Religious Curriculum?

[Haramoobobi]

I recently went to a brilliant discussion panel with representatives from think tanks all over the country; one Muslim, some Christian, other’s non-denominational… Think-tanks strive to connect ideology with legislation. For instance one of the think tanks in Sacramento had been hired by the Governator to create legislation concerning a health bill and with their assistance it was passed.
Anyways, the discussion was about religion, how our government has chosen to keep secular (religion=taboo) rather then implement pluralism, a tactic that seemed to work well in the past (except in foreign affairs). However, due to the globalization, government, media, the American public has had the fascinating human phenomenon: religion, forced upon them. In attempt to remedy attitudes, legislation and policy; these think tanks had confirmed that religious education in schools was inevitable. A Scottish woman got up in the audience and confirmed that in Scotland, they indeed, have religious education starting from early years… her concern was that because of this education religions were exoticified and further alienated (great point in my mind).
So I posed a question to the panel that I now ask you guys:
“That since religious education is inevitable; how do you suggest that the curriculum be brought up and more importantly so, ‘what’s religion?’ What religions will be studied? What are the qualities that classify a believe system as a religion?”
Most of the panelists shyed away from my question, but one there was one who attempted: “The curriculum should be made with help of the parents and the community members from the get go…”

And while I thought this was a most excellent idea it didn’t really answer my question… plus, for what purpose is religious education than if the community members deem only the Protestant or the Catholic Church anyway?

I would loved to get the islamica two cents on this…

[TariqBinSleepin]

Asak,

Hrmm..this is Interesting. Why do you think Religious Education is Inevitable? In my opinion i do not think that religious education in school will work out that well, especially in the United States. Yes, even though majority of the population in the U.S. consists of christian or a christian sect, there are still many who would oppose. As a Muslim parents how will you send you're child to the school, especially if the religious education is started at a young age. One might argue that only general education about different religions might be the primary focus in the religious classes, but I still think they're will be some bias' to a particular religion, frankly speaking, Christianity.

I personally dont think there should be any religious education done in public schools. If there is a all Muslim school, theres no question. But in a public school...it might not be such a good idea. As Muslims, we should send our kinds to Sunday schools and other religious institutions, many of which are already established in local masjids. my 2cents.

[Sha_]

Originally Posted by Haramoobobi

these think tanks had confirmed that religious education in schools was inevitable. A Scottish woman got up in the audience and confirmed that in Scotland, they indeed, have religious education starting from early years… her concern was that because of this education religions were exoticified and further alienated (great point in my mind).

So Religious Education is not a compulsory part of the curriculum in US like it is in the UK? [Is this reffering to just primary schools or high schools too?]
If it is 'inevitable', personally I think thats a good thing that children learn about different religions.
What does she mean by/How have they been exoticified?

Originally Posted by Haramoobobi

So I posed a question to the panel that I now ask you guys:
“That since religious education is inevitable; how do you suggest that the curriculum be brought up and more importantly so, ‘what’s religion?’ What religions will be studied? What are the qualities that classify a believe system as a religion?”

I was going to say that:
Religions that are studied, perhaps they should be the ones that make up the majority of people in the country, so that the education reflects the wider community that people live in, sort of like this person said:

Originally Posted by Haramoobobi

Most of the panelists shyed away from my question, but one there was one who attempted: “The curriculum should be made with help of the parents and the community members from the get go…”

except this person is reffering to the direct community as they suggest involving parents decisions, which may result in a majorly Christian community deciding that Christanity will be taught in RE in schools
(and perhaps this is what your asking here anyways, forgive me if I didnt get the question )

Originally Posted by Haramoobobi

plus, for what purpose is religious education than if the community members deem only the Protestant or the Catholic Church anyway?

?

Originally Posted by TariqBinSleepin

In my opinion i do not think that religious education in school will work out that well, especially in the United States.Yes, even though majority of the population in the U.S. consists of christian or a christian sect, there are still many who would oppose. As a Muslim parents how will you send you're child to the school, especially if the religious education is started at a young age. One might argue that only general education about different religions might be the primary focus in the religious classes, but I still think they're will be some bias' to a particular religion, frankly speaking, Christianity.

Personally I do, think teaching the basics of different religions in primary schools, is a good idea, and the curriculum should not be biased towards any specific religions, the curriculum should be set so that bias cannot occur, or they cannot teach anymore of one religion than the other, nor to teach that any specific religion is right or wrong.

It is better for them to know by being taught properly than to assume or make their own conclusions by what they see around them or from what their parents think they know about certain religions but may be incorrect.

Yes, I'm kind of thinking about how people assume certain things about Islam these days and I dont think its a good idea to allow this misinformation to be passed on to children, but in the same way, that goes for all religions. And with better understanding of religions children will have a better understanding that people in the world around them can be different, and why different people have certain beliefs and values and customs etc; I think learning different religions encourages more open minded-ness and willingness to/interest in learning about and understanding the (differences in) world around you, and maybe on some level reduces (the chance of developing) prejudices?

