Politics and Faith...........
I think the Founding Fathers of the United States were wise men. They set up a seperation of the Church and State. This was for the "Church's" protection. Politicians trying to score points with people of faith talk about bring God back into the schools. It is not the place of public education to teach our children about God. In fact, that scares me! It is the job of parents first and then the church to teach children about God!
In Georgia, my former state, legislators have voted to allow public schools to teach the Bible in school. Read the story here. I don't know if I like this! What if the teacher is an athiest? What if they are Mormans (LDS)? What if they are Jehovah's Witness'? What if they are very likable teachers and lead our students astray!
There are many fine, Godly teachers in our schools systems but not all of them love God! Personally, I think this is a bad idea. The place to teach the Bible is at home and church! Don't think that Cults will try to use this to lead Christians astray. Children and teens are not mature enough in their faith to know if someone is teaching false doctrines. For once, I might side with the ACLU. I don't think this is a good idea.
posted by Kevin Bussey at 3/21/2006 12:35:00 PM
8 Comments:
Great point. I think Deut. 6:1-9 might just have something to say about whose responsibility it is to teach kids about God and His word.
You are right Jamie!
This is a very difficult issue to discuss in a rational manner. But it is a discussion that needs to take place.
When you look at our nation's history, from the earliest days of public education until the 1960s the Bible was read and taught in public schools, and teachers led their students in prayer. (This may not have been true of every single public school, but it was the norm.) Was this good or bad? I believe it was both. One could make a case that religious education in public schools resulted in children and teens who were more respectful and had fewer major behavioral problems than those of today. However, one could also argue that religious education in public schools produced generations of "cultural Christians" who were religious but not truly converted. Both of these claims are not indisputable, but they are widely accepted.
Looking at today's society, however, we see many differences from the past. We live in a much more religiously pluralistic society than we did 40 years ago. As you mentioned, not every teacher is a Christian, even in a strictly cultural sense. Also, there is a definite hostility to Christianity among our nation's academic elite. Do we really want these people playing a key role in the religious education of our children?
And then there's the issue you brought up: biblically, who has the primary responsibility for educating our children in religious matters? The Bible seems to give parents the primary responsibility for doing this, and the church should support them through its teaching ministry. It really is not the role of the public schools to provide religious education for students.
At the same time, the public schools should not work against the efforts of parents and churches to provide religious education. Christian students should be free to express their views just as any other student does (example: Christian students should not receive bad grades if they write a paper from a Christian perspective). Also, Christian students (and students from other religions) should be allowed to form student groups, wear clothing or jewelry that expresses their faith, and share their faith (as long as they don't interrupt or disrupt class). Public schools should neither promote any religion nor inhibit religious expression.
Tim,
You bring up great points! I was fortunate to have some good Christian teachers. In fact my 5th grade teacher brought my dad (who is a minister) in her class to teach Sex Ed. from a Christian point of view. (That had it's own set of issues but I won't get into that now.)
But what if a Wiccan came into teach? That concerns me. I wish we could go back to the "good old days." But they are gone! We have to adapt to how we live now.
You are very right on not punishing Christian children for their faith.
Baptists had a tremendous impact on the Bill of Rights. We don't want people in Government endorsing any stance on God because of the multitudes of problems that occured in Europe. We wanted away from that and I still do.
I remember my Social Studies teacher in 10th grade butchering Calvin and his teachings. At the time, I didn't know she was doing such a bad job. I figured it out later.
Anyway, I am against prayer in school for the very reasons that you specify, Kevin. I don't want someone coming in and preaching, teaching or praying to a false God and leading my children in it. Even if it prevents me from doing the same thing.
This also brings up the issue of abdication. Parents are abdicating the spiritual roles they are given, but my wife is a teacher and she says that parents are abdicating academic responsibilities at the same rate.
That is a long story, but it is relevant.
Dear Kevin,
We all seem agreed on some points:
1. children must be taught to know the Lord
2. the parents (specifically the father) are charged with doing so
3. the public schools can no longer do so, due to multi-religious nature of out culture, among other reasons
4. the church should support parents in fulfilling this responsibility
Where we may differ is on the conclusion we draw from these observations. Here's a common one:
Schools should allow religious freedom, while parents and the church should teach the children of the Lord in non-school hours.
I reject this conclusion, though. It is not reasonable to place our children in atheistic education 8:00-3:00 Mon-Fri 9 months/year and expect them to learn that God is the number one concern in life. If students are taught every subject---history, literature, science, social studies, etc.---with no reference to God, then taught about Christianity in the evening and on Sunday, what will their mindset be?
Education for the children of Christian parents must be distinctively Christian education. Whether it is in a private Christian school or a home school is a matter for the judgment of the parents. But whether to teach our children in an atheistic or a Christian school should be a foregone conclustion.
Love in Christ,
Jeff
Jeff,
I think we agree. I am certainly for Christian groups being allowed to meet and freely display their faith. I just don't want the gov't teaching faith-because they don't have any!
Jeff,
I disagree somewhat with your conclusion that Christians should not allow our children to be educated in public schools. I know many Christians who attended public schools and remained strong in their faith throughout high school, college, and now into their young adult years. The one thing these young people have in common is that their parents and churches took seriously the responsibility for their religious education. At the same time, I know a number of young people who attended Christian schools but fell away from their faith in college or afterward. As you can probably guess, their parents didn't play much of a role in their religious education, and their churches often focused more on having fun than on spiritual development.
I believe that withdrawing our children from public schools sends a message that as Christians we should withdraw and shrink back from interacting with the world. But what happens if they grow up to attend a non-Christian college or take a job in the secular marketplace?
Let me hasten to add that I am NOT against Christian schools or home schooling. In fact, I attended a Christian school from 5th-12th grade. Sometimes academic factors or safety concerns lead parents to pursue these options. I have no problem with this. But when the primary reason is to insulate their children from the secular environment of public education, I believe that can do more harm to the child's faith in the long term because the child never learns how to deal with those who question, oppose, or even show hostility toward their faith. Not to mention that being salt and light requires us to be in the world.
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