Religious education
Posted by cabalamat on 2008-Jun-06
I think religious education should be taught as a compulsory subject in schools.
“But hang on,” you say, “aren’t you against religion — particularly religious extremism — and don’t you think it’s a load of silly dangerous nonsense?”
“That’s right”, I reply. Religious education should teach about the beliefs of the main religions and a few of the smaller ones — say 20 religions in all. It should compare and contrast those beliefs, and make the point that these beliefs are inconsistent with each other, so they can’t all be true. Therefore most of these 20 religions cannot be true, because if you assume one to be true, you’re saying most or all of the others are false. So if it’s provable that most religions are untrue (and it is), then maybe all are untrue?
As an example of what I mean, consider this (via Freeborn John):
Religious education should also teach about the atrocities done in the nanme of religion; a good place to start would be with Papal legate Arnaud-Amaury who during the Albigensian Crusade said “Kill them all; God will know his own”.
Hopefully this will innoculate many children — especially the more intelligent ones — against religion.
Tauriq Moosa said
What you are proposing is exactly Daniel Dennett’s proposal and one I heartily agree with. I used to be an Islamic scholar myself, before my disbelief set in. Now, I am an atheist (also with a wordpress.com blog). It was through my atheism that in fact I learnt MORE about religion. I find this is often the case, though I have no evidence for this but my own personal experience. But, psychologically speaking, I can probably say why this is so. Nonetheless, well said and you have my support!
(thenooseinawindowpane.wordpress.com)
Jennie said
IAWTP, and YAY for appropriate use of Jesus and Mo!
cabalamat said
Tauriq, do you have a URL for Dennett’s proposal, by any chance?
Muhamad [sallamahu'alayha, or something] said
Oh, I like this very much.
Hari on science versus religion « Amused Cynicism said
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