Tennessee Banning teaching of Religious Doctrine in Public Schools until 10th Grade

[Wells]

Doctrine shouldn't be taught in schools (well, at least public schools), be it religious or secular. Teaching history is fine, even if its history that you don't believe was 'good' or 'right'. I see no reason why people can't be educated on what Islam is. In fact, unless there truly is indoctrination going on, everyone should support it, even opponents of Islam, because our children should know what it is.

What is "secular doctrine" here?

[Xisa]

And that is the problem we cannot ensure that consistency.

You can literally say that about every law ever written.

[Wells]

I don't disagree, but that logic can literally be applied to every law ever written.

Some very much more so than others. Knowing the place and mind with which its created can help us make an informed guess.

[Merkava]

Why should the way we teach about religions in school apply equally to all religions?

You can ask why should the way we teach history in school apply equally to the history of all other nations?

[Sliske]

Good.

I distinctly remember even at age 8-12 wondering why the fuck i'm learning about Joseph and his rainbow coat inbetween Science class and Math class.

Like holy shit, get a grip on reality. Some bunk ass story about Moses parting the sea. My favourite part was my realization that people actually believe this shit when I was around 11. The laughs I had over that shit.

[ttak82]

This article has a better write-up

Thank you.

[Sliske]

As a side note, I was triggered when I realized no one taught me about Odin or Thor. I had to learn how to worship Thor by myself and am now an acolyte of the Thunder God.

[Merkava]

Good.

I distinctly remember even at age 8-12 wondering why the fuck i'm learning about Joseph and his rainbow coat inbetween Science class and Math class.

Like holy shit, get a grip on reality. Some bunk ass story about Moses parting the sea. My favourite part was my realization that people actually believe this shit when I was around 11. The laughs I had over that shit.

Maybe someday you might want to have a deeper understanding of Shakespeare, Milton, Blake, Steinbeck, CS Lewis, etc. Or maybe not.

[Wells]

You can ask why should the way we teach history in school apply equally to the history of all other nations?

I have no idea what this question is supposed to be relevant to. If they're pushing education on religions off to 10th grade (which I think is stupid but entirely legal) than that rule should be applied equally to all religions, not just the "foreign" ones. I think there's valid reason to suspect they won't.

[ttak82]

The very reasonable question is, how certain can we reasonably be that this will be applied equally?

That's a good question.

[Xisa]

Some very much more so than others. Knowing the place and mind with which its created can help us make an informed guess.

I know the place and mindset of this particular law better than anyone on this forum.

It's using a sledgehammer to to tap in a crown molding nail, but whatever it takes to sink in the reason and logic for "Religion doesn't need to be taught as truth in schools" is okay with me.

[Deleted]

They should just removed religious education altogether and replace it with something useful.

[Lolretadin]

Religious doctrine should never be taught in schools period. You can learn about religions, their history, and the basics of what they believe. There is no need to teach dogma in a secular school.

I don't think there's an issue if you teach some Christian literature in, for example, an English class if it's made it explicitly clear that these stories are, as everything covered in the class, fictional. That said, the only reason I even consider this concession is because most classic European literature is steeped in some form of, or at least references some form of, biblical literature.

[Merkava]

I have no idea what this question is supposed to be relevant to. If they're pushing education on religions off to 10th grade (which I think is stupid but entirely legal) than that rule should be applied equally to all religions, not just the "foreign" ones. I think there's valid reason to suspect they won't.

In a majority English speaking nation, which happens to be a Christian majority nation as well, why not spend more time focusing on Christianity? Not at the exclusion of other religions, but why mandate equal time?

[Wells]

I know the place and mindset of this particular law better than anyone on this forum.

It's using a sledgehammer to to tap in a crown molding nail, but whatever it takes to sink in the reason and logic for "Religion doesn't need to be taught as truth in schools" is okay with me.

I think going through your primary education without knowing the core foundation of (in the case of Islam alone) something like a sixth of the human race to be a rather poor sort of education. Teaching about what a religion believes and does is no more an endorsement of that belief than teaching about communism.

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In a majority English speaking nation, which happens to be a Christian majority nation as well, why not spend more time focusing on Christianity? Not at the exclusion of other religions, but why mandate equal time?

I'm not talking about "time spent", I'm talking about the delay this law is trying to inflict. Not equal time, equal application of the debated law.

[Xisa]

I have no idea what this question is supposed to be relevant to. If they're pushing education on religions off to 10th grade (which I think is stupid but entirely legal) than that rule should be applied equally to all religions, not just the "foreign" ones. I think there's valid reason to suspect they won't.

It's not pushing off reference and study of religion. It's pushing off the study of the tenants and fundamentals of Individual religions (for academia) until the students are more mentally developed.

[Wells]

It's not pushing off reference and study of religion. It's pushing off the study of the tenants and fundamentals of Individual religions (for academia) until the students are more mentally developed.

I don't see any particular reason these kids can't get a firm understand of something like the Pillar of Islam. I mean actual muslim children learn them long before middle school. I doubt christian children are any less intelligent.

[Crissi]

In a majority English speaking nation, which happens to be a Christian majority nation as well, why not spend more time focusing on Christianity? Not at the exclusion of other religions, but why mandate equal time?

Because that's a tacit enforcement of it by the state. Sure teach how it's influenced policies, but don't teach the dogma of it more than others.

[Wells]

Because that's a tacit enforcement of it by the state. Sure teach how it's influenced policies, but don't teach the dogma of it more than others.

And on the matter of "equal time", I can see a pretty solid argument for spending less time on Christianity, as children in Tennessee I imagine already have quite a bit of exposure to it. Maybe better to focus on teaching them about things they're less likely to already know.

[Xisa]

I think going through your primary education without knowing the core foundation of (in the case of Islam alone) something like a sixth of the human race to be a rather poor sort of education. Teaching about what a religion believes and does is no more an endorsement of that belief than teaching about communism.

I agree to an extent, but I don't kids need to be learning Ave Maria or Dua Ahad until they're developed to the extent they can discern it academically.