Yes. Ok, there’s a little more to the story, but the short answer is definitely yes at least from my experience. But of course you don’t have take my word for it when there are people who study this for a living.
Steve Prothero, a professor of Religious Studies at Boston University, has been studying this very question for many years. He started giving a simple religious literacy quiz to his students and eventually everyone he knew. The prognosis was dire; almost everyone failed. Complete story here.
The end result of all this is to be released in an upcoming book entitled, Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know–And Doesn’t
“Given a political environment where religion is increasingly important, it’s increasingly important to know something about religion. The payoff is a more involved [political] conversation.”
I agree completely with Prothero and I too believe that religion should be taught in public schools alongside sex education and other fundamental subjects. While we’re at it, let’s teach kids how to manage their own finances. I’m always shocked when I meet people with outrageous credit card debt and they don’t even realize that they’re paying 20% interest. Damnit I digress again.
I’ll end with these words of wisdom from the article:
“In Prothero’s utopian world, Americans would have enough religious knowledge to debate ethics positions using holy texts, to understand Biblical references in political speeches, to question their own beliefs about God—and to encourage others to question theirs. Only then will we enjoy one of the greatest privileges of the educated, which is to change our minds.”
I’d like to thank Itanshi for sharing this article with us!
Related posts:
- The Evolution Of Religion
- Sam Harris–Link Between Religion And Violence
- Jewish — Race Or Religion?
- Kevin Tackles George Carlin’s Take On Religion
- American–Land Of The Free, Home Of The ‘Morans’
March 4th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Pick up a used copy of Huston Smith’s “Religions of Man.”
Good, nonjudgmental, overview of the major religions.
March 4th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
[...] post by gasmonso and plugin by Elliott [...]
March 4th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Just wondering, is there any data on how educated (religously) other countries are.
On another note it occurs to me, if you start teaching religion in schools which one do you choose. Only Christianity or do you have to cover them all.
I myself think you have to be careful when implementing laws that will have an effect (even passive) on what people believe (at least in a religous sense).
I do agree that if you are a Christian it is a good idea to be well educated on the subject. (Same goes for other beliefs) But as an athiest I really don’t want to spend a whole bunch of my time learning about something I don’t believe in.
Well I hope that all made sense to y’all
March 4th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
A broad course on religions would probably be best in my opinion, covering the three Judaic beliefs with the big ones of the east (Buddhism, Hinduism, etc) and maybe an idea of some of the other minor/ancient ones so that you get a broad view.
With a subject like this, I think it’s really important to teach multiple perspectives. The world isn’t getting any bigger, so most people will grow up to face other religions sooner or later.
March 5th, 2007 at 12:12 am
As long as it’s taught as religion not as fact.
March 5th, 2007 at 12:14 am
A broad course would, of course, be best. In the US, of course, there would be a strong argument for including a strong component of Native American and Inuit/Aleut traditional religions in such a course. (For other countries with indigenous peoples, substitute your own local religions.)
March 5th, 2007 at 12:46 am
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.
March 5th, 2007 at 12:52 am
oh about the test, got a perfect 15/15.
Odd though that 11 out of 15 questions were about christianity in some form.
March 5th, 2007 at 12:53 am
@Alcari:
Rioting? Come on, you obviously don’t know us Americans. Lawsuits is where it’s at man! I weep inside :(
gasmonso
March 5th, 2007 at 9:17 am
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.
March 5th, 2007 at 10:47 am
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?
March 5th, 2007 at 11:04 am
sadly, because other people do, and we still live in the same, wether we like it or not.
also, nice faq
March 5th, 2007 at 11:08 am
@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
March 5th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
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.
March 5th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
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.
March 6th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
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!