Should Sacred Studies be part of a general public school curricula

"If those people had been granted a chance from an earliy age to test and temper their beliefs by constant and rigorous comparision to other belief systems, would they behave the same?"

jar writes:Actually, while it's no longer a boarding school, it's still quite active and their curriculum is online.

St. Paul's School writes:Grade 10: World Religions AThis semester requirement for ninth graders covers Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. Reading extensively from the Old and New Testament and excerpts from the Koran, the students study of Western religions, focuses on history, the nature of God, moral code, means of redemption, among other theological issues. Examining current political problems in the Middle East, insofar as religion is involved, is also a consideration of the course. Students engage in group projects and presentations, write papers using primary documents as source material and engage in hands-on learning such as yoga, meditation, prayer and directed reflection.

jar writes:If you ever get to visit their chapel, the walls are covered with marble with the students names arranged by graduating class. Look at the lists from the BC side and maybe you can find mine.

jar writes:Any infringment of the honor code was dealt with by the Student Council and their decisions were binding on the student AND faculty.

jar writes:I hope I don't get to see many of my old teachers anytime soon. LOLI much prefer being alive.

jar writes:As to sex-education, back when I was in school they hadn't invented sex yet so we missed out on it.

jar writes:They were building a new school down the hill from us and it was rumored to be a Girl's School. The only real indications though (and this might go under the heading of sex-ed) were the barbed wire fences, mine fields and guards with dogs.

From ghoulies and ghosties
and long leggedy beasties
and things
that go BUMP
in the night.
Good Lord
protect us.

A second major theme was that morality is within you and within your control. It's not something external, not some set of outside rules, it is the essence and description of YOUR behavior, YOUR relationship with others both near and far......You were expected to behave in a moral fashion.

jar writes:GOD Is.

jar writes:St. Paul's did provide an environment where someone could get a good education. But it's not unique. There are many such places.

jar writes:The important thing is not the school itself but that by its existence, it proves that it can be done. The rest is a function of will, morality and drive.

So, essentially, it's an all-encompassing term; the god of all. You write it this way to distinguish it from "God," the term specifically referencing the god of Judeo-Christianity. Is this it, in a nutshell? If so then I believe I understand.

I for one wish these schools all the best, and here's to many more of them

What are the principal qualities that distinguish a school as Episcopal?This question, more than any other, is asked of NAES by Episcopal school and Church leaders, parents and the general public. The answer is that they are Christian communities whose missions integrate spiritual formation into all aspects of the educational experience. Episcopal schools are most distinctive when they are true to this mission and when they do so in the graceful and inclusive manner which is the hallmark of the Anglican approach to education over the centuries.All Christian communities, even the most ecumenical and diverse of Episcopal schools, are upheld by the basic principles of the Baptismal Covenant. As expressed in The Book of Common Prayer, this Covenant maintains that individuals and institutions are called by God to adopt certain fundamental disciplines and dispositions in order to embrace fully their basic identities. As embodiments of the Christian faith, Episcopal schools are created to be communities that honor, celebrate and worship God as the center of life. They are created to be models of God's love and grace. They are created to serve God in Christ in all persons, regardless of origin, background, ability, or religion. They are created to strive for justice and peace among all people and [to] respect the dignity of every human being. These principles are the basis on which identity and vocation are to be defined in Episcopal schools.Episcopal schools are populated by a rich variety of human beings, from increasingly diverse religious, cultural and economic backgrounds. In fact, the intentional pluralism of most Episcopal schools is a hallmark of their missions. It is also a distinguishing characteristic of these schools that they seek to integrate religious and spiritual formation into the overall curriculum and life of each school community. Episcopal schools are clear, yet graceful, about how they articulate and express their basic identities, especially in their religious curricula and traditions. They invite all who attend and work in them Episcopalians and non-Episcopalians, Christians and non-Christians, people of no faith tradition both to seek clarity about their own beliefs and religions and to honor those traditions more fully and faithfully in their own lives. Above all, Episcopal schools exist not merely to educate, but to demonstrate and proclaim the unique worth and beauty of all human beings as creations of a loving, empowering God.By weaving these principles into the very fabric of the school's overall life, Episcopal schools ensure that their missions are built on the sure foundation of a Christian love that guides and challenges all who attend our schools to build lives of genuine meaning, purpose and service in the world they will inherit.Welcome to the community of Episcopal schools.

...show that morality != Christianity and Christianity != morality.