Why do you say there would be a problem with sending a Muslim child to school- do you mean if education on religion from an early age is Christian based/or if it is biased towards teaching Christanity(as being 'right')?

[TariqBinSleepin]

Originally Posted by Sha_

So Religious Education is not a compulsory part of the curriculum in US like it is in the UK? [Is this reffering to just primary schools or high schools too?]
If it is 'inevitable', personally I think thats a good thing that children learn about different religions.
What does she mean by/How have they been exoticified?

I was going to say that:
Religions that are studied, perhaps they should be the ones that make up the majority of people in the country, so that the education reflects the wider community that people live in, sort of like this person said:

except this person is reffering to the direct community as they suggest involving parents decisions, which may result in a majorly Christian community deciding that Christanity will be taught in RE in schools
(and perhaps this is what your asking here anyways, forgive me if I didnt get the question )

?


Personally I do, think teaching the basics of different religions in primary schools, is a good idea, and the curriculum should not be biased towards any specific religions, the curriculum should be set so that bias cannot occur, or they cannot teach anymore of one religion than the other, nor to teach that any specific religion is right or wrong.

It is better for them to know by being taught properly than to assume or make their own conclusions by what they see around them or from what their parents think they know about certain religions but may be incorrect.

Yes, I'm kind of thinking about how people assume certain things about Islam these days and I dont think its a good idea to allow this misinformation to be passed on to children, but in the same way, that goes for all religions. And with better understanding of religions children will have a better understanding that people in the world around them can be different, and why different people have certain beliefs and values and customs etc; I think learning different religions encourages more open minded-ness and willingness to/interest in learning about and understanding the (differences in) world around you, and maybe on some level reduces (the chance of developing) prejudices?

Why do you say there would be a problem with sending a Muslim child to school- do you mean if education on religion from an early age is Christian based/or if it is biased towards teaching Christanity(as being 'right')?

Where do you stand on this topic, if you look at it Islamically? The prophet (PBUH) lived with the yahoods until they were betrayed and then he banned all the yahoods from madina. There is no such thing as a nuetral stance, therefore there will ALWAYS be a biased. What you're saying, is theoretically a beautiful idea But thats speaking theoretically, if we lived in a perfect world. Do you think in this Day and age it will be possible? I think religious studies should NOT be implimented in primary schools, until the kids are mature enough to think on their own. Kids between the age of 6-10/11 are still forming basic ideologies and are influenced very easily. Mayb later on during highschool and college level it can be a necessary course to take: Basic Religion and Ideas.

[Revert]

Originally Posted by TariqBinSleepin

Asak,

Hrmm..this is Interesting. Why do you think Religious Education is Inevitable? In my opinion i do not think that religious education in school will work out that well, especially in the United States. Yes, even though majority of the population in the U.S. consists of christian or a christian sect, there are still many who would oppose. As a Muslim parents how will you send you're child to the school, especially if the religious education is started at a young age. One might argue that only general education about different religions might be the primary focus in the religious classes, but I still think they're will be some bias' to a particular religion, frankly speaking, Christianity.

I personally dont think there should be any religious education done in public schools. If there is a all Muslim school, theres no question. But in a public school...it might not be such a good idea. As Muslims, we should send our kinds to Sunday schools and other religious institutions, many of which are already established in local masjids. my 2cents.

Religious Education has been a part of the UK curiculumn for as long as I can remember. I think it should be compulsary in the US too. Religious Education is beneficial to those open to mutual understanding between faiths. I've studied Relion at all education levels (Primary, Secondary and University level).

Mr RE teachers in School have been Christian(Catholic and Anglican) Muslim and JEwish, each time they presented the lessons unbiased. If a class is given at school then the curicullum has to be followed. Your worries about bias are unfounded, any educator worth thier salt should be unbiased in any lesson they teach.

[Revert]

Originally Posted by TariqBinSleepin

Where do you stand on this topic, if you look at it Islamically? The prophet (PBUH) lived with the yahoods until they were betrayed and then he banned all the yahoods from madina. There is no such thing as a nuetral stance, therefore there will ALWAYS be a biased. What you're saying, is theoretically a beautiful idea But thats speaking theoretically, if we lived in a perfect world. Do you think in this Day and age it will be possible? I think religious studies should NOT be implimented in primary schools, until the kids are mature enough to think on their own. Kids between the age of 6-10/11 are still forming basic ideologies and are influenced very easily. Mayb later on during highschool and college level it can be a necessary course to take: Basic Religion and Ideas.

I think you should see classes at these levels performed before you make a judgment Brother.

[TariqBinSleepin]

Originally Posted by Revert

I think you should see classes at these levels performed before you make a judgment Brother.

