Why Study Religion

Religion is an extremely controversial matter, with people from around the world both supporting and rejecting it. In hope that their children would learn about religion and its benefits, parents generally accept to have religion taught in public schools. A main argument for religion to be taught in schools would be that it can be compared to any other matter, since it brings up ideas and activities and it encourages children to think better and more efficiently.

Educators have been often reported of prohibiting children from expressing their religion while at school.

In the same time, educators generally support children in expressing themselves freely in various discussions. All things considered, it should only be normal for a child to express his or her religious beliefs, as it is not wrong for one to put across their convictions.

While schools had been initially controlled by the church, people have gradually distanced themselves from the institution. This is how secular societies have emerged. They became predominant in the western world. The public had come to the conclusion that there is no practical need for religion to have any connection to the educational system. Moreover, a large number of people believe that religion actually prevents children from receiving a proper education, as it distracts their attention from other, presumably more important, matters.

The U.S., especially, has a history of pure anti-Catholicism beliefs, and, it had not been until the second half of the nineteenth century that Protestants accepted religion to be taught in public schools. A main cause for their acceptance had been the coming of immigrants from southern and central Europe in large numbers.

Because lesser and lesser children are being taught religion in schools, they grow up without knowing some of the basic things about how they should behave in society, according to higher principles than their own judgment. Generally and regardless of the faith, religion teaches people to be kind and to abstain from performing any immoral activities. When hearing about religion in schools, most people relate to holy books reading and to school prayers. However, religion as a school matter involves very different concepts, as teachers have to teach about ethics and about how children have to act in certain stressful situations. According to the Supreme Court, teacher-led prayers are prohibited, since it would not be natural for teachers to force all children (including the non-Christian ones) in the classroom to carry out such an action.

The Changing Impact of Religion on the Sexual and Contraceptive Behavior of Adolescent Women in the United States journal article goes at proving that religion has truly had a beneficial influence on teenagers. Apparently, the number of teenagers engaging in non-marital intercourse and birth rates among teenagers had dropped visibly as a result of religion teachers discussing on the risks that teenagers face.

Religion does not necessarily need to be considered to be something spiritual, as it can also teach people in relation to moral values and about how they can distinguish between good and bad.

A modern school system needs to be fair towards everyone and this can only be made possible by school authorities allowing children to express themselves without restraint. Parents should have the right to decide what their children will learn in school. Religion is generally beneficial for opening people's minds and for preparing them to behave properly in the contemporary society.

Works cited:

1. Glanzer, Perry. (1998). "Religion in Public Schools: In Search of Fairness." Phi Delta Kappan, Vol. 80.

Perry Glanzer's article presents readers with solid arguments regarding to why the teaching of religion in schools must not be regarded as something immoral. Also, the paper brings support to religion and reveals the reasons for which it is beneficial for young minds. Glanzer wants people to understand that the teaching of religion does not automatically involve their children praying and listening to spiritual metaphors.

2. Wright, Elliot a. (1999). "Religion in American Education." Phi Delta Kappan, Vol. 81.

This article gives a detailed history of religion and its acceptance in the U.S. public school system across the years. The document shows how a large number of people have fought in order to prevent religion from entering the educational curriculum. It would appear that religion receives the same treatment today as it had received in the past, with non-religious people being reluctant to have anything to do to it.