Church & State News

[DragonsFriend]

What other religions are being taught? I tried to log on to Ktel.com as the video asks but the site is down... maybe something is being hidden?

Teaching the basics of different religions to provide a social understanding is not a bad thing but such a curriculum would, by necessity, include other religions as well. I doubt that many religions could be fit into such a short course which begs the question, "which religions are being examined?"
The "big three" would be the minimum but that would exclude major religions of many regions and, of course, those religions that fall under the label of Pagan.

If only Islam is being examined this is an unlawful act by "promoting" one religion over others. It would be the same as a public school teaching Christianity or any other single religion.

[kalynraye]

Hmmm....

Apparently the phrase "anybody who is anybody" excludes all non-Christians - at least, in this person's view...


Tennessee Mom Throws A Fit When Her Daughter Learns About Islam In School:
“It is time as parents, teachers and administrators we stand up and take back our families, our schools and our country.”

Watch the vid.

OMG seriously!! Does she not understand we are a nation of multiple religions, that we were founded on religious freedom??? Of course they need to teach about other religions and cultures. The USA is a melting pot of different people. I do not for the life of me understand such close minded people!

What other religions are being taught? I tried to log on to Ktel.com as the video asks but the site is down... maybe something is being hidden?

Teaching the basics of different religions to provide a social understanding is not a bad thing but such a curriculum would, by necessity, include other religions as well. I doubt that many religions could be fit into such a short course which begs the question, "which religions are being examined?"
The "big three" would be the minimum but that would exclude major religions of many regions and, of course, those religions that fall under the label of Pagan.

If only Islam is being examined this is an unlawful act by "promoting" one religion over others. It would be the same as a public school teaching Christianity or any other single religion.

When I was in middle school and high school we learned about not only Christianity, Judaism, and Islam but Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Basic principles of each one. Which should be taught. The world is not just christians and raising a bunch of children to think there is only one way is ridiculous and foolish. Some or most of those children will eventually go out into the world and meet people of different beliefs and cultures and will be ill prepared to handle it. Taking Islam out of a textbook is just adding to fear and racism. I think she needs to go back and read her bible. I'm pretty sure there is a big huge section on tolerance.

[B. de Corbin]

In 6th grade the Tennessee state curriculum (as per the article) includes:

Christianity
Judaism
Buddhism
Hinduism

In the 7th grade:

Islam and it's relation to Christianity and Judaism.

[kalynraye]

"in relation to Christianity and Judaism" comparing them. How is that wrong? What is unchristian about that?

Kind of off subject but we have 3 Syrian refugees that just started at work and I had a coworker who didn't know Muslims and Jews don't eat pork. That Hindus don't eat beef. She could not for the life of her understand why any religion would give up a certain animal. Nor did she know the principles behind any of them. As a cook this is not something that is ok. We feed people and you need to know basics of multiple cultures. Especially at a University where there is so much diversity.

[DragonsFriend]

"in relation to Christianity and Judaism" comparing them. How is that wrong? What is unchristian about that?

Kind of off subject but we have 3 Syrian refugees that just started at work and I had a coworker who didn't know Muslims and Jews don't eat pork. That Hindus don't eat beef. She could not for the life of her understand why any religion would give up a certain animal. Nor did she know the principles behind any of them. As a cook this is not something that is ok. We feed people and you need to know basics of multiple cultures. Especially at a University where there is so much diversity.

Comparing Christianity to any other religion goes against most Christian beliefs. We know that Christianity sprung from Judaism and that Islam sprung from Christianity and that their roots are in pagan belief systems before them. But try to explain to a Christian that Abraham, of the Bible, came from Sumer (Ur) and was raised as a Sumerian in a Pagan faith and fathered Judaism based on its myths and it would be sacrilege. I have discussed this with Jews and they are aware of it and readily accept it. Christianity cut itself off from its roots as did Islam, both to make their religion the only "true" faith. Yesuah was after all a Jew and a rabbi. The "new" religion he offered was called "the new Judaism" until Saul of Tarsus named it "Christian".
My point was that if they are going to teach the tenants of religion they should include all religions, maybe even pagan religions?

[anunitu]

Many religions tend to obscure their connection to earlier belief systems. One example of connection is Voodoo(by other names I know) that has a Catholic base in its history,though Voodoo does not hide that part of their history. I might guess Catholics "Might" want to disavow their connection to Voodoo however.

Religion and belief is a very fluid in nature thing. Time and condition can and often does alter its structure.

Even human nature grows and changes over time depending on the factors that can shape it.

[kalynraye]

Comparing Christianity to any other religion goes against most Christian beliefs. We know that Christianity sprung from Judaism and that Islam sprung from Christianity and that their roots are in pagan belief systems before them. But try to explain to a Christian that Abraham, of the Bible, came from Sumer (Ur) and was raised as a Sumerian in a Pagan faith and fathered Judaism based on its myths and it would be sacrilege. I have discussed this with Jews and they are aware of it and readily accept it. Christianity cut itself off from its roots as did Islam, both to make their religion the only "true" faith. Yesuah was after all a Jew and a rabbi. The "new" religion he offered was called "the new Judaism" until Saul of Tarsus named it "Christian".
My point was that if they are going to teach the tenants of religion they should include all religions, maybe even pagan religions?

Actually Islam is a break off of Judaism not Christianity, but regardless if you have a problem learning about another religion or your child learning about a different religion maybe they shouldn't be in a public school. I do agree that the major religions of the world should be taught in school.

[DragonsFriend]

Actually Islam is a break off of Judaism not Christianity, but regardless if you have a problem learning about another religion or your child learning about a different religion maybe they shouldn't be in a public school. I do agree that the major religions of the world should be taught in school.

Since Islam believes that Jesus was a prophet and began around 610 CE I would be surprised that it wasn't a Christian off shoot. Both Islam and Christianity share a root in Judaism and their use of the old testament and prophets before Jesus shows that. Islam believes that the Jews and Christians have modified the messages of the prophets and the teachings of Jesus. Islam therefore shows that Judaism and Christianity are in its roots, although I doubt there are many that would accept that.

[Chessa]

The five "major" world religions are: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Any time I've taken a comparative religions-type class, it's those five.