Why was Jesus Christ in my fifth grade history book?

Question

In fifth grade, we studied ancient China, Rome, Egypt, Greece, and the middle ages in social studies.

In my textbook, there was a chapter where they talked about Jesus Christ and crucifixion (ancient Rome). They said that Jesus was the man who taught Christianity, died on the cross, and lived in Jerusalem.

Why was he in my fifth grade history textbook at a public elementary school?

Answer 1

We live in a predominately Christian society!  But he is a major part of the history and culture of his time.  I hope they didn't go into the religious part of it.  You will also study greek and egyptian mythology and the Salem witch trials.  You will never discover what you believe if you don't read about it.  If you have a religious reason, or even a personal one as to why you would not want to read about a certain religious movement, then tell your teacher.

Answer 2

Because you had a AWSOME fifth grade history text book.  

Answer 3

I don't know but you better tell the christians, they're always looking for him!

j/k

Christians probably won't like this, but at my high school, the special ed classes discussed God, heaven, and h**l to keep the kids in line.  This was the teachers choice, and not part of the curriculum.  She got reprimanded for it, but claimed that it was the only way they would stay in line.

Answer 4

It's acceptable as long as it wasn't preaching Christianity, although the historicity of Jesus is FAR from confirmed....

Answer 5

Because you can't take religion out of the history of the world.  And whether you believe that Jesus was the Christ or not, he was a historical figure whose teachings have influenced World History ever since.  

Answer 6

Because it is historically true...

Same reason that Ghandi or Alexander the Great are in there.

Honestly, religious convictions aside...

Has any man had more of an impact on society today than Jesus Christ?

Has any idea hod more impact than Christianity?

How could we study Caesar and not Christ, even if only treating His claims as claims?

Answer 7

His story is history.  Without him there is no history and no future.  Without him, you are pretty much, just running in small circles for the rest of your life!

Answer 8

As one lone human, he had the greatest single effect on all of humanity across time itself.  All done in 3 and a half years on earth.

This does not include his pre-human existence or post-human existence.

Answer 9

because that is the HISTORICAL aspects of jesus, there is nothing wrong with that. except that he did not TEACH christianity- that arose after his death.

there is historical evidence (which people do contest) that comes from non christian sources that mention jesus.

however if your history textbook went on to discuss jesus as bieng "the savior" or "son of god" then that would be inappropriate.

mere mention of jesus is not a red flag- mentioning that jesus the historical figure who was the figure who was crucified by the roman empire for violating roman law and later became the central figure of the christian faith is not inappropriate- that is true.

saying in a historical textbook that he performed miracles or was divine is HIGHLY inappropriate.

Answer 10

Thats a question that can go both ways. Yes, it might be viewable as being promotion of one religion (Unconstitutional), but its also a part of the history of the Roman Empire in the first few centuries AD, because they did convert to christianity, and it would be lacking to tell that part, and not cover the politics of the origin of it in that area and time.

So, unless they went out of their way to say "And, you all know that jesus is the one true messiah, right, kids, that on the test", its likely a reasonable part of the history of the time and places covered.

Now, if they were doing, say, US history, and spent time on jesus, crucification, and so on, that'd have been clear pushing of religion.  

Answer 11

Because Jesus did exist and is an integral part of western thought and history. Weather or not he was a Messiah...well he wasn't...he was just a man with a big cult following , thats all.

Answer 12

It doesn't sound like they're saying "JESUS DIED FOR YOU AND HE LOVES YOU AND HE WANTS YOU TO COME TO HIM!!!!!!!!"

They're just acknowledging something that was important back then. People WERE crucified, and Jesus DID teach Christianity.

They're just teaching you history...

Answer 13

Jesus Christ is mythical creature that your school board allowed to be slipped into the textbook for their own reasons. This appears to be a wedge for christians to indoctrinate and invade a classroom with their mythology. Talk to your parents for removal of people on the school board.

Jesi did the textbook treat Jesus differently than it treated the Greek Gods?

