(November 2, 2014 at 12:31 pm)Jenny A Wrote: Okay, first of all I think the history of and basic tenets of the major religions ought to be taught in schools. It's impossible to make much sense out of either world history or current events without it. Virtually every early empire was a theocracy more or less. The clashes between Peganism, Judiasm, Christianty, and Islam are part and parcel of Western History. Just as understanding western history during the Middle Ages requires some knowledge of Catholicism, the Reformation, and later Catholic reform, the history of the Middle Eastern history requires some knowledge of the Shiites and the Sunnis. And studying India without some knowledge of Hinduism and Islam is silly. And so on and so. World history and religion are inseparable.
Religious beliefs, practices and politics change over time. What 7th Century Muslims did and believed should be compared to what modern Muslims believe and do. Ditto Christians, Jews, etc.
What the the schools should not do is endorse any of those religions or lead worship prayers or services in them.
To the extent the assignment whitewashes the ferocity of the Muslim conquests and the violence in the Koran, I have some sympathy for the outraged father. I'm used to explaining the whitewashing of Christianity at the dinner table after certain school units. Surely he can tell his daughter what he thinks. He could also address those specific objections with the school--perhaps without suggesting just where in the principal's body he'd like to shove the homework assignment.
I have no sympathy with the concept that his daughter should be taught nothing about Islam. And I'd be really surprised to learn that her world history classes don't also cover Christianity and Judaism, especially during the late Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, and the Reformation. It's less likely to, but should cover Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.
Nope, won't happen because there will always be others who will scream indoctrination and or want a monopoly to treat schools as their personal billboard while wanting to exclude others.
It would be nice if humans had the maturity to learn all religions to see that they have the same overlap in motifs. The problem with all religions is that they point to their nice stories of compassion and ignore our species reality that we have always been cruel and compassionate.
The only pragmatic study of religion is what historians and anthropologists do. There is a huge difference between a historian and anthropologist and an apologist. Historians and anthropologists report facts and social norms as strictly history. Apologists are salesmen.
Trying to be fair to everyone in public schools is problematic especially when it comes to young kids because parents have different beliefs and don't always see teaching other things as something they want for their kids.
Public schools have to be neutral and stick to being schools, not Mosques or Churches or Synagogues. We can however teach better critical thinking skills at a younger age. And we can promote outside of schools challenges to all absurd claims.
