Religion classes in school - Megathread

feralmoose32 said:From what I can gather, they don't really do religious education through the church anymore—it’s mostly just handled through the public school system now... though I suppose there might be some local parishes out there still offering it, but it’s definitely not the norm these days...

Let me know if you dig up anything more concrete once you find out 😁

Not sure what part of town you're in, but every single parish near me—and there's over 15 of them—runs their own religious education program.

Look, I know most countries in the European Union have some kind of religious education baked into their system, but honestly? I don't think it belongs in our public schools. Like, why should there always be this option to take parish-based religion classes or head off to religious institutions during school hours? It just feels off. If we want kids to learn about different faiths, let's keep it strictly academic—maybe a quick overview within a sociology course, or even just touch on it during nature and society classes for the younger kiddos. That way, it stays educational without being pushy.

There’s really just one glaring issue here... it's an elective. Nobody is forcing you to enroll your kid in it—and if you do sign them up, you can always just pull them out the following year. I see where you're coming from to a point, because I'm also a big believer in quality parish-based religious education—actually living out your faith and building community—rather than just grinding through dry theory and rote prayers like it's some chemistry exam. But if we follow your logic, there’s no point in teaching English, French, German, Italian, or Latin in any American public school either... people should just go to private schools for that. A quick mention in geography or history classes is enough to let them know these things exist, maybe throw in a phrase or two...
So, as long as there’s a choice and a variety of electives available—whether it's religion, ethics, or whatever else a specific community finds meaningful—those subjects deserve their spot in the curriculum. 🤷

Nancy Kelly31 said:According to the recent mandate issued by the American bishops, participation in both school-based religious education classes and parish catechism programs is now strictly required before one can receive the sacraments.

You can find the official decree here:

It is my understanding that any local priest who chooses to permit children to receive these sacraments without having attended their required religious instruction is essentially violating canon law and acting in direct defiance of his bishop’s authority, which necessitates a formal report and subsequent disciplinary action to correct such improper conduct...

That's an interesting point 🍿
If they actually manage to get religious education removed from schools entirely, then every single priest would technically be in violation of those rules. 🤔

Gary Reed9 said:There’s really just one glaring issue here... it's an elective. Nobody is forcing you to enroll your kid in it—and if you do sign them up, you can always just pull them out the following year. I see where you're coming from to a point, because I'm also a big believer in quality parish-based religious education—actually living out your faith and building community—rather than just grinding through dry theory and rote prayers like it's some chemistry exam. But if we follow your logic, there’s no point in teaching English, French, German, Italian, or Latin in any American public school either... people should just go to private schools for that. A quick mention in geography or history classes is enough to let them know these things exist, maybe throw in a phrase or two...
So, as long as there’s a choice and a variety of electives available—whether it's religion, ethics, or whatever else a specific community finds meaningful—those subjects deserve their spot in the curriculum. 🤷

I’m also crossing my fingers that this elective will finally be scheduled like all the other options at our school—offered during an after-school block rather than being jammed right in the middle of the mandatory core subjects. That way, whoever wants to take it can, without it disrupting the main schedule.

On a side note, the most ridiculous thing I ever saw regarding "religion class" (that's our nickname for that period) happened when some students were trying to get their homework done in the lobby (they finally installed some benches and tables there). A counselor actually walked up and forbade them from doing their homework, telling them they had to pack their books away immediately because homework isn't supposed to be done on school grounds 🙏. And occasionally, the instructor will wander in and complain simply because they're being a little too loud while playing 😁

Michelle Nelson4 said:I’m also crossing my fingers that this elective will finally be scheduled like all the other options at our school—offered during an after-school block rather than being jammed right in the middle of the mandatory core subjects. That way, whoever wants to take it can, without it disrupting the main schedule.

On a side note, the most ridiculous thing I ever saw regarding "religion class" (that's our nickname for that period) happened when some students were trying to get their homework done in the lobby (they finally installed some benches and tables there). A counselor actually walked up and forbade them from doing their homework, telling them they had to pack their books away immediately because homework isn't supposed to be done on school grounds 🙏. And occasionally, the instructor will wander in and complain simply because they're being a little too loud while playing 😁

Which school is this?

Drew Gonzalez75 said:Which school is this?

Honestly, it doesn't really matter which one... It happened once, so just have a laugh and let it go. It’s like 99% of the nonsense we deal with in life that just isn't worth getting worked up over. On any other day, things were perfectly normal—those who actually wanted to get things done were busy tackling their assignments...

Susan James said:That's an interesting point 🍿
If they actually manage to get religious education removed from schools entirely, then every single priest would technically be in violation of those rules. 🤔

Because if some kind of shady maneuvering somehow forced religious studies out of our schools again, I am certain the bishops wouldn't utter a single word, nor would they issue any fresh decrees or official statements... It would be one of those situations where there would be nothing but absolute silence coming from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. They wouldn't say a peep... 🙏

Fraud?

