I just found this article in the San Luis Obispo Tribune discussing whether or not a religion class should be allowed in school.
The Atascadero school board voted Tuesday night to reconsider a controversial resolution allowing students to attend a church class during school hours.
And then farther down …
Santa Margarita lawyer Michael Blank offered a different viewpoint. “There’s a lot of cults and sex out there that may be unattractive to this board,” he said.
He asked school board members how they would react if the “Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster,” a parody religion, wanted to offer a class for students.
I’m not sure which category we fall into. Probably cults.
My view is that religion classes should be allowed in school but that they shouldn’t be taught by any member of that particular religion. Unless we’re talking about Pastafarianism, in which case the teacher should be a devout Believer, dressed in Pirate Regalia.
Here’s the link
Hmm… very interesting… I just left a similar post about this somewhere on this site. IMHO, if a religion class is going to be taught in school it should be a COMPARATIVE religion class; i.e., discussing them all, not just Christianity. I do NOT think that *specific* religion classes should be allowed in school (unless it’s Pastafarianism, of course).
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I agree with you, Bobby, that the class would be best taught by a neutral person. I’ll volunteer… heh heh. I’m working on a really hot pirate wench costume — it’d be perfect for teaching ;)
Agree with Wench Beth- a class that teaches about the different religions is fine, even valuble; I’m taking one now. One that preaches or exists to try and ‘sway the nonbelievers’ isn’t fine at all. As for leaving early to go to a religious class outside of school…I did that a couple times when I was studying for my Bat Mitzvah. Then again, that was just extra instruction, and it was only once or twice….if you want to take a class about your religon, shouldn’t you go to CCD/whatever on your own time?
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And I agree with Bobby too, as long as the teacher of said FSM class was Orlando Bloom in soaking-wet-pirate mode.
Have any of the pastafarians in that area thought of offering such a class? It could take place at the local pool hall, and include such valuable life lessons as “what is a jager-bomb” and “should girls be allowed to cheat at pool”. I’m sure it would be well recieved by the school board, who are no doubt a goup of educated, open-minded individuals who embrace the idea of freedom of religion.
If these kids are wanting to spend extra time on the worship of their chosen god, why can’t they just skip study hall and skive off to the church? Think about it… they would get the extra dose of religion, with the added excitement of having a sin to confess and be forgiven for.
I agree with the Iron Grill Kid; an unbiased look at all the different religions would be a valuable one, in that it would teach kids about the cultures and beliefs of those around them. Even if you disagree with what someone believes, understanding and respecting those beliefs is a good lesson. Why not offer a theology course as an option? During school hours, rather than not… perhaps that would also satisfy the people who want Intelligent Design taught as part of science classes.
aagh… wish I had spell checked that. =S
@ Wench Beth – I hope you are going to market them when you have a pattern – I am an optimistic size 14 european sizes! ;)
I really think the parents who are here and are concerned have very little to worry about with their own offspring – my youngest (aged 4) thought the local vicar was God the other day….
Me – “do you now who that is? he’s the man that stands at the front in Grandma’s church and talks to us”
Child “Oh! he’s God! (on observing shopping bags..) “God likes shopping!”
Me – (in between laughing hysterically)”sounds about right to me!”
I think if you bring them up with open minds you have nothing to worry about – now we just have to worry about all the fundies kids!
Hey,
I live in Georgia (Bibel belt) and you will get shot if you suggest anything like that (not teaching christianity in schools)
I agree with Bobby that religion should be taught from a neutral PoV and should include all religions, so if one wants to belive in a god he can choose in which one he wants to belive too, and being born into one.
I was born in Germany and went to german schools all my life, where one could choose if he wants to be taught religion or just take a class in ethics (more a debate class where you debate on topics such as stem-cell research etc.).
Well … Noodles
rAmen
Sorry for repost but
i meant ** and not being born into one.