Role of Religion

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." These words of the First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution prohibit government from establishing a religion and protects each person's right to practice (or not practice) any faith without government interference.

It is important for educators to have an thorough understanding of the meaning of the First Amendment in relationship to religion and public schools. The law concurs with Noddings (1998/1999) that the First Amendment does not prevent teaching about religion.

There are three main reasons why religion needs to be part of a public school education:

1. Religion and spirituality are part of who we are, not only as a country, but as a world, and have influenced both our public and private lives.



2. Ignorance about religion in religiously diverse societies, especially in the U. S. which is the most religiously diverse society on earth, is a root cause of intolerance, discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping.



3. Teaching about religion is important and necessary if public schools are to provide students with a complete education. Much of history, art, music, literature and contemporary life is unintelligible without an understanding of the major religious ideas and influences that have shaped history and culture throughout the world.

In Abington v. Schempp (1963), the court stated: "[I]t might well be said that one's education is not complete without a study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization. It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study for its literary and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be affected consistently with the First Amendment."

Justice Tom Clark wrote for the Supreme Court concerning this same case saying: " A person cannot be fully educated without understanding the role of religion in history, culture, and politics...The law, constitutional or otherwise, is no impediment to the realization of this aim."

The question is no longer whether schools should teach about religion. That answer is a resounding "Yes"--In fact, it is a duty to do so.

Reference
Halford, J. M. (1998/1999). Longing for the sacred in schools: A conversation
with Nel Noddings. Educational Leadership, 56, 28-32.