Should liberals post for comparative mythology classes in public school?

[eallen]

We fight to keep religion out of science classes. It occurs to me we should change our tactics a bit. Perhaps we should push for the schools to teach a comparative mythology class. It should include, minimally, an overview of myths and theologies pagan, Native American, Hindi, Shinto, Egyptian, Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist, and maybe even a few modern cults like Scientology.

The right-wing wants Christianity taught as the assumed religion. It doesn't want a purely secular curriculum, and neither does it want Christianity taught about as just one of the world's many myths.

[eallen]

1. s/post/push/

[TaleWgnDg]

2. One acronym will s'plain it all . . .

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One acronym will s'plain it all: A C L U . . .

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[eallen]

4. Not at all. There's no first amendment violation in what I propose.

Comparative mythology classes are perfectly acceptable, under the first amendment. Some schools offer them as electives. The question is: should we push to make them more common?

Trust me, the ACLU would not mind that in the least. It is the fundies who would oppose it.

[AntiCoup2K4]

3. I wouldn't have any problem with that type of class in public schools.

Maybe this planet might be a better place to live if children grew up knowing a little bit more about other cultures & belief systems. Not sure about Scientology though. Maybe if there was time, but I'd go with the major traditional religions first.

[papau]

5. myths and their meaning have been in most High Schools and almost all

colleges since the beginning of each (in my world since the early 50's)

There is certainly no "fear" of the topic. I think what you are asking for is a change in attitude in the schools by the teachers - and again I do not think a "change" is needed for your objective since many, many teachers teach myths and their meaning with total disrespect to religion and faith.

The world is not totally secular, and one would think that school teaching should not be censored and could discuss all aspects of life.

Interesting that some fear discussion of religion that does not put down the religion.

In any case, if what you are in favor of is more classes on myths and their meaning you have to get in line behind the folks that want more money for science, math, whatever.

[cmkramer]

7. I agree

I took courses in comparative mythology in both high school and college. Both classes were taught by women who were very devout "born-again" Christians. At no time did their religious convictions ever cause any problems

[funky_b0ss]

6. Agree!

I have thought for a long time that people opposed to having ID/Creationism taught in science classes should resist by framing the argument something like;

"We don't have a problem with ID or even Creationism being taught in high school Humanties/Comparative Religion/Philosophy classes. However, Since ID posits no falsifiable hypothoses, makes no predictions that can be tested, and cannot be verified by repeatable experiments, it is NOT science and doesn't belong in a science class. Thank you, now go take a flying leap."

The last sentence is optional.

Cheers!

[ret5hd]

8. can we get the flying spaghetti monster religion included?

of course, one problem would be convincing the teachers to wear pirate regalia.
don't know what i'm talking about? here:
http://www.venganza.org/

edited to add this artistic depiction of the flying spaghetti monster:

[kbm8795]

12. I love the Flying Spaghetti Monster

He's the Best God Going!!

[ret5hd]

14. i,m still up in the air between FSM and...

Church of the Sub Genius.

After all, Bob gives slack!

[Massacure]

9. I was taught Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism

in my history classes. Understanding them are critical to understanding history.

[Donna Zen]

10. I do teach this

Sophomores study Native American Mythology as well as the "The Great Awakening." Seniors have excerpts from major religious works as part of their studies including Greek and Roman Mythology. I've coupled it with "The Hero's Journey;" and if I can find time, fit in "Siddartha" by Herman Hesse.

[wli]

11. Ugaritic mythology would be most enlightening

Particularly with a bit of Hebrew and Ugaritic language.

[kbm8795]

13. The Religious Right

would NEVER go for their religion to be lumped together with other philosophies as "mythology." How can the TRUTH be a myth?

They would behave worse about this than the science classes, which frankly, SHOULD advocate the return of the Greek system of Gods and Goddesses as not only inclusive of women, but supporting the theory that the universe is much, much too complex and contains too many different reproductive makeups to merely be the product of a single God.