From: jmunro@wyse.wyse.com (Jim Munro)
Subject: Re: Religion in Schools
Reply-To: jmunro@wyse.UUCP (Jim Munro)

In article <8185@spool.cs.wisc.edu> tookey@rocky.CS.WISC.EDU (Keith Tookey) writes:
>
>This article was forwarded to me by a friend.
>I thought this would spark an interesting discussion on prayer in schools,
>and related issues.
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>                             A Thundering  Silence
>                                       by
>                                Hans W. Zegerius
>
>
> Article on Ontario instituting multi-cultural/denominational religious
> practices in schools..........

>Questions I would enjoy discussing:
>Should Christianity be given a preeminant position among the religions
>in a public school?
>If you do not give the preeminant position to Christianity,
>how do you avoid teaching 'a mishmash of ideas'?
>How would Mr. Z. react to having his children educated
>in a school that gave Islam the preeminant postion?
>

        States such as Canada and Gt Britain attempt to impose religion
        on their citizens for much the same reason as many Christian
        religions prosletize. Ther is an element which wants to assure
        that the citizens adhere to a particular religion.

        As with any government activity, it tends to be innefficient,
        and inneffective.

        In England, there has been a trend toward 'diluting' the religious
        teaching in schools. This has taken the form of offering snippets
        of various religions, thrown in with a bit of humanism.

        Of course, this has been in response to the outcry from parents that
        they do not want schools ramming a particular religion down their
        childrens throats. MAny of the complainants are from the non-
        Christian fast-growing immigrant community. I assume that this
        is also somewhat the case in Canada.

        As for me, I went to a British Church school, and also sent my
        children to one. IT opened my eyes to many of the realities
        of 'religion', and I am happy to say that it had much the same effect
        on my children. Each member of my family has spontaneously
        become an atheist, much to my relief.

        The message? If you don't beleive in God and you feel like I do,
        that religion brings more suffering to the world than good, then
        vote for religion in the schools. It means that parents will
        leave religious instruction to the schools, and naturally, state
        schools will not be able to imprint the children as successfully
        as parents. Religion is rapidly on the decline in England. I beleive
        we can thank the schools for much of this.

Jim Munro