Seriously, what kind of massive corruption and shady backroom deals does it take to kick a completely obscure, totally impractical little hobby out of a secular educational institution?

Peter Rogers said:Seriously, what kind of massive corruption and shady backroom deals does it take to kick a completely obscure, totally impractical little hobby out of a secular educational institution?

Honestly, they let the rot set in, and now nobody has the guts to clean it up.

Gary Reed9 said:There’s really just one glaring issue here... it's an elective. Nobody is forcing you to enroll your kid in it—and if you do sign them up, you can always just pull them out the following year. I see where you're coming from to a point, because I'm also a big believer in quality parish-based religious education—actually living out your faith and building community—rather than just grinding through dry theory and rote prayers like it's some chemistry exam. But if we follow your logic, there’s no point in teaching English, French, German, Italian, or Latin in any American public school either... people should just go to private schools for that. A quick mention in geography or history classes is enough to let them know these things exist, maybe throw in a phrase or two...
So, as long as there’s a choice and a variety of electives available—whether it's religion, ethics, or whatever else a specific community finds meaningful—those subjects deserve their spot in the curriculum. 🤷

Look, faith is based on belief—literally, that's what the word means! Foreign languages, especially English (though I mean, does anyone even consider English a "foreign" language anymore? But that's a whole other debate...), are super useful to know, they're part of our actual reality, and they mostly rely on facts and established rules.
Learning languages is crucial for both your career and everyday life, plus it actually boosts intelligence, which isn't exactly something you can say about religion class, so that comparison of yours just doesn't hold water.

And don't even get me started on how religion class often isn't the first or last period of the day, leaving kids who don't participate to just sit alone in the hallway or something.
Because of all that, I really don't think it belongs in public schools. Again, I'm saying students wouldn't be cheated out of learning about the existence of religion; that stuff can all be covered within other subjects. If someone loves it and finds themselves drawn to it, hey, nobody is stopping them from being an active member of a religious community, going to Sunday school at their local church, and all that. I have nothing against that at all.

Religious education belongs in American schools.
I honestly believe that offering religion as an elective subject is a perfectly fine approach—there’s really no need to change how it works.

Scott Stewart4 said:Look, faith is based on belief—literally, that's what the word means! Foreign languages, especially English (though I mean, does anyone even consider English a "foreign" language anymore? But that's a whole other debate...), are super useful to know, they're part of our actual reality, and they mostly rely on facts and established rules.
Learning languages is crucial for both your career and everyday life, plus it actually boosts intelligence, which isn't exactly something you can say about religion class, so that comparison of yours just doesn't hold water.

And don't even get me started on how religion class often isn't the first or last period of the day, leaving kids who don't participate to just sit alone in the hallway or something.
Because of all that, I really don't think it belongs in public schools. Again, I'm saying students wouldn't be cheated out of learning about the existence of religion; that stuff can all be covered within other subjects. If someone loves it and finds themselves drawn to it, hey, nobody is stopping them from being an active member of a religious community, going to Sunday school at their local church, and all that. I have nothing against that at all.

I'm with you 100%. Denominational religious instruction should go back to the churches—it has no business in schools unless we're aiming to keep dumbing down our kids in the long run.

Peter Rogers said:Seriously, what kind of massive corruption and shady backroom deals does it take to kick a completely obscure, totally impractical little hobby out of a secular educational institution?

I find myself in complete agreement. In fact, I teach my own children quite seriously that religion is little more than a form of psychopathology. Is one considered mentally sound simply because they believe in Pinocchio? They will pass this same logic down to their offspring. Furthermore, I would argue that nations function under much the same pathological principles.

Both nations and religions are merely two invented human cults. They operate on the fundamental principles of a sect to maintain dominion over their followers. It is reminiscent of JonesTown, though perhaps without the collective suicide—at least for the time being. One can only wonder what might occur should some other entity descend from the cosmos.

These two cults have served as the primary instruments for nearly every war in human history. When people begin to unite, leaders incite conflict to ensure that such unity does not lead to freedom, thereby regaining control. Consider, for instance, how certain religious institutions operated during the 1940s, inciting slaughter and fostering hatred to prevent the restoration of former borders.

Moreover, the programming begins while individuals are still children; through rituals like baptism, they initiate the erasure of individual personality and freedom. The moment you are told who you are—without ever being asked—and instructed on how to think, the process is set in motion. This serves to stifle the development of individuality, ensuring one becomes a hollowed-out vessel, dependent and easily manipulated. Is this not, in truth, a crime against humanity? They provide only the information they deem appropriate, ensuring no alternative perspectives are ever heard.

