Should All Religions Be Taught in Schools?

Recently, I saw this question posted on Facebook:  “So you think that religion should be taught in schools?  Would that be all religions, or just yours?”  The implication here is that, in modern society, people are biased toward their own religion and not open enough to allow the religion of others to be part of life.  So, as you might have expected, this got me thinking.

There are several quotes from Scripture that apply.  Jesus said:  “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  (John 14:6).  Jesus also said:  “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  (Matt 28:10).  Jesus claimed to be God’s Son and, as such, God himself.  Add to this Jesus’ founding of the Catholic Church, his institution of the sacraments, his establishment of papal authority, among many other things, it is easy to see why Catholics believe that the ideal life is when everyone is Catholic and practice Catholicism.  So, the answer to the question, “should religion be taught in schools?” is a resounding “yes”.  In that case, everyone can come to know Jesus, be baptized, “come to the Father,” and be saved just as Jesus himself wanted.

But, of course, there are other Christian religions.  What about them?  Each was founded at least 1500 years later, by men who took a different view of things, interpreted Scripture according to that view, and went their own way.  Some even claimed that they had messages from heaven (eg. Joseph Smith and Mormonism, around 1830), claimed additional revelations, wrote their own Scripture (the Book of Mormon), and assert that they now believe that they are the true Church of Christ.  In my view, it is very unfortunate that the reformation happened, that Christ’s established religion was splintered, and has not yet re-united.  Should Protestantism be taught in schools?  I think yes, but not to try to convert people but for students’ to be fully educated as to the historical record.

What about Islam?  Similar to Mormonism, the founder (Mohammed) claims to have had revelations from heaven around 600 AD.  These revelations resulted in the writing of yet another Scripture called the Quran.  Islam is not a Christian religion.  I know very little about it.  I don’t know if Mohammed made any claims as to whether they can “come to the Father” through him or whether members must “go and make disciples of all nations.”  I do know that Muslims (what members are called) believe Mohammed to be a prophet (not God or God’s son).  Should Islam be taught in schools?  I say “yes” again, but, like Protestantism, only for students’ education of the historical record and not for the purpose of conversion.

What about Judaism.  Jesus was born a Jew and practiced this religion most of his life.  Jews were the people chosen to receive God’s saving message.  The original Christians were converts from Judaism.  Their Scripture is the Old Testament, roughly the first half of the Christian Scripture, the Bible.  People that practice Judaism today don’t believe in Christ and did not accept his message.  To them, Christ is just another prophet.  I sympathize with them.  Christ’s message was radical.  It would be difficult, it seems to me, for a devout Jew to accept Christ’s message.  However, a saving prophet, the Messiah, was foretold in their Scripture.  It is very unfortunate for them that they did not recognize Christ as that Savior.  Should Judaism be taught in schools?  Yes, but again only for the sake of their education and the historical record.

So there you have my answers to the original question posed in that Facebook post.  I find it interesting that all the religions mentioned here believe that there is a God and it is the same God for all!  If that is true, why can we not agree on the particulars?  The Jewish God is the same as the Catholic God, which is the same as Islam’s God, which is the same as the Mormon God, and the same as the Protestant’s God!  Wow!  Why can’t we get together, if for no other reason than to eliminate hate crimes and promote love for all (as Christ did)?  Amen!  Alleluia!