Religion classes in school - Megathread

Henry Cox78 said:So you're basically saying we should scrap religious studies just because kids who skip it get a free period to hang out in class and mess around? And now that downtime is considered "discrimination" against them? 😁 It would be hilarious to actually ask those kids if they feel discriminated against or if they just think they hit the jackpot. These modern totalitarians love wrapping themselves in the flag of human rights, tossing the word "discrimination" around left and right just to persecute anyone with different beliefs. Real discrimination is stripping away rights—which is exactly what you're doing by suggesting we stop religious education just because you think schools should only be job training centers rather than places that actually prepare kids for life.

Look, schools are supposed to educate and prepare kids for the workforce. But "character building" shouldn't mean forcing personal beliefs on everyone, especially when some people act like their specific views are somehow "better" than everyone else's.

But hey, we totally fell for all that broken politics, and now we're stuck here. Watch out, shadowy elites, we're coming for ya... 😛

Richard Perez3 said:You still haven't actually answered her question.

Why can't religious studies classes just be held inside church buildings?

Half the people following this thread are waiting on an answer. Give us a straight response instead of passing the buck with that whole "so you're saying we should..." routine.

It’s simply more practical when it comes to space and scheduling. I've already made my point, but you guys are just being stubborn and trying to scrap religious ed entirely. You don't have a single logical reason for it other than pure spite. I don't get it. It's just "let's get rid of it so we don't have to look at it." 🙄 A little tolerance wouldn't hurt.

So, what makes it better specifically when it comes to space?
And how does it actually help with the timing?

If we're following that logic, then old cathedrals shouldn't even be allowed in the mix.
Why don't we just shut them all down? 🤔

Look, praying mantises simply aren't quite suitable for a theology course.

pure comedy 🤣

Richard Perez3 said:So, what makes it better specifically when it comes to space?
And how does it actually help with the timing?

If we're following that logic, then old cathedrals shouldn't even be allowed in the mix.
Why don't we just shut them all down? 🤔

That’s exactly what people like you want, isn't it? Let's be real—it's not just about religious studies being a thorn in your side. All this talk about "discrimination" and other sappy nonsense is just a smokescreen for your own intolerance toward faith. Honestly, everyone should have religious education classes so people can actually learn how to love and tolerate one another. That's the only way we'll thrive as a society.👍

Why hasn't that happened yet, though, especially since we see these high percentages popping up all the time? If 80% of people are supposedly learning love and tolerance, why does it feel like there's so little of it around?
So you think that 20% minority is responsible for everything going wrong? Yeah, right. 🙄
That other 80% must have just lost their way... there's zero love or tolerance to be found, just theft and whatever else.
Edit:
Down at the local Trader Joe's parking lot, I constantly see cars parked in the handicap spots with a rosary hanging from the rearview mirror, but zero disability permits. And those parking spaces are basically non-existent.
Real beautiful love and tolerance right there... clearly they learned it well.

Henry Cox78 said:That’s exactly what people like you want, isn't it? Let's be real—it's not just about religious studies being a thorn in your side. All this talk about "discrimination" and other sappy nonsense is just a smokescreen for your own intolerance toward faith. Honestly, everyone should have religious education classes so people can actually learn how to love and tolerate one another. That's the only way we'll thrive as a society.👍

You’re back at it with the "that's what you want" line. Seriously, give it a rest. It's getting old.

I’m asking you again:

What makes it better regarding space?
What makes it better regarding time?

Rachel Jones8 said:Why hasn't that happened yet, though, especially since we see these high percentages popping up all the time? If 80% of people are supposedly learning love and tolerance, why does it feel like there's so little of it around?
So you think that 20% minority is responsible for everything going wrong? Yeah, right. 🙄
That other 80% must have just lost their way... there's zero love or tolerance to be found, just theft and whatever else.
Edit:
Down at the local Trader Joe's parking lot, I constantly see cars parked in the handicap spots with a rosary hanging from the rearview mirror, but zero disability permits. And those parking spaces are basically non-existent.
Real beautiful love and tolerance right there... clearly they learned it well.

Maybe it's because religious education hasn't been part of the curriculum for decades, so we just have to wait for this current generation to grow up and actually take charge of things.

Still waiting. Since when did religion become a mandatory school subject? How long am I supposed to sit here?
I mean, people used to just head to church if they wanted to, no big deal.
But you know, at actual churches or chapels.
Can't religious parents just pass those values down to their kids themselves? Teach them about love and tolerance at home? Why do they need formal classes for that?

Richard Perez3 said:You’re back at it with the "that's what you want" line. Seriously, give it a rest. It's getting old.

I’m asking you again:

What makes it better regarding space?
What makes it better regarding time?

And honestly, this whole threatening vibe you've got going is boring too. Go with the one that gives schools more room and means parents don't have to shuttle kids back and forth between school and church all day long.

Sorry, but I honestly can't imagine a more brainless answer than that.

