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"yes" to RE
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I'm a student in my last year at school in the UK. I agree, philosophy is something that should be taught in schools. I'm not sure what the situation is like in the states but here in the UK it is compulsory for people to have some religious education up until the age of 16 (also the age where compulsory schooling here ends).
But in my honest opinion the teaching quality of the subject differs greatly ... some schools are excellent at it while others ... well, in others sometimes it might as well not be there.
Okay, before people begin to judge on me making accusations of being a "religious freak" or "forcing other viewpoints on school children" I should explain:
I am in favour of teaching both philosophy and religious studies within the school curriculum. I believe it is important to give equal weight to both major works of philosophical thought along with the major religionsl.
Examples in our own time of racially related attacks abound ... it is my belief that it is ignorance of other viewpoints that breeds contempt for them. By encouraging the teaching of philosophy & religion in schools this would increase knowledge levels which hopefully would create understanding, leading to respect for other beliefs.
After all, underneath it all WE ARE THE SAME. Whatever the skin colour & whoever you pray to. It's possible that we may all have differing ideas on what happens after this life (if there is anything at all) but the fact remains RIGHT NOW we live in this world, in this life TOGETHER so we better make an effort to get along.
But in my honest opinion the teaching quality of the subject differs greatly ... some schools are excellent at it while others ... well, in others sometimes it might as well not be there.
Okay, before people begin to judge on me making accusations of being a "religious freak" or "forcing other viewpoints on school children" I should explain:
I am in favour of teaching both philosophy and religious studies within the school curriculum. I believe it is important to give equal weight to both major works of philosophical thought along with the major religionsl.
Examples in our own time of racially related attacks abound ... it is my belief that it is ignorance of other viewpoints that breeds contempt for them. By encouraging the teaching of philosophy & religion in schools this would increase knowledge levels which hopefully would create understanding, leading to respect for other beliefs.
After all, underneath it all WE ARE THE SAME. Whatever the skin colour & whoever you pray to. It's possible that we may all have differing ideas on what happens after this life (if there is anything at all) but the fact remains RIGHT NOW we live in this world, in this life TOGETHER so we better make an effort to get along.
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I agree with this. In my school, we did RE based on the Bible, and to some extent the Qu'ran, until year 8. In years 9 and 10, we worked towards a half GCSE, and the course covered morality much more than religion, and just with some references to scriptures, and how opinions on these subjects differed (or didn't differ) between religions.
I don't know what philosophy actually is, so I can't comment there, but I think it is important that moral issues are brought up in schools, like euthanasia, abortion, etc. I think the only reason kids are so reluctant to treat it as a worthwhile lesson is because of the religious element.
Although, it is important that racism is brought into it. But I don't think the 'this is the Bible, now lets compare it to the Qu'ran' approach is very effective. It can only really lead to people drawing comparisons between Muslims and Christians.
Anyway..yes.. I think it is important that moral issues are brought up in schools, along with pros, cons, and techinicalities, so children are aware of these things. I think the religious part is the only 'iffy' bit..
Teach them a history of the world religions if you must, and how the different faiths have influenced mankind. But nothing more than that. No heaven and hell, no bearded chap who is the son of god and comes back from the dead, no earth created in 6 days and the human race descending from a figure made from spit and mud who got a missus out of his ribcage.
It is only fair.
I'm not against the important dates and festivals and anti-racism bits but they could be taught as part of a Personal, Social and Religious Education with other things - I don't think RS merits a lesson on its own.
i also went to a catholic sixth form college, and the RE program there was much, much better. we were encouraged to discuss issues, and never had views imposed on us. we were taught about other religions in a far more favourable light.
so i think that it's not the subject that's the issue, really, but the way in which it's taught.
Today I am at a regular Danish gymnasium, and I can say that my upbringing has been one of the bigger advantages. How am i supposed to defend myself, and the traditions I go through if I can't explain them? And more importantly, when discussions are based on morals and philosophy, I don't have any problems stating that I am one of the most knowledgable on that point, since the greater deal of morals, and even common law and rules are based upon the Bible and religion.
Apart from that, I was astonished by the fact that I could explain christian rituals as baptism and confirmation when 90% of my class has gone through it, and don't know why. Same goes for history and explanation of different events during history.
It gives so much insight to such a different and wide range of subjects.
It has given me a lot, and it's clearly to see on the expressions I get from teacher, who are all very surprised by this, and teh fact that I am not only used as the English dictionary in class, but also the religious/political encyclopedia in class as well
I'd definitely choose a school who emphasised on the teaching of religion, and phiolosophy for my kids, if I should ever decide to get them after all.
Yes they are, and should be explained as well. But I guess that the monotheistic religions are pretty important when it comes to present world events and general way of living. As they as whole are the basis of our morals and law system.
Only Christianity has any relevence to our own law system.
As a whole, it's difficult to cross the line between ideologies, religions, life philosophies etc. as no matter what someone will always embrace a specific thought and built his/her life around it. But the more taught on that front the better.
But when religion rules education then the problems set in- I went to a Catholic school, and because of that I never received any sex education, for instance (other than "dont, lads", that is), and learned why the Bible was relevant for todays God-fearing society for GCSE. God is for church, and I believe that the French system is perfect- you are taught a vague concept of morality and citizenship, but not religion.
The stupid thing about religions is that they all go to war basically arguing over something that essentially boils down to what colour socks God wears.
Thing is, most people who have learnt about religion will know that religion is just an excuse for this, by people with political agendas.
Theology is taught at the school swith a religious bent. The outlook goes from extreme left, UC Berkley to extreme right, Brigham Young University. My college required six credits of philosophy and 9 credits of religious studies.(3 credits per course).
Our current one is a nutcase, she ladles us with work ALL THE TIME. We never did work in RE, we just talked.
We have no full time / fully qualified RE teachers in my school except the Principal teacher of RE. All other RE teachers teach PE, English etc.
Our current one teaches English so I think she is used to the whole 'Ladle out loadsa work'
PS. What does Philosophy involve? We don't get taught.
So we should indoctrinate people with liberal views as Hitler did with fascist views? I actually do believe a world without racism is good and although I resented my AS General studies for the sheer political indoctrinaction that went on (Communism okay. Socialism great, Capitalism BOO!! Or so I was taught!) I'm glad to see the leaders of the country telling people what to believe.
go to the local library and pick out Aristotle or Socrates for a start. A bit dry at first but it does grow on you. Go through to Locke and Rousseau. I really think it is one of those you like it or you don't kind of things. I always liked Epictetus, who was a stoic. Good solid reading lies within his work. (IMHO of course).
PS I almost forgot! Take a look at Plato's "Republic".
Thanks for the reccomendations! I love reading and find good reading hard to come by.
IMHO, dont know what that means. , sorry!
Liberalism is more of a method of thinking, I do not see that one can be 'indoctrinated' into being tolerant and repectful of other views and believing in a society where multiple beliefs interact in the sense that one can be indoctrinated into an ideology such as fascism.
BumbleBee, that is the way RE should be..........
I was thinking about what bumble bee said, and Toadborg said about RE. being taught about different beliefs does encourage diversity and understanding and tolerance.
if RE is taught in this way, (and if it is then there is no real reason why it shouldn't be) then that is good.
does 90 hour over 3 years (unless someone opts do do it a GCSE) constitute brain washing.
in my experience the majority of people commiting to a releigion is due to upbringing and family, and then adults who decide for themselves, that it has something to offer and not RE lessons at school.