Frank-Fischer,+Sofia+Luna


 * Religious Education**

How do different religions view religious education and what education systems do they have in place?

Most religions have some kind of system for education and for helping the young members of that religion learn about the beliefs and practices of the religion. Different groups, however, view this education differently. Some religions only are concerned with teaching children how to be faithful members of that particular religion, whereas others guide students in explorations of other religions. Some have strictly enforced rules about education and others barely think that guidelines are necessary. Catholicism and Judaism generally fall into the first categories - the schools associated with each teach students how to be faithful members of that particular religion using strictly structured classes and specific curricula. Unitarian Universalist classes are also structured but push students to figure out their own beliefs. Wiccans do not believe in any kind of structured education and instead believe that everyone must be responsible for their own education.

//Judaism// "The Talmud pithily states that 'parents bring a child into this world but a teacher can bring a child into the World to Come.'" "In fact the Talmud itself attributes to God, so to speak, the attribute of being a teacher – 'He Who teaches Torah to His people Israel.' Even mortal teachers are viewed in Judaism as being engaged in holy work." Jewish Article on Teachers

The Jewish Talmud says explicitly that teachers are doing the work of God by teaching their religion. Education is valued in Judaism - educating is holy work.

"Students will begin the approach of studying Hebrew, Jewish Values, Geography of ancient Israel and Character Development through the lens of Torah." "Within both the Shabbat School and Hebrew school program, overarching thematic units that promote character development will be implemented throughout the year. These lessons can be taught through drama, art, discussion, games, and other methods that the individual teachers see fit to use." An Example of a Hebrew School Curriculum

The most common Jewish education is Hebrew School, which is generally linked to a specific synagogue. Jewish children learn about the language of Hebrew, history of Judaism, and what it means to be Jewish. There are also Jewish day schools, which teach academics and have extracurricular activities as well as religious education.

"Hebrew schools are something of a paradox in American Jewish life. Parents complain about how they hated Hebrew school and learned nothing there. Yet they send their children to them in far larger numbers than today schools." Article on Hebrew Schools and Jewish Education in America

"No one is quite sure how to teach Hebrew, or how to balance Hebrew with Jewish history, teaching Israel, prayer skills or 'talking about God'" "And the bar or bat mitzva is still treated as “graduation day”: one-third of students drop out after their big year; 55 percent leave within two years of their bar or bat mitzva." Another Article on Hebrew Schools and Jewish Education in America

In the Jewish religion, the study of the religious texts, the Torah and Talmud, are supposed to continue all through life, so what children mainly learn is the language the texts are written in and the history and ideas behind Judaism. According to these two articles, Hebrew school is not as good an education as it could be or should be. Students usually take part in Hebrew School until they turn thirteen, at which point they have a bar or bat mitzva ceremony. Hebrew School can continue after that, but most students stop attending. Also, the teachers are unsure of what spiritual aspects of the religion to teach or how to teach them.

//Catholicism// 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. 10 Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when he said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children." 32:46 he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 1TI 3:4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. Bible Quote Website

The bible talks about education and children. It says that people should teach their children the word and laws of God - which is probably why Catholic schools teach students how to be faithful Catholics and try to make sure that the students believe in the Catholic faith and follow the same rules and traditions.

"The Catholic School curriculum meets all state regulations and guidelines. In addition, diocesan guidelines require a strong religious education curriculum." "Students explore their faith through classes and activities in Scripture, Sacraments, Church, and morality." Website on Advantages of Catholic School

Catholic schools are regular five-day-a-week schools. They teach academics and have extracurricular activites, just like secular schools. They also teach the fundamentals and ideas of the religion. This can be considered an advantage over regular schools for parents who want their children to think of religion as something as every day and unquestionably true as academics.

//Both Judaism and Catholicism// DEU 6:6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. DEU 4:9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Bible Quote Website

Many books of the bible are holy to both Jews and Catholics. Deuteronomy is one of those books and explicitly says to teach children about God and about the commandments. Because of this, both Jews and Catholics have schools or education systems that teach children how to be faithful members of that specific religion.

//Unitarian Universalism// Universalist congregations affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations: "Our Principles"

One of the main beliefs of the Unitarian Universalist faith is that everyone has to find their own path to spirituality and God. Because of this, Unitarians do not teach children to believe anything specific.