Way to go, 👍

So, he's just doing it for the kicks. Well, why didn't you say so right off the bat?

Richard Perez3 said:Sorry, but I honestly can't imagine a more brainless answer than that.

Way to go, 👍

So, he's just doing it for the kicks. Well, why didn't you say so right off the bat?

There you go, pure satisfaction. Now maybe you'll finally accept religious studies in school and stop acting so clueless. 😁

We should probably just abolish school altogether—that way kids could focus entirely on their devotion at church.

Fortunately, Jesus didn't have to deal with such trivial distractions back in his day...

Maybe we shouldn't just add them—what if we just moved everything into schools? You know, the grocery stores, the bars, sports, music lessons, language classes, soccer, the bank, the newsstand, the post office... just put it all right there so we can get stuff done on the way. 🙂
True, they probably should expand the current ones, but having it all in one spot would be so much easier. 😁

Henry Cox78 said:That’s exactly what people like you want, isn't it? Let's be real—it's not just about religious studies being a thorn in your side. All this talk about "discrimination" and other sappy nonsense is just a smokescreen for your own intolerance toward faith. Honestly, everyone should have religious education classes so people can actually learn how to love and tolerate one another. That's the only way we'll thrive as a society.👍

Oh boy, forcing religious education on everyone would be the ultimate irony when it comes to "love and tolerance." And I'm sure society would just blossom overnight...

Anyway, just thinking out loud here... 🤦

Karen Richardson3 said:Wait, are you actually the same person who was basically squealing at the idea of making religious education mandatory, despite being part of the camp that claims to be fiercely against totalitarianism?

Look, you're the one who dragged communism—which, by the way, vanished from this country back when we were all just little kids—into a discussion about keeping religious instruction inside public school buildings. So, I don't really know how to proceed without rambling about everything and anything, 😁
how we aren't living under communism anymore, but rather in a society that actually values a plurality of opinions. 😁 These debates are fascinating because it's becoming pretty obvious that deep down, we're all a bit totalitarian. 😁

But regarding my reasoning:

First off, I feel like we haven't received a straight answer to one very simple question: why can't religious education just take place in church buildings?
I mean, nobody is trying to ban the teaching of the Catholic faith; freedom of religion is protected by law. But why does it have to be in school buildings—places that are primarily designed to educate and prepare people for the workforce?

I’ve yet to see a clear legal basis for why you're demanding entry into state-run school buildings (though I haven't heard a rebuttal to the idea that the "spiritual development" clause was slipped into the Education Act back in 1991 at the behest of the Church, only to be used later as a roundabout justification for religious classes on campus).

So, I still haven't gotten a simple answer to why not just use churches; besides those half-baked excuses like "there's no room" or "we don't have enough laptops."

At its core, what bothers me is the hypocrisy. Like many others here, I think you're fully aware that a lot of kids wouldn't even show up to church for these lessons (which would be a massive failure if it's true).

But hey, as a powerful interest group, you're certainly doing everything you can to hold onto that social influence and the money that comes with it.

For instance, take brisknomad13, who claims to defend religious education and cares so deeply about the moral and spiritual growth of children, yet she's just one person whose entire livelihood seems to depend on the Church and these school programs.

Me? I don't gain a single cent whether religious education stays in schools or not, so I'd like to think I'm coming at this with a lot less hypocrisy than the rest of you.

But what really gets under my skin is how the government hasn't actually fixed the issue for kids who don't attend religious studies classes; honestly, it feels like they're being treated unfairly and even discriminated against.
Look, if we’re saying tax money from every single taxpayer should go toward supporting the Catholic Church, then the state should be using those same collective funds to finance a real solution where no kid is left stranded in a hallway. There should be dedicated space inside the school buildings specifically for students who aren't participating in those religious lessons to hang out. That’s basically the bare minimum the government could do—even if they didn't prioritize it back in the day, they can certainly figure it out now. Personally, I suggested using the school library, which seems like a totally reasonable fix to me.
And I truly believe—or at least I hope—that it would also be in the interest of the Catholic Church to get this sorted out. They really ought to throw their weight behind these demands, especially since, as brisknomad13 mentioned, they represent about 80% of the population, which gives them massive social influence.

So, regarding the question of why the Church would bother caring about people who aren't part of its flock: as someone who isn't a member, I honestly don't know if the Church as an institution advocates for a positive attitude toward everyone, or if they just focus on their own members?

If we're talking about an institution and people who are supposed to care about the well-being of everyone—not just their own—and considering that under the current legal framework they non-selectively take money from all Americans, I think it's shameful that the Church allowed, and continues to allow, this half-baked solution. Their members get the religious education, and for everyone else, it's like "who cares?" This approach just keeps widening the gap in an already deeply polarized American society.

My family's bank account doesn't rely on the Church one bit.

Where did you even get that idea, and why does ☕Karen Richardson3
feel the need to talk about me like that?
I work, I pay my taxes, and I'm actually fine with my tax dollars supporting the Catholic Church. Got a problem with that?

