Comments on: Are Americans Ignorant About Religion?

By: Mercury

Mercury — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:14:45 +0000

They should certainly be teaching religion in schools. in the U.S. and here in Canada too. I agree with Alcari there would be A LOT of bantering and whining(and yeah, lawsuits) about teaching christianity alongside other religions.I mean, Can you imagine the outrage when a christian child comes home to his extremely christian parents and tells them about his class project on Wicca?! Many parents won’t even let their children read Harry Potter for fuck’s sake!

By: Alcari

Alcari — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:07:16 +0000

All I can say, drop on by. Our education system isn’t always that great, but I like the Dutch religious policy in schools.

and gasmonso is right, a bit more elaborate and clear then me, but very painfully correct.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:34:32 +0000

I got an 87%. I’m not as strong in Eastern religions as I once was. Personally, I find it depressing how little much Christians know about their own religion much less others.

And I do like the idea of an unbiased, comparative religion class taught in HS. I can hope that it would promote understanding.

By: gasmonso

gasmonso — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:08:08 +0000

@randpost:

It’s extremely important because billions of people have staked their lives on this magic bullshit as you call it. Many government policies and actions are the result of religious beliefs. Decisions that affect every person on this planet are based around some sort of religious belief.

Whether you like it or not, religion is here to stay and the more people that understand it the better. To be honest I think many religious people would cease to believe if they were more knowledgeable on the subject.

Just my $.02

By: Alcari

Alcari — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:04:42 +0000

sadly, because other people do, and we still live in the same, wether we like it or not.

also, nice faq

By: randpost

randpost — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 15:47:48 +0000

I don’t know much about religion and I don’t think that information is really important. Why should I know about some magic bullshit?

By: NewOne

NewOne — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 14:17:08 +0000

The problem with books is that they contain too many words for most Americans, so I suggest just direct them to http://www.400monkeys.com/God/ This FAQ will tell you all you ever need to know about religion and God.

By: gasmonso

gasmonso — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 05:53:33 +0000

@Alcari:

Rioting? Come on, you obviously don’t know us Americans. Lawsuits is where it’s at man! I weep inside :(

gasmonso

By: Alcari

Alcari — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 05:52:31 +0000

oh about the test, got a perfect 15/15.
Odd though that 11 out of 15 questions were about christianity in some form.

By: Alcari

Alcari — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 05:46:42 +0000

Yeah, I liked my method of religious education. ‘we’ covered three monotheistic religions, buddism, nature religions, 2 polytheistic religions of choice and 2 other relgions of choice.

Self study + oral exams remain a great, if somewhat time-consuming, method for those willing to learn.

But, I imagine in the USA, they’re will probably be major rioting if you teach what the Islam says or what the norse gods say, alongside and in the same tone as what Christianity teaches.