| The Ghost of RubangB said: I'd support a class on creationism ONLY if it equally covered as many creation stories as possible within the semester and didn't say "Well Jesus is the truth, but.... there are all these other myths as well." They'd have to be equally represented. We're talking the great Coyote of many western American tribes, the Japanese story of Izanagi and Izanami, and everything else in between. Not just... the monotheistic religions. I want Zeus and Thor all up in that shit. Man, if somebody converted my (future) kids behind my back, I don't even know what I'd do. Luckily, a friend of mine already promised me he'd kill my kids for me so my brain wouldn't explode. |
As much as I'd love to get involved into this debate, I'm trying to steer clear as I suspect I would spend too much time on this thread. Needless to say, I believe Finalfan summed up most of my views on the topic.
But I'd especially like to comment on the teaching of religions in classrooms. As a teacher, who has some experience with the religion curriculum, I can say that there are so many factors that prevent teaching classes such as the one you suggest, Rubang, as well as one that would focus solely on Christianity's 'truths'. Firstly, it is often to cover all topics in all courses let alone to be able to squeeze more time to be spent on religion classes. Secondly, and perhaps most sadly, many teachers, like their students, view religion class as a flake class and spend very little time and resources preparing for it. Thirdly, so much trouble comes with the parents no matter the situaation. The way I teach the class (and I believe we are given more autonomy in Canada than the US... not sure about other countries) is that I offer equal times teaching all major religions. We make plans to visit temples, churches, mosques and there will always be, usually christian, parents who object to visiting any other religious sites that do not match their own. So, needless to say it can be quite the headache and is the reason why many teachers do not often take it too seriously. Forth(ly?), it's really difficult to seperate from our biasedness. Now, by no means am I a christian, nor am I of any particular faith, but I grew up in a town of 8000, with 60 percent of them catholic, 39 percent protestant. I've seen very little of the Islamic or Judiac faiths. I've studied them quite thoroughly, but have not lived in a society where law and social norms are guided by these faiths, so it may be difficult for some teachers to fully provide equal treatment all faiths.
I apologize for the large block of text, but often these conversations and debates go on without any input from the teachers themselves. As for converting kids... I'd hope no teacher in the pulic system would ever attempt to do that. Simply not our place, nor business.
