Actually, Blue, I haven't taken any serious position on teaching religion as a social science subject. I have made a proposal that I am still waiting for Bob S's response to, a triumph of hope over experience.
Bob proposes to devote a certain period of each day to exposing all public school children to audible, conducted prayer sessions (silent, personal prayer being, in Bob's view, I gather, ineffectual or at least inferior to the Official Kind.) I figured that any fair person would agree that, since the schools in question are public ones supported by taxpayers of varying convictions on these matters, it was only fair that, proportionate to their representation in the population, atheists be able, also, to have the floor to to expose the children to their religious point of view, or perhaps just to meditate on the beauty of life on earth, for the fortunate, and the ways in which it may be made more beautiful for the unfortunate.
I would be delighted to be invited into the schools to tell the children how silly i feel "religion" is. No, no, no! -- I take it back, I wouldn't approach it like that, I remember too well what it is like to attend public school in the south and be subjected to religious rituals every morning that by implication disrespected my family's beliefs!
But I think I know perfectly well that Bob Sturgeon in no way is going to allow any beliefs that contradict his own to be promulgated in the public school. Maybe he would allow a platform for the groups you mentioned-- Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish-- but I'm not sure. After all, Bob's position is that he is right and the only one in possession of the truth.
In any case, I am sure that no way would I be able to speak, if he controlled the program, and my proposal was actually made to make that point. Still, I'd like a reply, and may repost the question from time to time.
I am behind in my reading of this thread, but thought I'd reply to your post before catching up. |
