Expert: Vincent M. Wales - 2/15/2011

Question
DO you think that religion should be allowed to be taught at school?

Answer
Jessica:

It depends what you mean by religion being "taught," as well as what kind of school we're talking about.  If it's a private school, i.e., not subsidized with tax dollars, then it can teach pretty much whatever the school board wishes.  However, if it's a public school, i.e., government-funded, that's where we have to make some distinctions.

Public schools should not - and by law, cannot - PROMOTE religion.  And this is absolutely how it should be.  Public schools belong to everyone, whether Christian, Muslim, Wiccan, Shinto, atheist, or whatever.  And public schools - and thereby, government - cannot be perceived to be endorsing one religion over another, or religion over non-religion.  So it must be kept out.

At least, in that sense.  Many schools can, of course, teach ABOUT religion and its place in society, in historical settings, and so on.  But it must be taught carefully.  For example, a school could have a History of Religion class, which might teach about the rise of Christianity, the effects of Hinduism on Indian society, or other similar things.  But such a class could not imply that the edicts of any faith are "truth."

Hope that answers your question.