Bible/Religious Education in America

Hi,I'm a new user brought to this forum by the talented, insightful minds I've seen. (Especially the twin paradox and geocentric model threads, lurking a little while I know.)Being British we have quite a robust religious education curriculum. From Islam, Judaism, Hinduism to the various Christian interpretations and Buddhism. Perhaps this is a by product of our (admittedly segregated) multicultural society but I have talked to a few Americans, some creationists some evolutionists, and I have asked the question a few times (normally from the creationists). Mainly because of their ignorance of other, polytheistic, religious views. From what I see as a basic understanding of other religions, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism to more esoteric theistic ideologies such as hermeticism. (Not part of the British curriculum but a philosophical ideology i have been toying with and trying to understand since meeting with a self-confessed hermeticist that shared my (agnostic) views of god and the cosmos).I have been wondering about the religious education system within America. In Britain and I believe the majority of Europe we have an open almost unbiased religious education in our schools where religion is treated as a separate required subject (normally following onto greater philosophical debates, epistemology etc) the sciences are kept separated from these lessons and I like to think it is down to the student to ask the questions in both science classes and RE classes. However from the people I've spoken too and the news that we get over here that America has an education system that is significantly more involved in the creation/evolution debate, at least politically (why it needs to be contrary to a monotheistic or even polytheistic religion I will never understand but still...)So basically what is the extent of religious education in America? Does it need changing? Combining with science education? Where should we go from here in educating our scientists, theists and philosophers of the future? Or should Britain be more hard in its approuch to a religious/science curriculum?Hopefully its within the scope of these forums and im not trying to bash Americans im just interested in the difference between our respective education programs.Trust me I could do worse. I mean the 'world' series. In what part of the definition of world is that relivent. World Cup on the other hand well now we are playing with spherical objects actually used by the foot. Thanks,Andy.Edited by andyr86, : No reason given.Edited by andyr86, : No reason given.Edited by andyr86, : No reason given.Edited by andyr86, : No reason given.

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When the ideas become too complicated, and the persuit of perfection is misconstrued as the need for excess. When there is so much involved that individual components cannot be discerned...then new rules must be established.

...It seems to me that the seperation of church and state within the constitution has been basterdizied somewhat. (I belive that the American constitution as it was written in the 18th century is a part of history and Humanitarianism so profound that we have not had anything better since the geneva convention.)America as it is does not has seperation between church and state. It has vitriol and hate between two ideals. Would you think the same thing?...I really want to push this home. I'm not an anti american but as a super-power the Americas leads the way in education. Intellect and the integration of the ideas of religion and science.

If things have changed since I have been in secondary education I apologize, but has evolution really become a large sticking point for the british curriculum? My physics teacher tought me the fundimentals in GCSE, my biology and chemistry teacher also. My physics teacher in my transistion to A Level Physics also gave me the quantum theory text which described in detail schrodinger's cat. I'm sorry, I forget what text (in fact I still might have it at home, i've been meaning to give it back to Mr Gould...Honest.) I switched from physics to philosophy in my first A Level year. Funny really considering my undergraduate degree acception was based on my live sound engineering career. And nothing todo with my actual studies.What intreages me is the education of european(from manchester I assume you are uk/eu origin Mr Modulous) students in regard to religious education. We seem to have a completely different set of standards regarding the explination of religions. (Whatever they happen to be, sikh, hindhu, buddhist, islamic etc) These lessons to our youth don't necessarily happen to be a part of our scientific education. Nor do they try to contradict scientific ideas such as helioscentric orbit, evolution etc. Neither does the quality of our education pertain to its scientific/religious merits. (I was educated in a comprehensive school. ie a regular school like everyone else. Perhaps I was lucky that I had good science teachers as well as good philosophy/RE teachers, but i don't see how the quality of teaching can diviate that significantly from school to school.)Surely the facts of a religious ideology can be described without the referance to science in anyway. After all we must all agree that if there is a godhead it is neither provable nor disprovable by the fact that it is a godhead. Science relies on the predictions of theories and their experimental findings. While a teacher my have a religious bias this does not necessarily mean that the teacher will teach behond what the cuurriculum stats in referance to the facts of the ideologies of buddhism, sikhism, toaism etc.Edited by andyr86, : ClarificationEdited by andyr86, : No reason given.

Surely teaching about the main religions in school would enable students to make up their own minds and also allow them to incorporate your pink hat, fluffy dice etc religion if and when it is met in the wider world. Teaching about larger faiths basic doctrines wouldn't necessarily create a situation where the authenticity of any belief system is dictated by the state.In fact i would say that it allows the student a greater ability to understand and except smaller denominations and religious beliefs instead of meeting these religions blind.Edited by andyr86, : Spelling.