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education involves participating
in the religious doctrines and traditions of a particular religion.
Indeed, in the United Kingdom there are stipulations that a certain
percentage of time in religious education must deal with
Christianity.
I can understand how a study of
religions began, how their rules of behaviour and ceremonies
differ. However, surely a reason for studying religions is to
understand the messages on how we should behave. If the way of
conveying a religion’s rules for behaviour is dogmatic – that is the
rules should be obeyed without question, then that is not religious
education but religious instruction.
If the aim of religious education
is to get people to behave better towards one another, it will only
achieve this effectively if people are allowed to:
-
disagree with any teaching, showing why it is
irrelevant to the modern world
-
suggest that some religious practices are immoral
and even cruel (female circumcision or chopping off someone’s left
hand for theft, say)
-
suggest better more ethical rules for behaviour
-
discuss whether atheism is okay and that atheists
are still good people.
In another article I show just
how difficult it will be for religious educators to allow the
questioning indicated by those four bullet points. Since most of a
religion’s rule for responsible behaviour become morals, why do we
need religious education because we already have moral education?
Even more seriously, if under the
pretence of religious education, a school or other organisation was
attempting to inculcate a particular religion’s values, this should
not be allowed. Instruction in a religion, where the main aim is to
(however subtly) convert people to that religion, should be made
explicit.
Since all religions have many
values which if followed would result in responsible behaviour,
wouldn’t it be better to do away with religious education and call the
subject values education?
Very religious people may take
offence at some of my thinking in this article. If they do, isn’t that
an opportunity to learn? Why would they be so upset and why would they
be against honest open discussion or the values of the rules their
religion promotes? You’ll can get a more in-depth knowledge of how a
values education approach to religious education could work by reading
the e-report
What is Values Education and so What?
There is considerable scope for research in the field of religious
education as values education and Dr Bill would be happy to assist
postgraduate students (with approval of
their university or college). Contact him on
bill@valueseducation.co.uk
Copyright © 2008 Values Education Ltd
Note to editors. Feel free to use this article as long as the
following details are retained. “A values education article from CAVE
www.valueseducation.co.uk
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