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 90%;">"The adolescent and teen years (12-18) are when most people begin to question, discover, and articulate their own religious and ethical beliefs." "Two programs that many congregations offer their teenagers are Coming of Age programs that encourage young teenagers to articulate their own beliefs and to learn about their faith and comprehensive sexuality education classes that offer teenagers the information they need to make responsible decisions." "Curricula are available for developing and deepening our faith; understanding our Unitarian Universalist (UU) heritage and identity; exploring Jewish and Christian heritage, from which we draw our roots; studying world religions and their traditions; learning about multi-culturalism and the ways in which we can develop anti-oppressive anti-racist identities in our selves and others; and social justice, which undergirds our philosophy of how our faith is lived out in the world." <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 80%;">Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations article on teen education

<span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 90%;">"By leading and participating in their own worship services, Unitarian Universalist children learn to value their own religious experiences and to develop their own religious voices." "Our children learn a great deal outside of formal worship and classroom time. Children are given many opportunities to socialize with their peers and older children and learn to integrate their religious values with their social experiences. Since Unitarian Universalism welcomes all kinds of families, the children also learn respect for differences in race, ethnicity, abilities, and sexual orientation by learning more about the families of their classmates." <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 80%;">Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations article on children's education

Unitarian Universalists try to teach Children to ask questions and find their own answers to those questions. They also teach students about other religions and about diversity. They emphasize inquiry and acceptance much more than actually teaching a specific religion.

//Wicca// <span style="font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 90%;">"Nearly all Covens will require potential members to undertake a period of pre-entry training and assessment. This is partly to ensure that the aspirant is truly making an informed choice of the path and partly to try to ensure that they will really fit in. Reputable Covens rarely take entrants under the age of 18 and even then it is likely to be only a matter of months under that age. However, some Covens or High Priestesses will support younger people by advising on reading and activities and answering questions until they are of an age to join." "As a Witch, you are also responsible for your own personal development… Above all it means that if you decide on the path of the Witch, you are responsible for learning and growing on that path. You cannot expect others to do it for you or to you. You must seek the teacher(s), you must ask the questions and you must expect to set the pace… Many believe that the teacher does not appear until the student is ready." <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; font-size: 80%;">West, Kate. The Real Witches' Handbook. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Worldwide, 2008.

Wiccans believe strongly in personal responsibility - so strongly, in fact, that they do not believe in having official education for new or young Wiccans. Instead, they believe that everyone has to take personal responsibility for his or her education, which includes finding a teacher. Because Wicca is such a small and often persecuted religion, formal schools may simply not be possible.

//Which religions value specific instruction and which do not?// Three of the religions that I focused on value structured learning in the form of classes or schools. They have teachers and curricula that, while different, all make students look at life through the lens of that religion. Some are more forceful - Catholic schools, for example, make students learn about the specific beliefs of the religion and do activities assuming that all students to believe in God and the bible. Unitarian Universalists, on the other hand, get students to think creatively and try not to press any type of belief into young minds. Wiccans do not believe in formal education at all - one of the fundamental principles of the religions is that everyone must find their own teacher and that people can be not ready to learn.
 * Analysis and Conclusions**

//Which religions encourage students to make a decision about their own beliefs?// Some of the religions want students to think for themselves and decide whether or not to be a part of that religion and others just teach students how to be good members of their particular religion. Catholic schools and Hebrew schools focus mainly on how to live up to God's expectations or be a good member of the religion. Unitarians and Wiccans, on the other hand, try (whether formally or not) to get students to look at the "options" before deciding what faith to be part of. This may be because Unitarians and Wiccans don't have the specific belief that people who don't follow their religion are going against a higher power's wishes.

//Is one way of thinking about religious education better than another?// In the United States today, people have the freedom to find a religion that fits best with their own personal beliefs. Strict religious schools which only teach students what is right or true according to that particular religion are trying to protect students from that freedom, which those religions consider to be dangerous. Religions that push students to explore their own faith are pushing students to use that freedom. There is no universally accepted right and wrong - according to each religion, their view on education is doing good and helping students.

The religions seem to fall on a spectrum when it comes to education. At the strictest side falls Catholics, who have structured schools that teach students exactly how to be good Catholics. On the opposite end lies Wicca, which has no schools at all and believes that all potential Wiccans should investigate the options so as to make an informed choice about whether or not Wicca is the right religion for them.