Under the influence of sect leaders in JonesTown, entire groups ended up destroying not just themselves, but their own children as well. People are effectively destroyed the moment they are forced into a mold without consent—through baptism, through nationalistic manipulation, and through various other sectarian tactics.

No invented human cult could ever be placed above individual liberty and independent thought. Nothing conceived by man should be treated as sacred if it does not resonate with the individual. That is the essence of freedom: to remain anacionalan and an atheist.

This is how my family lives and how I instruct my children: to exist as free beings, unburdened by the shackles of the invented human cults known as nations and religions.

Robin Rodriguez73 said:I find myself in complete agreement. In fact, I teach my own children quite seriously that religion is little more than a form of psychopathology. Is one considered mentally sound simply because they believe in Pinocchio? They will pass this same logic down to their offspring. Furthermore, I would argue that nations function under much the same pathological principles.

Both nations and religions are merely two invented human cults. They operate on the fundamental principles of a sect to maintain dominion over their followers. It is reminiscent of JonesTown, though perhaps without the collective suicide—at least for the time being. One can only wonder what might occur should some other entity descend from the cosmos.

These two cults have served as the primary instruments for nearly every war in human history. When people begin to unite, leaders incite conflict to ensure that such unity does not lead to freedom, thereby regaining control. Consider, for instance, how certain religious institutions operated during the 1940s, inciting slaughter and fostering hatred to prevent the restoration of former borders.

Moreover, the programming begins while individuals are still children; through rituals like baptism, they initiate the erasure of individual personality and freedom. The moment you are told who you are—without ever being asked—and instructed on how to think, the process is set in motion. This serves to stifle the development of individuality, ensuring one becomes a hollowed-out vessel, dependent and easily manipulated. Is this not, in truth, a crime against humanity? They provide only the information they deem appropriate, ensuring no alternative perspectives are ever heard.

Under the influence of sect leaders in JonesTown, entire groups ended up destroying not just themselves, but their own children as well. People are effectively destroyed the moment they are forced into a mold without consent—through baptism, through nationalistic manipulation, and through various other sectarian tactics.

No invented human cult could ever be placed above individual liberty and independent thought. Nothing conceived by man should be treated as sacred if it does not resonate with the individual. That is the essence of freedom: to remain anacionalan and an atheist.

This is how my family lives and how I instruct my children: to exist as free beings, unburdened by the shackles of the invented human cults known as nations and religions.

We should be teaching kids to respect differences and other people's faiths, rather than labeling everyone with a different opinion as a pathology.

Matthew Kim88 said:We should be teaching kids to respect differences and other people's faiths, rather than labeling everyone with a different opinion as a pathology.

So, does that mean religious education classes should also teach respect for everyone, including atheists?

Because right now, it feels like they're being taught that non-believers are worse than the devil itself, and it almost encourages the kids in those classes to go out and pick on anyone who doesn't join in.

Matthew Kim88 said:We should be teaching kids to respect differences and other people's faiths, rather than labeling everyone with a different opinion as a pathology.

Well put—concise and straight to the point.

Jason Ortiz5 said:So, does that mean religious education classes should also teach respect for everyone, including atheists?

Because right now, it feels like they're being taught that non-believers are worse than the devil itself, and it almost encourages the kids in those classes to go out and pick on anyone who doesn't join in.

In reality, that is precisely what they are supposed to be teaching, though unfortunately, there is always going to be a Sunday school teacher who fails at their job, much like there are teachers in any other subject; the problem is that we rarely hear about the ones doing an excellent job, whether it's a religious instructor, a high school teacher, or even a principal...

Richard Fowler13 said:Well put—concise and straight to the point.

In reality, that is precisely what they are supposed to be teaching, though unfortunately, there is always going to be a Sunday school teacher who fails at their job, much like there are teachers in any other subject; the problem is that we rarely hear about the ones doing an excellent job, whether it's a religious instructor, a high school teacher, or even a principal...

Can you please, just for me, quote an actual American religious studies textbook—any of them—that explicitly states people who don't believe in God can be just as good as anyone else, and that we should respect their lack of faith? I don't really care about teachers giving their own little "free interpretations," whether they're being helpful or just plain wrong.

On a side note, one of the religion teachers at my old high school was actually one of my favorite instructors. Meanwhile, there was this other guy—just a total, stubborn jerk who was impossible to deal with. It had absolutely nothing to do with the curriculum itself, though.

I can't exactly provide direct quotes because we already turned all the books back into the school library.
Though, honestly, I don't think a verbatim quote is even necessary here; what actually matters is the core substance of what the teacher is imparting—the actual topics being discussed in the classroom.
And, naturally, those lessons are always going to be intertwined with whatever perspectives and values are being reinforced at home.
But let’s be clear: that reality applies equally to the students attending religious education classes and those who aren't.