Ya, im not in the UK. I would love to know how it works in the UK. Please enlighten me

[Revert]

Originally Posted by TariqBinSleepin

Ya, im not in the UK. I would love to know how it works in the UK. Please enlighten me

It covers the major faiths, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddihsm. The main purpose it to explore the different faiths, its history, main figures etc and what they mean to its followers, other aims are to understand spirituality and how it relates to you, like how does one express their faith?

[Sha_]

Originally Posted by Revert

Religious Education has been a part of the UK curiculumn for as long as I can remember. I think it should be compulsary in the US too. Religious Education is beneficial to those open to mutual understanding between faiths. I've studied Religion at all education levels (Primary, Secondary and University level).

Me too!! Well, still studying.

Originally Posted by Revert

Mr RE teachers in School have been Christian(Catholic and Anglican) Muslim and JEwish, each time they presented the lessons unbiased. If a class is given at school then the curicullum has to be followed. Your worries about bias are unfounded, any educator worth thier salt should be unbiased in any lesson they teach.

My teachers have ranged from Christian to atheist to I-think-there-are-good-things-about-all-religions.
And none of them have tried to teach that any one religion is better or worse than the other.

Now to be honest, I didn't like how RE was taught at primary school level. And it didnt really seem like a big focus either. I dont remember actually being taught that much about religion in class. We'd just have some stories, for some reason usually about Hinduism. And there were no Hindus in my school at that time. And thered be the odd lesson about Islam.

But- My headteacher was a preist
And when I was there the majority of the school was mostly of 'Christan' background.
We used to have assembly everyday, and he would tell stories from the Bible-to give us a message about morals- not to believe in Jesus or anything.
And they would have hymns and say a prayer at the end. And they took us to church for harvest festival. And I didnt like any of it.

So Christan stories got taught a lot but not as part of Curriculum- But there is apparently an option for your child to not attend assembly I think, but we didnt know of it at the time, and when we did, I dont think my family minded really [except I found assembly boring and didnt want to go to Church!]. But having sat there through all of this I still never felt that they were telling me Christanity is the Truth and that I must follow it and learn it. And this was me, as a kid, I never got confused or swayed towards Christianity. I knew I was Muslim and that I dont celebrate Christmas and that Jesus is not my Lord and that I eat with my right hand (There was some dinnerlady who kept trying to make me use my knife in my right hand and my fork in my left!! But I switched them back everythime she left). And as a young child I never attended any Islamic school, I dont think I learnt an equal amount about Islam- in terms or stories from the Qur'an and stuff- But none of the Christianity affected me.

My neices go to the same school now and they still have all of this, but there are a lot more Muslims at the school now than there were when I was there. And I think people are more aware that they have the option to opt out of doing things like attending assembly or going to church at harvest. And the hymns and prayers sung are supposed to be sort of neutral as apparently the teachers say 'Now it doesnt matter if you pray to Allah or Jesus, lets all say a prayer..' Except I dont think they've quite got it as apparently they still sing songs in assembly like 'Jesus gives us the water of life' which we cant say. But I dont think this is any kind of discrimination or trying to supress other religions on the part of the school [they still have Eid assembly and sing songs like 'Eid-ul-fitrs here, come and celebrate..' and also let kids wear hijabs and grey salwar kameez- since always, even when there were a lot less Muslims]- I think the main problem is 1) ignorance/lack of knowledge on the schools part, 2) lack of involvement on the parents part to help correct this. But I do think it is slowly changing. I think that since there are more Muslim kids now its good/important for the other kids to learn about their classmates beliefs and why they dress the way they do and eat what they eat etc.


So the point is even though the school is kind of Christianified, in the way that theres more taught to do with Christianity than other religions, it doesnt 'preach' Christianity nor does it try to supress other religions. And it never had a negative effect on me or anyone else I know (And not every school was as Christianified as mine, but everyone I know had hymns sung at their school, but some did have more of a mix of religions taught in their schools, especially where there was a bigger mix of children of multicultural backgrounds).

When it came to high school, the first three years we learnt basics of the 6 major world religions, it wasnt that in depth but I found it interesting. And for my next(/last) two years of compulsory schooling (grades 10&11) I chose to study it (full course) but for those who dont choose it, they still have compulsory lessons but less of them. I was taught by a Christian teacher, but I really liked the way it was taught and what we learnt it was like completely equal 50/50- I never felt any bias in her teaching at all. We studied two religions Islam and Christianity. and there were different topics within- it was like Christian attitudes to war/justice, Muslim attitudes to attitudes to war/justice, Christian attitudes to medical issues such as abortion and euthanasia, and then the Muslim attitides towards those, Christian sources of authority, Muslim sources of authority etc..

With all the teachers (well in high school specifically, because when at primary I think I just assumed all non Muslims were Christian ) , I've found, that unless they tell you what their beliefs are you can't really tell it from their manner of teaching.