The Teaching of Religion in Schools in America and Britain.

Posted on by Opher

IMG_5535

As a retired Headteacher who has taught in both America and Britain I remain amazed at the differences and stupidities in both.

In Britain, which is now a fundamentally secular country, the only compulsory subject by law is Religion. It is also compulsory to have a religious assembly that is wholly or mainly Christian. Presumably Islamic, Jewish and Hindu schools can do their thing.

In America, which is dominated by Christianity,  religion was banned from being taught.

In Britain, in a comprehensive school, I have seen some devout teachers who set about indoctrinating their children with Christianity and saw that as their job. Heaven knows what extremes of religious indoctrination are deployed in religious schools. They did this with impunity with the full backing of school, governors and the education system.

In America, when I taught evolution I had to teach fifty percent of the lesson on the insane and highly unscientific theory of creation. This was the law. I actually had parents in my lessons with egg-timers who were checking to see that I complied and did not short-change their children.

Well I happen to believe that religion should be taught in schools. It should be taught factually as with any other subject. It should be comparative of all major religions and kept strictly to the details of beliefs, history etc.. There should be discussion about the possibility of God, heaven, paradise etc. but no assertions that these are facts. Atheism should be treated equally and given equal value. In no way should this be treated as an indoctrination programme.

Religion has been an important part of cultures across the world. The only way we can see through the religious dogma to any underlying spirituality is to expose its human origins, psychological basis and history.

Perhaps then we will develop questioning adults who will not be intolerant or indoctrinated and can make up their own minds when they are old enough?

I am an antitheist who is tolerant of other views, fascinated by customs and cultures, and who beliefs that wonder and awe are better than any religious doctrine.

13 thoughts on “The Teaching of Religion in Schools in America and Britain.”

  1. I think we are beginning to see a change within some of the churches here that reflects what you proposed: The only way we can see through the religious dogma to any underlying spirituality is to expose its human origins, psychological basis and history. In our Sunday School class today we finished up looking at the epistles and the book of Acts in the New Testament. We’ve spent a lot of time the last six weeks talking about what the Bible is made up of (history books, poetry, letters, etc.), how it was put together, and acknowledging that there are other “scriptures” considered sacred that were left out. We also talked a LOT about the fact that it is a cultural history rather than a mandate set down for us to follow with the exception of love God, love others. In churches that are going through these changes, eyes ARE opened and questions ARE being asked. Unfortunately the evolution is slow. But then it always was, wasn’t it? 🙂

    1. That is good to hear Cheryl. That is an approach I can support and agree with.
      When my daughter was around six years old she attended a Sunday School with her friends (despite my feelings on religion I always tried not to impose my views on to my children). After a while she regressed to having nightmares and bed-wetting. She would not tell us what was troubling her. Eventually we managed to get to the bottom of it. The Sunday School ‘teacher’, a vicar, had given them all a talk on original sin. He’d graphically explained to them that they all had a black, evil heart full of maggots beating in their chests. My daughter was having nightmares imagining this horrible thing inside her.
      As you can imagine a few words were exchanged.

  3. I think the main thing I had a problem with is that some school didn’t teach factual science which is so unfair because everyone should have the right to learn about these facts and you can’t just change facts. Like the Physics teacher at our school tried to teach about Christianity instead of actual Physics which was so annoying!

  4. I love everything you said, and it was good to read about Calen’s experience. I think kids should have the opportunity to learn about all cultures and religions. I like that you let your kids make up their own minds. So terrible about the inhumane experience of your daughter! That is abuse.
    Thanks Opher.

  5. That was a horrible experience with your daughter, Opher. Here in Canada – as in the States, education is a provincial responsibility (State responsibility in the USA), so you don’t have a uniform curriculum across the country. Here in Ontario, the public schools are not allowed to teach religion or have any religious activities – like morning prayer, etc. In Ontario, we have a Catholic School System – publicly funded (thanks to the Irish immigrants back in the 1860s). The Catholic schools are free to teach religion classes, hold class or school-wide religious liturgies, and have morning prayer – as long as the mandated curriculum is followed. I think these schools should be transformed into public (non-religious) schools.

    1. So do I John.
      I see no problem with teaching comparative religion in schools. My grouse is with religious people foisting their views on young children. For me it is exactly the same as politics. I think everyone should be taught about the histories of political parties and the basis of their philosophy – we need politically aware youngsters – but not children indoctrinated to one view.
      Both subjects are good for open debate.

Comments are closed.