Atheists & Theists (Believers of God) - Religion taught in public schools?

Question

My Australian atheist friend told me that religion in the public schools there is a CHOICE. The family selects which religion - if any is taught to their child. What are your feelings about the freedom of choice?

Answer 1

I'm fine with religion being taught in public schools, as long as it stays within a specially designated time (here in England, we have Religious Education lessons) and all ideas are presented as speculation.

I don't think it should be optional. We all have a duty to know about the world and it's cultures, no matter what religion we are personally. As long as you're tested based on knowledge and not belief, I see no problem with that.

Answer 2

World religions as a high school elective would be fine.  

Answer 3

We have something similar here in Canada. It is called a "World Religion" course and is mandatory in some public grade ten curriculum's as a social science study. In other schools it is an optional course. It offers a view on ALL major world religions and their effect on history and mankind. I will be gently pushing my kids towards taking it when they reach high school.  

Answer 4

Australia can do what it wants-as far as america goes--the constitution protects us from putting religion in public schools.  So really doesn't matter what you or anyone else thinks--unless you can get together a supermajority and amend the constitution--it won't happen.  Question is a non-sequiter in america--has no meaning

Answer 5

I don't know about Australia, but if they were teaching religion in US government-funded (I'm laughing on the inside) schools, I know I'd be pissed.

EDIT:  o i c wut u did thar

I thought the question had something to do with preaching in public schools.  Learning about religions in relation to history is fine.

...I had a teacher in high school that would preach to me.  Kind of annoying, really.

Answer 6

If i believe in magic crystals can i make the teacher take lessons so they can teach my child the magic of magic crystals?

Answer 7

I really can't say, as I don't have any children in school at the moment, and I was home-schooled. But I will say that my mother, a devout christian by the way, thought it was necessary for me and my siblings to learn the basic beliefs of all major world religions. And because of this basic understanding we are able to make clearer decisions about our own beliefs, be more understanding of others, and less judgmental. So stemming from that, yes, religion should be taught in school.