This is a copy-paste job from another post, but since my questions weren't being answered, I thought I'd put it up here. Jean answered part of the first question, but ignored the rest.
Both Brittany and Jean said that Christianity should be taught in school. That's what led me to the following questions. (For the record, I teach high school English.) Oh, and any other Christian is welcome to answer, especially if you agree with that particular premise.
Brittany & Jean,
A couple of serious questions for the both of you.
First of all, I'm going to assume that when you say that Christianity should be taught in schools, you mean that it should be taught as though it's all true, correct? After all, I teach about Christianity in my class, as I do about many other world religions, but I don't comment on its truthfulness one way or the other. I tell my students that it's up to them to decide what to believe.
Anyway, assuming that my assumption is true, my questions are:
1. Would you trust me to teach it? After all, I am a teacher, yet I am an atheist. Do you really think that I'd teach it the way you'd want it to be taught? Do you believe that people like me should be fired then? If so, then what about separation of church and state? Do you not believe in that concept?
2. Which version of Christianity do you think should be taught? Orthodox? Catholic? Lutheran? Fundamentalism? It's not like there's complete agreement amongst Christians.I honestly wonder if either of you have considered either of those two things with your statements. I could be wrong though, so I'd appreciate a response.
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By all means teach religion in schools, but that means teaching children about all of the major world religions, their beliefs, implications and contradictions.
ReplyDeleteDid answer you before on this one there is nothing more I can say. As I said I would not have a problem with the word of God, the bible being tought in school by an atheist. Why should you be fired because you are an atheist? As long as the bible is tought, not false thoughts or ideas about Christianity, (which you obviously have) but the bible,then the issue of the version of christianity is not pertinent.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jean, that's a little bit more like it. It's a complex question, and you didn't get to all of it with your initial response. I appreciate you taking the time to try again.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have a problem with your statement that it won't matter which version of Christianity is taught. You seem to be under the impression that all Christians agree on all points of the religion. Of course, I'm sure that you think that the views that are different from yours are the "false" ones, but don't you see that's how some people view your beliefs?
In other words - how do you know that you're right?
Also, I'm surprised that you'd trust me to teach Christianity. I wouldn't trust me to do it.
Lance,
ReplyDeleteI find this quote telling:
"Why should you be fired because you are an atheist?"
I think that's a freudian slip.
How does she know? Her sky daddy told her. Just like he told her that her home counry is practicing the wrong religion.(according to one of her blog entries)
BTW Jean, Not that I have mastered written english, but paragraphs are a good thing.
Hi Lance,
ReplyDelete"First of all, I'm going to assume that when you say that Christianity should be taught in schools, you mean that it should be taught as though it's all true, correct?"
Yes, because it is indeed all Truth!
"After all, I teach about Christianity in my class, as I do about many other world religions, but I don't comment on its truthfulness one way or the other. I tell my students that it's up to them to decide what to believe."
I would rather a true Christian teach the word of God to our students, rather than an atheist/non-believer, because they indeed are more knowledgable about His word.
While I would rather our students be taught by a Christian, I know that many are being taught by ateists/non-believers. I honestly don't have a huge problem about that. Only do I disagree when a atheist/non-believer starts to opinionate his/her beliefs on students, or mocks Christianity do I have a problem.
"Do you believe that people like me should be fired then?"
No one should be fired because of their beliefs or shall I say lack thereof.
"Which version of Christianity do you think should be taught?Orthodox? Catholic? Lutheran? Fundamentalism?"
I believe that the True Word of God should be taught to our students. The fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and later arose and defeated death. I believe that the Bible should be presented so that students everywhere can study it in school.
(For the record, I teach high school English.)
Neat, I'm majoring in English. :)
In Christian Love,
Brittany
Hey Brittany,
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving me a thoughtful response.
I believe that the True Word of God should be taught to our students. The fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and later arose and defeated death.
Well, I don't teach that, but I do tell them that's what Christians believe. Still, you have to realize that there are a lot of disagreements amongst Christians about all sorts of things. Having it taught in a public school would require us to figure out exactly which version should be taught.
I realize that you want the "true" version, but not everybody agrees on what that is.
Could you be willing to concede that matters of faith are best dealt with at home or in the church? Taking it up in public schools would only make things more difficult.
I believe that the Bible should be presented so that students everywhere can study it in school.
I do a whole unit on the Bible, focusing primarily on the Gospels. As I've said before, I tell the kids that it's up to them whether to believe it or not. I teach it the same way as I do the Greek Myths - as I don't tell them that they can't believe those either.
Neat, I'm majoring in English. :)
Brittany, I'm going to have to warn you here. Now, this might not be the case, because I don't know where you're going to school, but when you study literature, you're going to find a lot of things that are going to challenge your beliefs.
This is hardly a scientific study, so take it for what it's worth, but I don't know a single English teacher at my school who subscribes to the version of Christianity that Ray Comfort espouses. (We do have Christians, but no doubt he'd call them false converts.)
Just get ready for it - and remember - thinking's good for you!
Christianity shouldn't be taught in public schools as truth, but church history definitely should be offered as a high school elective. There are too many people who think that the modern flavor of fundamentalism is just the way things have always been since the apostles.
ReplyDelete