The issue remains debatable, but a case can be made that the mainstream judgment was terribly wrong in a cultural sense" (Wright 17). Schools and educational institutes play a vital role in teaching religious traditions and imparting knowledge regarding religion. The most important aspect of teaching religion is to adopt proper method of teaching. Avoiding controversial and extremist point-of-views and including positive elements from religious teachings from various religions could help in developing tolerance in the generation that growing in the era when religious violence is at its peak.

Other School of Thought

The other school of thought makes the case against religion when it comes to controlling violence. They argue that it is the religion that encourages violence simple on the basis of religious differences. People belonging to one religion consider them superior to others. Examples of all major religions including Christianity can be given when these religions induced violence in society. However, it is important to differentiate between violence and religious violence. "One can easily point to prominent examples of religion fueling violence-inducing passions. Historically, contemporary coupling of religion and violence has fed on the memories of the wars that plagued Europe from the 1560s to the 1650s and raged around religious differences. Today also it seems that the gods have mainly terror on their minds. Ireland, Serbia and India are just a few sites where religion is a factor in bloody conflicts" (Volf 32).

Spirit or Rituals

Here we also need to understand the religion and its interpretation as well as implementation. The person who is ritualistically religious and follows all religious edicts might not be a moralistic person when it comes to his social behavior. Almost all the religions being practiced are based on certain general moral principles. They all condemn...

So it is necessary for parents and schools to impart the spirit of religion rather than mere rituals. It is the spirit that moves people. If the concepts of humanity and values are inculcated in children then they develop into more balanced individuals. Hence when we talk about religion we should emphasize on the gist of religion that encourages brotherhood, care, affection and integrity.
If religion is used in a positive way then it would definitely help in curbing violence in society. Religion gives human beings a chance to connect with their inner self and a way of life. It also helps in integrating different elements of society. Just like water, food and shelter, if religion is removed from public life altogether then it may lead to a very bad human situation where violence would be at its peak. "we can define as manifestations of the religion of the individual those norms and values which he defines as being of major importance. And just as top-level norms and values provide reference points around which social order is built, so do they form reference points around which individual order is built. His top-level norms and values help the individual "make sense" out of his way of life. They are for him integrating elements, elements which bring order to his life" (Vernon 95).

Works Cited

Wright, Elliott a. 'Religion in American Education'. Phi Delta Kappan. 81.1. (1999): 17.

Volf, Miroslav. 'More Religion, Less Violence'. The Christian Century. 119. 8. (April 10, 2002): 32.

Bennett, Gary L 'Preventing School Violence: Is Religion the Answer'. Free Inquiry. 19. 4. (Fall 1999): 28.

Vernon, Glenn M. Sociology of Religion. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1982.

Brown, Robert McAfee. Religion and Violence. Philadelphia:Westminster Press, 1987.