Funny but I was taught about evolution/science in a Catholic grade school(7th and 8th grades). Science and Religion are both ways of teaching and explaining things that we couldn't otherwise wrap our minds around(calms our fears of the unknown). Should they be taught side by side? -I don't know though I do believe that our children should not be brainwashed into not making the decision to believe in God or not by the fact that our teaching establishments basically preaching that science(and thereby evolution) is the absolute law of the land. The fact is that there are many scientific facts that are disproved every year, theories that become regarded as laws of nature that change when new factors(as say solar flares and radioactivity affecting carbon dating - not so precise as they thought)...new discoveries of wonders that we can't honestly explain with our limited knowledge of how much is really out there and what can affect our little ball floating in a huge universe of unfathomable dimensions. We haven't even figured out everything there is to know about what is going on in the oceans yet, so how can we expect to know what is affecting us from out in space? For me there is too much order and 'coincidence?' for us to have just arrived at the stage of life/evolution out of all the chaos that we can observe out in our galaxy/space with what technology we have for it to have just been chance...there must have been some sort of outside interference/influence/directions/what have you, to make it all happen.
sure as long as it looks at the history of different religions and their basic tenets on equal platforms, which I'm sure is many would be against to even think Hinduism could be considered the equivilent to Christianity. You're not suggesting they move the traditional "Sunday School" (i.e. the promotion of one specific religion) to the public school system are you?
What you're describing here, you are seeing as a criticism of science. But it's actually the strength of science. You see, when we do further study and find that something we thought was true is not true, we drop it and move on. That isn't exactly true of some religions. Many people will insist that some religious tenet is true even though it has been demonstrated to be not true beyond any doubt. Now it's one thing to believe things that cannot be proven. If anyone has read my posts here, it's obvious that I do. And I will readily admit it. But I don't think it's proper to suggest that those beliefs be taught in school, and especially to other peoples' children, and most especially as an alternative to science. I would readily make exception though for a course as a survey of the major world religions, if one could find someone qualified to teach it.
For the purpose of this survey, I was not suggesting public schools become the agent of a specific religious faith. I was suggesting that the precepts of the different major religions of the world be covered to give different views of phenomena and create not only cultural awareness but also build critical thinking skills.
Iowa, I agree with you, I took that course in college and it was great. I think it's essential with this global economy that we all learn about different religions. But, do you think Jews, Muslims, and Christians have the same God? I say they do, but I know many do not think the same.
Yes - Jews, Christians and Muslims all believe in the God of Abraham. Jesus Christ was a Jew who in talking about God and healing people upset the priests and therefore was crucified for his deeds. It is said that the priests pushed for his death to protect them from their sinful ways. The Jewish priests at the time did not believe he was the Messiah and therefore today Jews still don't think he is the Messiah. Christians believe he is the Messiah and the teachings the Torah (or part of it) became the Old Testament and the new law of Christ became the New Testament. The Quran speaks of Jesus being the "spirit of God". It also speaks of Moses the Prophet and holds the Torah as a divine book. But there are many Jews and Christians who say Muhammad was a false prophet. It was during the crusades, when both the Christian Knights and the Muslims in the middle east, ignorant or indifferent of each other's belief in the same God started the original Hatfield and McCoy feud that has never died out. Extremists on all sides of the issues continue to fan the flames of hatred further dividing these three religions. Therefore, today you have those who claim that their religion is the only religion that God sanctions. The Eastern religions (or so we call them) of Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism do not believe in God. I say so-called because they believe basically in sculpting your life to find beauty, truth, and goodness by living as beauty, truth and goodness to reach a state of complete harmony and bliss. Hinduism believes in many gods as does Shamanism (무교) which is mainly practiced in Korea and has been ongoing (now in smaller numbers) since before recorded history in Korea (5000+ years ago). Shamanism is very similar to the Native American beliefs as they both speak of different creatures being godlike and spirits of ancestors guiding them through the natural world. Shintoism removes the belief that some creatures had supernatural talents and relies only on the spirits of deceased Japanese people to guide the living. Shin comes from the Chinese character (神[SUP][/SUP]) meaning spirit and To is from the Chinese character (道[SUP][/SUP]) meaning path. Together they translate to "the path to the spirits". My knowledge of world religions is not complete, but what I have learned has helped keep me from committing faux pas in my travels around the world. It has also helped me to understand viewpoints outside my own. Finally, there are aspects from all of these religions that have helped me mold my own character to be a better person.
Not really, as I tend to filter out skewed information given to me, and my job in the military for over two decades was to brief only factual data, I don't mind giving out the "big picture" with the facts and let others make up their minds.
I'm glad it worked out well for you. I'm sure it was a very interesting presentation. I found the results of your poll interesting also. I would have predicted different results.
I`m a little late to the party as usual... I would have voted yes,but only as an elective. I`m with Cooter on them spending more time on math and science.
To Iowa Veteran: Sorry, I forgot to mention earlier. I grew up Shinto. Your comments about Shinto are pretty much wrong. There seems to be a common misconception that we engage in "ancestor worship." That's not at all true. We do believe in a creator which we call amenominakanushi no kami. This creator (only one) kami is manifested in all of us and everything as well including rocks and trees. So some have compared Shinto to animism. But then, people who follow the Abrahamic religions also believe in One Creator who is present everywhere. We also have rituals involving the cleansing and purification using water. Christians and Jews have similar rituals. I don't know about Muslims. The spirits of our ancestors can guide us. I know my husband will likely die before I do, but I know his spirit will never leave me. But then Catholics also pray to the saints for help and guidance. Also the priest on All Saints Day will tell you that there are many saints including members of your own family whom you can petition for help. And I have heard non-Catholics talk about how mother or grandmother is up there watching over us. And there are songs that mention this if one listens to country.