Answer 14

Pretty hard to give you an accurate history of those ancient cultures without touching on their ancient beliefs.  Did they not talk about the Greek, Egyptian, and Roman gods as well?

Answer 15

Probably to explain what kind of mythology people believed in back then.

Answer 16

Religion is a part of history.

I'm sure there were parts about Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism too.

Now, it if is telling you anyone of them is true, well, make a big deal out of it, please.

Answer 17

Well, it is a historical fact.  Believe it or not there are many Christian events that still pertain to the "real" world.  I doubt there is one in a newer book and they will probably throw out the Holocaust too.  Funny thing is if you really took separation, as they have misused it,  You could teach history in a much shorter time frame.  You cannot discuss Colonial America any Ancient society or the Middle ages as they are chopped full of religion of one form or another.  I wonder how much history could be put together avoiding taboo religion?  Oh, it is only Christianity that has to be avoided!

Answer 18

Possibly because your history book taught history.

Jesus was an historical person at the very least.

39 ancient histories verify this besides the Bible.

His existence is better documented than many people we all believe existed.

History books teach us about historical people. Jesus was one.  

Answer 19

Well, while I consider that to be VERY young to be in history class, there is some validity to a historical figure named Jesus and the connections to Rome of that time period.

Now that said, this is a better AP high school subject and should have been under consent of your parents

Answer 20

Because you wouldn't understand western history otherwise. Didn't you also learn about Greek, Roman, and Norse gods?

Answer 21

Probably because Christianity has a history spanning 2000 years.

Answer 22

He is part of history just like all the wicked who are in the history books.  Why can't a righteous man be in a history book when they have the wicked in there?  Jesus stands for truth and righteousness.  He never sinned.  Why should they take God out of the schools completely?  The reason they did this was to make the atheists happy in the first place, not to make the children happy or to help them in any way.  The atheists are forcing their garbage on people anywhere they can dump it and falsely accusing Christians of fairy tales.  They are the ones who are lying.

Answer 23

From your description, the history book never said anything about being divine, or the son of God, but presented him as a historical figure who was a preacher.  Nothing wrong with that. Crucifixion was pretty common back then, just as lethal injection is today.  

Answer 24

cause the people who put the book together think its true..

Answer 25

I don't know, but please complain on my behalf if they don't mention Muhammad or the Buddha.

Answer 26

Because He is an important historical figure.

Answer 27

Firstly, Jesus didn't teach Christianity, Christianity didn't exist until 300 years after he died when a Roman Caeser decided to use the new concept of Jesus Christ to keep his city going strong.

To answer your question, children in western society are always taught about Jesus where ever the teachers can fit the bloke into their lesson plan. It is purely to fit into educational expectations of your area, if you live in a place where Christianity is strong then Jesus will be highlighted where ever possible in a school.

AND, in western societies Christianity dominates other religions so kids are taught about Christianity only and not about any other religions. Although they are taught about Greek gods and Egyptian gods you can tell that it is in a style that makes the Greeks and Egyptians seem crazy or insane.

Answer 28

because its part of history and is probably the easiest way of portraying relegion through the ages (most commonly chritstianity becuase it IS the biggest reliegion in the world) and it also probably shows you symbols that the christians used to communicate when practiscing christianity was banned in ancient rome.

Answer 29

You cannot discuss the history of this world wihout discussing the primary force that shaped history.

You cannot discuss western history without discussing Jesus.

You cannot discuss eastern history without discusising Confucios and budha

The seperation of church and state does not mean that we ignore history.

Answer 30

Psalms:9:17: The wicked shall be turned into h**l, and all the nations that forget God.

Psalms:50:22: Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

http://www.near-death.com/storm.html

Answer 31

Praise God!!! I didn't know they actually used books in school that had any truth in them. You a very lucky, blessed young lady. The reason He is there is because He is suppose to be. Although, being in fifth grade you should already have known of Him. He created you. He wants to have a close, personal relationship with you.  I will list some places you can go to find more out, along with some great, truthful science and history.