The claim that kids hate religious studies? Absolute nonsense. They despise it like the plague—it’s just that they don't have anyone they actually trust to talk to about it.

More often than not, they're stuck with some uninspired instructor who has about as much connection to pedagogy as I do to mechanical engineering.
They spend their time forcing students to memorize useless trivia through incredibly rigid, soul-crushing grading systems.
It is nothing short of brainwashing—just endless cycles of learning complete nonsense.
In my view, only someone truly unhinged would try to control children by terrorizing them with threats of hell and sin.

Henry Cox78 said:So you're basically saying we should scrap religious studies just because kids who skip it get a free period to hang out in class and mess around? And now that downtime is considered "discrimination" against them? 😁 It would be hilarious to actually ask those kids if they feel discriminated against or if they just think they hit the jackpot. These modern totalitarians love wrapping themselves in the flag of human rights, tossing the word "discrimination" around left and right just to persecute anyone with different beliefs. Real discrimination is stripping away rights—which is exactly what you're doing by suggesting we stop religious education just because you think schools should only be job training centers rather than places that actually prepare kids for life.

The discrimination part comes in because the government isn't actually providing any supervision for those kids while these elective classes are running. Since this specific subject holds such a unique status compared to other electives—and there isn't even an alternative class scheduled at the same time—those students are essentially left adrift.
Basically, it's not like every school across America has made sure to provide dedicated spaces or staff to look after them.
In our area, they’re just stuck out in the hallways instead of being in a proper classroom.
From what I can tell, it's the same story everywhere else, too.

What's the big deal with allocating funds so that, say, the school library stays open all day? That way, if a six, seven, or eight-year-old isn't in religious studies, they could head to the library and spend that hour there productively.

At the end of the day, I have plenty of my own reasons for thinking religious education doesn't belong in the public school system, but as you guys mentioned, I'm in the minority here.

But look, if we want to avoid repeating the mistakes of past totalitarian eras, the way the majority treats the minority really needs to be rooted in Christian values and democratic respect. So, when we argue that it's unfair that nobody is looking out for the kids skipping those religious classes, both the state and the Church—given its own stated mission—really ought to step up and show they care about them.
When my kid shows up at school at 8:00 AM but class doesn't start until 8:50 AM, I need to know they are safely in the library under someone's watch, which is exactly how a school is supposed to function.

Henry Cox78 said:Maybe it's because religious education hasn't been part of the curriculum for decades, so we just have to wait for this current generation to grow up and actually take charge of things.

For what it's worth, I was a regular at religious studies in school and was super active in church growing up—I genuinely wanted to be there. But once a child realizes there's a gap between what's being preached and how things actually work, especially if they don't see any personal benefit from the organization, they tend to walk away and never look back.

brisknomad13 said:My family's bank account doesn't rely on the Church one bit.

Where did you even get that idea, and why does ☕Karen Richardson3
feel the need to talk about me like that?
I work, I pay my taxes, and I'm actually fine with my tax dollars supporting the Catholic Church. Got a problem with that?

At the end of the day, everything really just boils down to money and self-interest, usually manifesting as who gets which job or which business opportunities open up because you're connected to a specific political clique.
It’s the same story whether you're looking at the far right or the far left; the loudest cheerleaders are almost always just people looking to gain or lose leverage depending on which faction holds the reins of power.

Most regular folks don't even bother looking into it, or if they do, they certainly aren't digging as deep as this.

And look, if you happen to have zero ties whatsoever to the crowd we call the "right wing" here in America, then please, accept my most sincere apologies.

Richard Perez3 said:You still haven't actually answered her question.

Why can't religious studies classes just be held inside church buildings?

Half the people following this thread are waiting on an answer. Give us a straight response instead of passing the buck with that whole "so you're saying we should..." routine.

Religious education is already being held in church halls anyway, so honestly, if they pull it out of the public schools, there won't be any issues—at least not for those looking for spiritual guidance. Where did all those "concerned" followers disappear to? I remember when we were tackling a nearly identical question about fifteen pages ago, and suddenly everyone went silent.

Honestly, trying to find a straight answer to this one is like looking for a needle in a haystack around here...I honestly don't get why people are making such a big deal out of this. It’s like everyone suddenly lost their minds over nothing. I remember back when I was working at a tech startup in Austin, we had a similar blowout over a minor policy change, and looking back, it was just pure drama for the sake of drama. People love to feel outraged; it gives them something to do on a Tuesday night. Anyway, Jason Ortiz5 makes a decent point, even if he is being a bit dramatic about it. And let's be real, brisknomad13 is totally missing the forest for the trees here. We need to stop circling the drain and actually look at the facts. If you ask me, most of this "outrage" is just noise. Typical.

Honestly, I’m starting to think this whole "tolerant" crowd is actually just allergic to anyone who holds traditional Christian values. It’s kind of ironic, isn't it?