Religion plays a tremendous role in society, history, literature, and current world events. Religion also shapes morality, politics, and life styles, and it is central to the lives and cultures of most people in the world. As our society becomes more and more integrated with religion and the number of students with various religious orientations and affiliations continue to increase, it becomes more crucial for students to understand and respect the beliefs and traditions of others through unbiased educational teaching and training. Religion is a system of faith and worship to a personal God or gods and can be found in almost every society throughout history. Thus, it is going to be an inevitable factor in the future as it will always be …show more content…
The late Justice William Brennan, stated, “It would be impossible to teach, meaningfully, many subjects in the social sciences or the humanities without some mention of religion.” Numerous educator groups agree with Brennan. In fact, The National Council for the Social Studies Curriculum Standards declares, “Knowledge about religions is not only a characteristic of an educated person but is absolutely necessary for understanding and living in a world of diversity. Knowledge of religious difference and the role of religion in the contemporary world can help promote understanding and alleviate prejudice.” Religion is a complex subject and can be very confusing to those who have been poorly exposed. Understanding religion can be made much easier by teaching the numerous religions in …show more content…
Students need to understand religion’s impact on history, politics, society, and culture, to function as competent citizens. Many people think that religious subjects are only about the Bible, but there are approximately 313 different religions being practiced in the United States, today. All students should have a basic knowledge or understanding of the principles within each religion, as well as recognizing the diversity that exists within each belief across its time and its place. Having a basic background helps students understand current issues and religious conflict. Religious issues are constantly talked about on various news stations around the world. How can anyone understand what is happening in the world or understand what has happened in the past without a basic knowledge of world
When I was younger, my parents gave me some advice: “When talking in public, avoid discussing religion.” I took this advice because I didn’t want to offend anyone or cause drama. Overtime, I’ve grown and realize this “controversial” topic can bring about the best conversations. Talking about religion has allowed me to explore my faith, along with other peoples’ faith. Signing up for Religion and Popular Culture this semester allows me to understand a common query: What is religion? Shortly after the first week, I learned there isn’t a set definition, along with comprehending other elements of religion in different points of view.
Nord, Warren A. Religion & American Education: Rethinking a National Dilemma. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1995.
Douglass, Susan L. The World in the Clasroonm. "Teaching About Religion." Educational Leadership Vol. 60 (2002): 32-36 . Web. 10 April 2014.
Throughout the world, religion is a significant factor in the relationships people build and how people react to situations in the world. Each religion holds true to their beliefs of what is right and wrong. Some of these religions have more in common than others while some religions may not have anything in common. No two religions are exactly identical. For example, they may differ in their beliefs of a god or gods, they may disagree about how the world was created or they may simply interpret literature differently. Each of these religions is based around certain ideas and practiced by those who believe those ideas to be true. By comparing religions, we can identify what the people who practice that religion may find sacred and how they function in the world.
Religion is intertwined with culture, economics, politics, and modern social relationships on every dimension. Whether you attend a cathedral, a synagogue, or a mosque, habitually, intermittently, or abstain entirely, you simply cannot escape religion.
* Anderson, Ronald D. “Religion and Spirituality in the Public School Curriculum.” New York. Peter Lang Publishing. 2004.
Religion has a great influence on people, providing faith and direction to each individual while controlling a co...
As far as mankind’s history can date, religion has had quite an intimate relationship with people. Although maybe it hasn’t always been identified in the same way as we identify religion today, spread across the world we have the remains of pyramids, temples, and even written in ancient texts from centuries ago dedicated to god, to the afterlife, to what lies on the other side. And up to today’s times, religion has grown along with man.
Understanding religious beliefs other than one’s own is a key element of tolerance, since faith traditions often define a significant part of a person’s identity. In the United States, the spectrum of religious diversity is a part of our culture as a whole, and religions can sometimes be at the center of political debate. By examining these different religions we can better begin to understand what motivates certain people and learn to hopefully live together in peace.
As a science teacher that is charged with teaching controversial topics such as evolution, genetically modified foods, and human impacts on ecosystems, my heart rate increases when religion is brought up within my own classroom walls. As I read the chapter, it was interesting to see that the focus on spiritual development has immediate ties into the positive habits of mind I want for my own young child and the adolescents in my own classroom. I can imagine if some of Baumgartner’s and Buchanan’s (2010) elements of spirituality--a sense of belonging, a respect for self and others, and an awareness and appreciation of the unknown--were of greater focus at all ages (both in school settings and family settings), the impacts of a stronger, more spiritual generation would be huge (as cited in Rivkin 2014, p.
America is a melting pot of culture and race. Thus, bringing many different types of religious faiths to today’s society. Whether the beliefs are ancient, new, reconstructed or if people have no faith at all, it is all in America. It is difficult to scrutinize one religion without it concerning another. All religions have diverse beliefs ranging from; the belief of...
Whether religion should be part of the public school curriculum or not has been issue for debate in the USA for the past 60 years. Religion has always played a significant role in people’s lives. Archaeologists found that, even as early as 300,000 years ago, Paleolithic art was already based in religious theories (“Religious Beliefs”). In Egypt, ancient Greece, the Roman Empire as well as more recent civilizations, the influence of religion has been ingrained in countries’ governments and citizens’ everyday lives. The settlers and founders coming from England to America a few hundred years ago were largely Christian believers. Their biblical inspirations were all-present and helped shape the USA. Religion has always been a major motivator for political decisions, both positive and negative ones. Wars have been fought over religion, and peace has been made over religion. The overall goal in today’s global world should be to provide a thorough education to America’s students which will result in well-rounded and well-educated adults able to lead this country into the next century. In light of religion’s historical significance, the question is raised: Should comparative religion be incorporated into the public school curriculum?
Tentative thesis statement: It seems that anything can create conflict these days, religion is included in that, with the whole debate of separation of church and state, the question now is teaching about different religions in public schools.
I honestly thought it would be an easy credit and something fun to take. I thought the study of religion was just learning about other religions to see what they were like and why they are different from our own. I guess I thought that studying other religions would help me understand my own better. Now, I understand more and the study of religion is much, much more important than I could have ever thought. Learning about other people’s religions and their cultures helps us become better people in this world. If we can better understand someone’s point of view, then we can respect their decisions and them as a person more. Not understanding a culture or religion can lead to stereotyping and just hatred for others. If everyone in the whole word learned about other people’s culture, religion, and ideas; then the world would be a much better place. I think this class should be mandatory just for that reason alone. I think the reason that my view on the study of religion has changed is because of what we have learned throughout the textbook. Learning about these different religions that have been taken out of context really puts a spin on things in your mid. I mean, take Muslims, a few Muslims did some very bad things, but now people think that all Muslims are terrorists or bad people. Learning about the religion helped me understand that they are vey peaceful people and just a few did
...ars as a crucial factor in many conflicts. Moreover, religion reflects in people's behaviors, their actions and keep its believers away from the behaviors that are considered wrong from the religious point of view. Religion is not only praying and worshipping, it is having true devotion, true love in your heart. It increases believers' humanity, generosity, and sympathy towards the human beings all over the world. Religion is very important in our modern world as people need something to believe and to be limited by. Since people's actions have gone through the limits of humanity, only religious beliefs prevent the Earth from disappearing. If there was not anything that people are afraid of, feel obliged to, most of them would do whatever they want and benefit from. It is essential to protect religion and religious beliefs, so that to maintain balance on the Earth.