Religious views

[Wayne]

i'ma buddhist..stayin in a fuckin Muslim's country

[H Rock]

As Q proposed, organized religion is one of the most deceitful human inventions ever. There is absolutely NO WAY that religion should be mixed with the educational system. To mold those poor kids views since they are small, as Q said, it is practically brainwash.

You know, studies have shown that kids have some sense of God, even if they are raised in atheistic communities.

In some ways, small kids are smarter than many adults.

[J@3]

How can someone be considered smart purely because of their religious beliefs?

Wouldn't it be "smarter" to take all of the facts into account and then make a conscious, personal decision to believe in God and become involved in the whole religion thing as opposed to just doing it because your parents taught you to?

[H Rock]

Look at what I said. Even if the kids were raised in a traditionally atheistic soceity, they still had a sense of God.

[J@3]

That's fairly general and not backed up by anything though. What exactly is a "sense of God"? Knowing that people believe he exists? Knowing there's "something" out there greater than us? According to religion, there's more than 1 type of God so technically, thinking there's a "greater being" doesn't necessarily mean your God.

[H Rock]

My point wasn't that it proved God's existence. My point was that to teach about religion in school wouldn't be "brainwashing". It would merely be teaching what kids already know.

[J@3]

Ah I see.

I'm not against teaching religion in school, but only if kids are allowed to choose whether they do it or not. I was forced to do it in primary school and that played a large part in my continued dislike of the whole idea of organised religion. I'm fine with it being taught, it's a huge part of society, but I don't think it should be compulsory.

[H Rock]

As a conservative Christian, I'm actually against teaching it in public shools, because they only "religion" that would be taught would be Catholicism or some very liberal Christianty.

I'm no history expert, but I think that in the US, banning prayers and any religious things was good, because that meant that private Christian schools were founded, which were, and continue to be, a much better environment for Christians children.

[J@3]

As a conservative Christian, I'm actually against teaching it in public shools, because they only "religion" that would be taught would be Catholicism or some very liberal Christianty.

That's a good point. Come to think of it, we weren't taught anything apart from Catholicism. That kind of thing just breeds ignorance IMO, and probably explains why so many people seem to misunderstand "foreign" religions.

[The Other Kevin]

As a conservative Christian, I'm actually against teaching it in public shools, because they only "religion" that would be taught would be Catholicism or some very liberal Christianty.

Are you saying that Catholosism and other sects are not true? Isn't that condradicting what Jesus preached, "Love thy brother"? And what would you say to someone that thinks that conservative Christians are liars?


I belive that the history of religions should be taught, as it can be put easily into the curriculm and is relevent to all without being overly biased. Religion itself should not be taught, as I think that it is the parents job to bring up thier child anyway they want.

[bullsfan009]

Is there such thing as a 'true' Christian?

It's exceedingly ambiguous questions like that which keep me from believing.

Yeah I know what you're saying here Axel. So many people get caught up in the technicals, the Theology, with all the philosophizing and such that they lose focus on what it's all supposed to be about.

Look, Jesus gave a lot of teachings & advice, but only 2 commandments, that's it:

1. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, body & soul"
2. "Love your neighbor as yourself"


It's hard, but supposed to be simple- it's just about loving God b/c of who He is & what He's done for everybody, and loving everybody including yourself not because of anything you/they've done, but because God loves you & them, in spite of all you & they have done.

[Jona]

As Q proposed, organized religion is one of the most deceitful human inventions ever. There is absolutely NO WAY that religion should be mixed with the educational system. To mold those poor kids views since they are small, as Q said, it is practically brainwash.

I've had religion in school since gr. 1 and will have it up until I graduate, but I don't think we were 'brainwashed'. The focus of religion courses is more being a good person than believing in God. They do teach that God exists, of course, but it's the message behind the Bible that is the most important thing.

I think you can teach great values and moral lessons from a secular point of view. Religion is not the only source of lessons.

[Matt]

Look, Jesus gave a lot of teachings & advice, but only 2 commandments, that's it:

and here i thought there was 10 commandments.

[Ruff Ryder]

Look, Jesus gave a lot of teachings & advice, but only 2 commandments, that's it:

and here i thought there was 10 commandments.

The 10 commandments were before Jesus's time.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

The 10 commandments were before Jesus's time.

Indeed. That's why they call it the OLD Testament.

[cyanide]

I belive that the history of religions should be taught, as it can be put easily into the curriculm and is relevent to all without being overly biased. Religion itself should not be taught, as I think that it is the parents job to bring up thier child anyway they want.

Good idea! I'd love to see a history of religion, covering bases of the major religions of the world from an objective perspective rather than having to take mandatory religion courses and write down reflections and copy a chapter from the Bible... which I had to do in jr. high.

As for the New and Old testaments, Judaism follows strictly only the Old, and Christianity combines both, with empahsis on the New, as some of Jesus' teachings render the Old Laws obsolete.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

I'd love to see a history of religion, covering bases of the major religions of the world from an objective perspective

Would never happen. It's just like teaching objective ethnic history. Impossible, by fact.

[bullsfan009]

I think you can teach great values and moral lessons from a secular point of view. Religion is not the only source of lessons.

What is the basis & foundation of these values & moral lessons without the aspect & concept of God?

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Bullsfan, consider this:

Would God deny entrance to the Heavens to a man who has lived by 'Christian' virtue, despite not believing in the concept of God. In the end, and to everyone else's eyes but our own, it is what we DO, not what we BELIEVE.

[cyanide]

Would never happen. It's just like teaching objective ethnic history. Impossible, by fact.

Because the instructor and students would already be looking at it subjectively since they're already biased by being exposed to a certain religion before taking the course? I hope I worded it right.

It'd still be nice for them to learn about other religions and de-mythify stereotypes, though.

it is what we DO, not what we BELIEVE.

I find the notion of believing in Adam and Eve as one aspect of being able to enter the gates of heaven is ridiculous, since I don't think it matters at all. Sadly, a lot of people, even those that I know, believe that in order to accept the story of Adam and Eve as truth is mandatory for eternal life

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Because the instructor and students would already be looking at it subjectively since they're already biased by being exposed to a certain religion before taking the course?

Exactly. Not to mention that class would be a powerful tool with which to present one religion as 'superior' to others.

[cyanide]

Jeez, I hope that never happens, but I wouldn't be surprised if it does with a conservative teacher

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Jeez, I hope that never happens, but I wouldn't be surprised if it does with a conservative teacher

Conservative teachers are one thing. Think about the books. Who will get to decide what is included and what is omitted? Who will do the actual writing. Many more things would be in play.

BTW, here in Greece we still have 'Religious Education'. Some time priests do teh teaching, as well.

[cyanide]

Perhaps 5 leading open-minded religious professors should all be in for creating a standard high school textbook on the world's major religions. There might be some bickering, but it's doable. I've seen an "office" at the University that has some theologians of different religions share the same program. Kinda neat how they all can co-exist in harmony.

[AlwaysWhat,NeverWhy]

Maybe in Canada, that is feasible.

In Greece, it's more likely to get hit by lighning. 3 times in the same day.