Religion should be taught in school from a historical point of view and by taking a look at all religions and not focus on one. Definitely with a purpose to show the evolution of them and the impact they've had and continue to have on society and as well as to promote critical thinking. It should never be the purpose to promote religion in any way but to allow people of all walks of life to think and decide by themselves if it's something worth believing in after being viewed with a critical eye.

no

when somebody made me read the Bible, I was pretty much done when the snakes started talking

World religions should be required in secondary education. Learning how they have shaped and continue to shape the world is imperative to understanding where we are and how we should proceed.

Only as electives in highschool.

Hopefully not

No it should not , it is devicive and serves only to create desperation and devision

Religion is better kept aside of Educational institutions. Let the growing Mind get to Think of Themselves and the Humanity

I think it should be taught as an elective subject and maybe As a work of literature under alternative history. It's a pretty good book as long as you think of it as fiction, Kind of like Game of thrones

In secondary education I think world faiths, including atheism should be taught in the context of promoting critical thinking.

No! Then Evolution should be taught at religious gatherings.

Vague question. Which schools, public or private? Public schools have separation of church and state. Can't teach one religion without teaching all (That means, if you teach Christianity, you better be ready to teach Islam, Judaism, Baha'i, Sikhism, Buddhism, Hinduism, North American Native American spirituality, Australian Aboriginal spirituality, Yoruba, etc). Private schools? They can teach whatever they choose to do so because of private donors.

The better question is, if you study religion in school e.g. college or private high school or on your own, should you take a course specific to one religion e.g. New Testament Christianity or should you take a comparative/world religions course?

No. My current example: Wahhabism.

What religion would they chose to not offend the others (rhetorical) ? They need to have a common sense class. Make wilderness survival an elective.

NO, emphatically, Schools are educating children, etc, in facts and realities, NOT in Fiction, Superstition, baseless, unfounded Beliefs and false hopes and promises.

In an intellectual and comparative sense, yes; as indoctrination, no. Most often, the people who want to "teach religion" intend to indoctrinate impressionable children into THEIR religion, which is absolutely morally wrong.

that'd be alot of subject or you mean "their religion of truth?"

Yes, it is necessary to understand history; religion is the motivation of countless wars, genocide, imperialism, persecutions, etc. But no religion should be taught as "truth".

Only in the context of teaching that there are many other beliefs and that we should respect that

The concept of religion should be taught, because it's something we constantly encounter in the real world. The four or five biggest religions (in numbers of subscribers) should be taught just for their basic premise and "universe of imaginary beings." There should be no emphasis on a particular religion as being "correct" or more "moral". Just provide the basic tenets of each belief.

No. A secular society is the way forward, and teaching religion in school is not secular. It's like telling the citizens, our religion only true one.

Religion in the context of how it has influenced history...definitely. Oh how I wish I could have a discussion with Robert E. Lee, who at once believed slavery was an evil institution, but also that his sympathies lay more with white people than the blacks. He apparently believed "Providence" would exclusively communicate with him so he'd know when slavery was to end...by Divine order. So, besides the obvious lesson in bigotry vs morality, I'd love to have been able to ask him why it wasn't possible that "Providence" had already communicated to the abolitionists that it was time to end slavery? In other words, a question that attacks his self-righteous arrogance to believe he and he alone had such favor with "Providence", that he'd get that message and no one else.

To not teach how religion has influenced world events, all too frequently for the absolute WORST, as far as I'm concerned, betrays the spirit of the U.S. Constitution--considering the lessons learned from having the unholy influence of religion over the power of the government to act in the name of that religion. It's no wonder the FIRST TEN words of the FIRST AMENDMENT to the Constitution, prevented Congress from passing laws respecting the establishment of religion.

Yet, despite the miserable lessons learned from that unholy union, christian conservative/evangelical politicians are constantly invoking "god" and driving evangelicals to vote based on religious credentials, dogma, and who is able to convince them they're true "christians"...not the issues that affect us all.

Essentially, evangelical legislators and supreme court justices are the backdoor to circumvent the First Amendment. Our children need to understand why the First Amendment exists, why religion was the first order of business, and how evangelicals who put their religion before the Constitution, are not fit to serve. This should also stimulate the "no religious test clause". discussion. I don't believe the clause exists to give a free pass to evangelicals having the power as legislators to craft law unique to their religion. I believe it exists to prevent a dominant religion from being able to exclude others of a different or objectionable religion. Nevertheless, where our "Founding Fathers" warned of the need to separate the power of the government from the influence of religion, anti-constitution conservatives are hellbent on infecting our Constitution with their dogma.

Our children should be taught ABOUT religion, but not as an indoctrination. And, that's just from our history...

Why not? As long as it's taught in a class on all beliefs; religions, spirit worship, non-believers, animism, etc. And I would be willing to teach it too. Just because I don't believe in something doesn't mean I wouldn't teach it. I don't believe in slavery or the subjugation of women but if you teach American History you're going to have to at least address these subjects.

Maybe with a historical aspect that includes many religions. No specific religion should be taught as a class though.

you should be taught everything about society.