What are your all thoughts on religon in public schools?

I am honestly diehard against it. You cant have religon in schools that are diverse as public schools. I am fine with Private schools etc, but public schools are for all. An arabic child going to a public school where christianity is tought is pretty wrong. Even more, public schools are part of the government, and since you need to seperate government and religon, there. Also, schools are to teach un-bias non-religous pure fact or theory. Such as for science. You cant block things like evolution theory, because it is that, a theory. An idea. Blocking it out just keeps kids blindly ignorant of other ideas. Maybe it goes against you religon to teach it, but hey, it is school. Put your child in a private school if you have a problem. If you cant afford it, deal with your child becomming intellegent of all things, not half truths and lies.

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Do not believe out of fear, or for the fact you grew up in a religon. Believe what your heart tells you is right.
-C. Payette

I used to go to an 'anglican' (not too strict, but the religious motif was there), and had compulsory "Religion". Complete waste of time I could have spent learning something more useful.

I'm an atheist, but a rather secular one. (I.e Don't believe there is a/are god/gods, but really don't care)

I would say, that the current system (in Finland) is quite satisfactory.

Studends attend to christian lessons, if they belong to church. I think the teaching for other religion is also organized, if only there is enought students to attend the lessons. The option, which teaches religions and philosophies in common taking a rather objective point of view, is always exist.

I'm myself an atheist, but I attended the (lutheric) christian lessons at school. I believe it was not complete waste of time. The christian belief-system is a very imporant factor in the western societies and worth of knowing. I have a certain respect for the christian philosophy (the one taught by Jesus). I believe that the world would be a better place, if people would really follow the New Testament's guidelines.

(And Audra. The question was not directed to me, but I find the secular humanism quite similar to my own philosophy)

- BtD

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"Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows."
[George Orwell, 1984]

Pretty much actually, never heard of the term before. *thanks wikipedia*
But really, as long as your religion doesn't interfere with me you can worship pink unicorns ridden by gnomes for all I care.

My philosophy

Be a good person, do right to others, do wrong as little as possible, and dont hurt others, and youll go to a heaven after you die.

I dont believe any god could ask more of us then that. Simply do good to others, be a nice person, when you come to a decision, do the right thing, and dont hurt others.

__________________
Do not believe out of fear, or for the fact you grew up in a religon. Believe what your heart tells you is right.
-C. Payette

maybe we should worry about teaching kids how to spell correctly

haha. It would have helped. But I swear all my english classes sucked. Spelling is what I was worst in, and math best. There is always that seperation

__________________
Do not believe out of fear, or for the fact you grew up in a religon. Believe what your heart tells you is right.
-C. Payette

I think there's no problem with classes on religion in public schools. Religion is part of the wider world, after all. A comparative religion class might be the only place students get introduced to religions other than the one they're raised in.

I also don't think there's a problem with religious groups using school grounds, as long as they aren't granted special access or exempted from the rules that apply to every other group.

What *isn't* kosher is injecting religion into nonreligious classes and venues, or teaching only about one religion, or promoting one religion above all others.

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Man up.

As a Jew, I've never minded the whole Christmas thing in school (I have a 6 year old sister in public schools). Christmas is a holiday that does nothing but bring happiness and joy to children. Why should they be denied pretty lights, a nice tree, and presents because of stupid religious squabbles.