker to come into the classroom and share their beliefs, it can be an amazing experience! And, in that light I can see "teaching" the Bible,the Koran, Buddhist belief, etc.

I can even see classes on religious theology being offered as interfaith elective classes in High Schools which run the whole gambit of religions. But, I still feel that focusing primarily on one religion negates the equality of the others. Other religions also have their roots in amazing texts and stories. I think that young minds should be given the chance to compare the different structures and concepts without being given a one sided view of religion.

I am a Unitarian Universalist, so our religious education classes are run that way. We teach all faiths, all ideas, all concepts etc.

However, I can also see the downfall in a specific class, even if is taught on an interfaith level. No matter how careful the teachers may be, their own private convictions about their faith will enter into the discussions and the classes could wind up being very confusing to those who are very committed to a certain faith. If you are teaching Paganism one week and Christianity the next, their are definately many discrepancies between the two belief systems. Of course, U.U. kids would be right at home..lol.

So, I still have to hold to my opinion that religion is better off taught in churches and not in schools, unless those schools are theologically based.

Love and Light..

I support Biblical classes in schools. God Himself through His own Word can convert children from the reading of scripture. Whether someone is there to push it or not. God's Word never comes back void.

Than you would of course support classes based on every other religion as well Dave?

Personally, I don't care if they teach something about all religions. That way the kids can use their "free will" to pick something they would like to ascribe to. That, mixed with talking to their parents about what they have learned, they will be better informed about their choices.

I just don't appreciate my kids learning about the Muslim religion and Kwaanza without being able to learn about Christianity.

If they don't do anything about the above matters then at the very least Creationism should be taught with evolutionism.