In theory this sounds like a good idea. In practice, as a Jew, I would be concerned that a teacher's biases or lack of knowledge regarding a particular faith might make things worse. Religion is a very personal thing. I don't want anyone instructing my child about any religion in a formal classroom setting unless I know what is being taught.
If such a class were taught it would make the most sense for it to be in high school and as a comparative religion overview. Also I think it would be important to include the concept of spirituality that is not connected to any organized religion or even G-d for that matter.
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Originally Posted by Toughy
If we don't teach about other religions in public schools, how will the kids ever find out? There are plenty of kids graduating from public high school today who think Islam is about devil worship because that is what they are taught at home. Most probably have no idea that Jews, Muslims and Christians all worship the same God.
I do think curriculum can be produced that talks about the principles, stories and rituals, without be insulting or offensive. I do think curriculum can be neutral in how it talks about religions. I think it should also include aethism.
But to do that would require actually wanting to move our evolution, as humans, forward. I'm certainly not seeing signs of that in Western culture, as unfettered capitalism runs amok and ruins each of us and the planet we live on
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