TEACHING RELIGION

April 2000
		How should schools teach religion to students? The Freedom Forum's Charles Haynes and comparative religion teacher Jim Maechling respond to your questions.

Forum introduction Is the definition of religion changing? Are non-believers included in the new curriculum? Are astrology and Scientology taught as religions? Should kids learn about things like yoga and meditation? Can't religion be incorporated into other subjects?     Feb. 11, 2000: A report on the fight to post the 10 Commandments in public schools. Jun. 4, 1998 One of the nation's leading teachers of religion, Martin Marty Dec. 25, 1995 What place religion has in the lives of Americans? Browse the NewsHour's coverage of religion and education   The U.S. Department of Education.

Greg Schubert of Fort Collins, CO asks: It is hard for me to see how schools can teach about religion using reason and human knowledge when many religions claim to be beyond reason and human knowledge. Are astrology and Scientology religions? Should they be taught in schools?   Charles Haynes responds: Religious traditions do indeed make claims that are metaphysical. But reason and "knowing" are central to all religious traditions, even thought their ultimate claims may be beyond reason. (The problem of "knowledge" is, of course, one of the major discussions in philosophy and theology. Suffice to say, there are many ways of "knowing" - not all of them based on empirical evidence.) In any case, reason is used to study any subject, including religion. We can, for example, learn about what Roman Catholics believe about the Holy Trinity even though this concept of God can not be "proved" or "disproved" by human reason. Religious studies informs students about what people believe and practice in the various traditions. Such teaching involves the same academic guidelines as teaching about politics, social issues, history or any other complex topic. What religions are taught depends on the academic requirements of the curriculum. A good U.S. history course for example, must include a good bit of information about many of the Christian and Jewish groups that played a major role in our early history. Other religions may be discussed when they appear in the historical narrative. A World History course will look at the various traditions important in the civilizations under study. It is doubtful that astrology and Scientology will come up in such courses, given the need to cover the major events and ideas of history. The First Amendment doesn't require "equal time" to all religions in the curriculum. But it does require that there be good academic reasons for deciding which religions will be taught. I could imagine, however, a current events discussion in high school (or a discussion of court cases in civics) necessitating some discussion of what astrology is all about or what Scientolgists believe. For example, a discussion of the current controversy over Scientology in Germany might require that students understand something about what Scientology is all about. Keep in mind, of course, that public schools do not teach any religion. They may, however, teach about religion where appropriate as part of a complete education.   Jim Maechling responds: Coincidentally, you made the exact point expressed by a student in philosophy class just yesterday! We were discussing Soren Kierkegaard's concept of the "Leap of Faith". I agree with him that there are spiritual regions that go well beyond the limits of reason and human knowledge. These areas are so subjective and personal that they transcend logic and vocabulary, into the realm of the mystical. But in a class that is teaching about religion, we can acknowledge and respect that these places do exist within the individual human mind and heart. Astrology is an ancient belief system that has been re-elevated almost to the religious level by many today - especially New Age people. I tell my ancient history students that no king or emperor in those times would ever go to war or make a treaty without consulting his astrologers. In fact, I thought Nancy Reagan took a bad rap for using astrology during the 1980s when she scheduled President Reagan's Cold War summit meetings with Soviet Premier Gorbachev. It worked, didn't it? As for Scientology, I have no personal experience. I know that quite a few big name celebrities are members. Some people say they are a cult. Then we get into "What is a cult?" One person's true faith is another person's cult. Often in history, cults have turned out to be the "embryos" of new religions.