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Gilda · 05-08-2005, 12:24 AM

Why does this need to be in a public school at all?

Where I live, bible study courses are offered for free at dozens of places all around the city.

What really disturbs me about this is that it's a study course specific to one particular religion, and it's the religion that is predominant in that area. An understanding of Christianity is essential for understand our country and it's place in the world, but so is an understanding of the other world major religions.

My social studies class includes a review of the major religions of the world, giving each of them equal weight. A specific course dedicated to studying religions is an excellent idea. I can't see how a course dedicated to one religion, promoted and funded by members of that religion, and attended primarily by practitioners of that religion isn't at least implicitly promoting that religion.

Also, the class occurs on school property, tax dollars are supporting it. If it's going to be funded, and the teachers supplied by, Christian organizations, why not have the classes off site, at, say, churches, the way they are now?

Include the bible or at least bible stories as part of a literature or history class or comparative religion class, sure I'm in favor of that. We should learn about ourselves and about others. This class seems insular to me, which is a bad thing.

05-08-2005, 12:24 AM	#29 (permalink)
Gilda 32 flavors and then some Location: Out on a wire.	Why does this need to be in a public school at all? Where I live, bible study courses are offered for free at dozens of places all around the city. What really disturbs me about this is that it's a study course specific to one particular religion, and it's the religion that is predominant in that area. An understanding of Christianity is essential for understand our country and it's place in the world, but so is an understanding of the other world major religions. My social studies class includes a review of the major religions of the world, giving each of them equal weight. A specific course dedicated to studying religions is an excellent idea. I can't see how a course dedicated to one religion, promoted and funded by members of that religion, and attended primarily by practitioners of that religion isn't at least implicitly promoting that religion. Also, the class occurs on school property, tax dollars are supporting it. If it's going to be funded, and the teachers supplied by, Christian organizations, why not have the classes off site, at, say, churches, the way they are now? Include the bible or at least bible stories as part of a literature or history class or comparative religion class, sure I'm in favor of that. We should learn about ourselves and about others. This class seems insular to me, which is a bad thing. __________________ I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that. ~Steven Colbert Last edited by Gilda; 05-08-2005 at 01:04 AM.. Reason: Rudundancy fixed, repaired, edited, and deleted.