If you clicked on this, I feel you probably fall on one of two extremes: either you're totally for religion in schools, or you're so angry at the idea of it that you felt you had to see what ridiculous things I would say, just so you could disagree with them. Unfortunately, I feel like I might disappoint you both (sorry).
Most people who believe religion should be allowed in schools think that there should be prayers in schools, Biblical discussions -- things that tend to be found in private, religious schools. That's not what I'm saying should exist in our public school system. What I think should exist is options.
OK, so bear with me. I'm personally a Christian. I'm a Christian because when I was a little kid, my mom dragged me to church every Sunday whether I wanted to go or not, always telling me that when I was old enough, I could decide myself if I wanted to go. She raised me in a religion, and I'm eternally grateful for that. Being a Christian is truly at the core of who I am today.
But I was standing in the shower this week, pondering all the deepest things of the world (what else does one do in the shower?), and I was thinking about my mom and church and how if my family hadn't shown me God, I may never have found Him. Who else would have told me? OK, maybe some friends at school... but a lot of my friends at school I became friends with through church. So maybe not. We talk about religion in Social Studies for that one year, and glance over all of them -- but is that enough?
I think kids should have options. Personally, I believe in Jesus Christ, God, the Holy Spirit, and everything that goes into the Christian religion. But I can respect other religions. And especially in a time of persecution against some -- in particular, I'm thinking Muslims. Shouldn't we be teaching our kids about other religions, so they can understand them better? And shouldn't we be telling them that they have more options than just nothing?
Except, I guess nothing is still an option. You can learn about every religion and still pick atheism. And that's your choice -- you were presented with the options, and you chose. I can deal with that. I don't agree, but I can accept your decision.
But what about all the kids out there in this country who never even have an option? Why don't we teach our kids about Buddhism and Christianity and Islam and Judaism and Hinduism -- and I mean, really teach them. Don't list off the Hindu gods and call it a day; tell them that this is an option for them. Don't skirt around Jesus; explain who he was, and what he did for humanity. Speak about the Muslim religion, and the reverence of their five prayers each day.
Don't shove all of religion into one 45-minute class period every day during one of the most angsty moments in a teen's life. Offer electives. Teach. How can we raise a generation on no god at all? A generation with nothing to believe in? Take a look around this world -- they need something. Something more than we can even offer them.
And I think it is every child's -- no, every person's -- right to look at all and say, "No." There is no God, no Allah, no Krishna, no Buddha. I hope that's not the choice they pick. I hope they pick something. I personally hope they pick God and Jesus. But, they have to have a choice. And what better place to put that choice than in our schools?
And maybe you'll argue about the separation of church and state, and I can understand your point of view, but the truth is that church and state have never really been separated. We vote for candidates (or don't vote for them) based on their religious views. The truth is that we are both the church and the state; you can't just tear us in two, and pretend they won't ever mix.
You can disagree with me on all of this -- I'm sure plenty will -- but whether you're religious, spiritual, or nothing at all, I can't believe that you truly think it's better to drill atheism into a child's head before giving them a chance to explore and decide for themselves. And my mom did give me Christianity before I could make a decision for myself, but truth be told, I believe I would have picked Jesus anyway. I can't prove that, of course. But I think I would have.
Religion is about love. Why would we not want to give our children a chance to choose that?
