Religious, Moral and Cultural studies as part of Basic education

[Kofi]

Should religion and creationism be taught in public schools? The first time I saw this question I asked myself why not? Religion is taught in almost every school in Africa. In my country for example, before you get admission to high school you must pass the Basic Education Certificate Examination popularly known as BECE in my country. This BECE examination includes Religious and Moral education with some cultural studies and you need to pass with good grades before you get admission into any high school in my country. Unlike in America and in other developed countries, there are just few high schools in my country and getting admission is not easy at all and because of the importance of passing Religious and moral studies before admission, we are being taught religious and moral studies from kindergarten until the end of Junior High School. There are 3 major religions in my country and we learn all 3 (Christianity, Islam, and Traditional African religions). I learned in India too children learn religion in schools. I also heard religious education is compulsory in almost all the Islamic nations on earth. However I have heard that some people in America and in some other developed countries do not permit the teaching of religion in public schools and the reasons include, religion is against the constitution, some parents don't want their children to study religion, not all religions can be taught in classrooms so no religion should be taught in classrooms so as not to offend other religions, etc.

How can we trust God without first learning about God? If in "God we trust" then why shouldn't religion be taught in schools? Religious studies mostly come with moral education attached so why not focus more on the moral and cultural aspects rather than removing religious and moral education entirely from the curriculum. Most parents in today's world work several hours a day. Since most parents in today's world don't have enough time to give religious and moral lessons to their children at home, I think it will be a good idea to allow teachers teach these children in classrooms. What do you think?

[Doug]

Quote: "There are 3 major religions in my country and we learn all 3 (Christianity, Islam, and Traditional African religions)". Should religion and creationism be taught in public schools?

Oh great! My kids will learn all about god. They will learn there is one god. They will learn there is three gods in one. They will learn voodo and there is many gods, one in charge of everything. Religion has really given my children a solid foundation about the knowledge of God. God is confusion!

Now we have the morals of the three religions. From casting a spell on people to killing the infidels to having a god pay for the sins of men by murdering an innocent man. Mercy and forgiveness through killing. Real good morals through religion I must say Kofi.

Creationism? Great!! Lets mix that with religion and we have children who are solidly sure of nothing. Confused to the point of believing nothing. Completely sure there is no truth in anything therefor they can do as their little harts desire. From the chaos, killing, corruption and disorder in Africa I see the results of teaching many religions. May God have mercy on Africa.

[Kofi]

I like your reply. You are right there is great confusion in Africa right now but at times I wonder how the situation would be in Africa without religion. Sometimes hungry men do crazy things to survive so at times I blame the corruption and the disorder on the extreme poverty and hunger rather than on religion. Learning about 3 religions at the same time gets really confusing at times and most of us pass with good grades but remain confused in life. Muslims especially those in North Africa (including Egypt and Tunisia) and those in the Middle East learn only Islam and they learn about only Allah and His prophet so there is little confusion(in the study of religion) yet there is poverty, confusion (in real life), disorder, corruption, etc almost all the time in these parts of the world even though they learn just one religion. Again I wonder how the situation would be without religion.