Should religion be taught in public schools?

In a private school they can teach whatever they want. In a public school, in a country with religious freedom, I don't want the government to determine that one religion is more important than another and so the belief system of this religion should be taught but the believe system of this other religion should not. Look at how many denominations of Christianity there are, Christians don't even fully agree what Christians believe, you expect the government to figure it out?

The existence of religion and it's roll in history should be taught and already is. Things like the how Egyptian society was built around the idea that the Pahroah was a living god, the role the Catholic Church played in the Europe, the Crusades, the effect that the rise of Protestantism had on society and politics, the role religion played in World War II, I can go on and on.

All of that is history, it is found in schools currently, it belongs in schools, and is the extent to which religion belongs in school. The belief systems of the religions that the government deems most worthy do not belong there.

If it is optional like art, music, drama...

It should be taught as a cultural class, but not as "truth." Because most religions are not compatible... If one is true, the others cannot be. The only way to be fair would be to treat them all impartially and just discuss the historical impact they have had on the earth.

Make them aware of the choices. Yes. Make them choose. NO!

Classes about religion? Sure.

Religious classes? Nope.

I completely agree. There's no harm in unbiasedly enlightening people on the different religions or lack of beliefs. It's a wonderful idea to show what differing religions actually believe in instead of leaving students to buy into whatever they happen to hear about religions other than their own.

I think it should be mandatory. These are the kind of things you should know if you're going to be living in the real world.

I can't find an issue with it, and I think it's a great idea.

It is taught, from a historical standpoint, not from a religious one. How can you talk about the Romans and not mention Jesus? How can you talk about China without ancestor veneration?

People certainly shouldn't be taught religion. Being taught ABOUT religion - that sounds like a reasonable idea.

As long as the majority of people remains ignorant, pupils might as well learn about it in school.

Absolutely NOT!
Again, I will say it; religion is the greatest sin of mankind. More people have been slaughtered horribly in the name of one gawd or another than for any other reason.
Religion is the true evil and should be wiped from the minds of man.

Nope, not in public schools. It will never remain a secular survey of religious culture. Religious groups will try to infiltrate the course material to demonize competing religions.

Yes, from a historical standpoint, not a religious one.

Well, they should be taught about many religions and beliefs and what atheism is so they can form their own opinions but it shouldn't be like a graded subject so kids have a bit more freedom here

WTF**king man

Of course students should be taught about world religions, to do otherwise is absurd. They may as well bury their heads in the sand for what it's worth.

Following a certain spiritual path is a personal choice.

No I'm generally against any form of brainwashing. People will discover religion if they need it in their lives.

No, religion shouldn't be taught, but I will say religions share a general message. It doesn't matter where the message is coming from. The important thing is understanding the message, which should be taught.

If you look closely religion has too many flaws. Getting into the specifics of different religions is definitely a bad idea. It fucks with your mind because I've learned each religion has its own biases.

My 7th grade history class taught me about religion. We learned about the big 5, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. And a little bit of Paganism too.

This was a public school in California. My nephews are in public school in a different state and learning about the two Buddhas. Seems pretty standard to me. Sorry you went to a crappy school.

yes. there should be and there is, a subject called religion studies, in plenty of countries.

I remember in highschool we had a cultural unit in my world studies class where we looked at hinduism budism and islam in relation to books that we were reading... I think it should be manditory to have the class but opitional to take it.

I agree, OP. To want to go into a world where over 30 percent of people are Christian without a basic understanding of what they're about sounds silly. And equally, I was also taught the religion of atheism in my school and have a good grasp of what big bang atheists are about.