| We find ourselves once again in a presidential election | | | | One much more "backdoor" way that the Religious |
| year. Already (as of May 15, 2008), religion has | | | | Right have tried to influence public education is through |
| become a hot button topic. It seems that even the | | | | the forced teaching of creationism. By any standard |
| Democrats have finally discovered that religion can | | | | definition of science as an observation-based |
| help win campaigns. It can also cause a candidate to | | | | endeavor, "creation science" is hardly "real" science. |
| lose support. Certainly, the current flap over Sen. | | | | Perhaps intelligent design fares better. The jury may |
| Obama's pastor, the Rev. Wright, has clearly | | | | still be out on that score. However, it is a fine line from |
| demonstrated the truth of that notion. | | | | design to God. From there, where does one go? |
| The Republican Party has a strong base of support in | | | | Which god gets the honor of being the "intelligent |
| the Religious Right. Still, it often seems that religion and | | | | designer?" Will the Christian Right be satisfied to leave |
| politics do indeed make strange bedfellows. Witness | | | | it at simply proposing creation may exhibit some |
| the Rev. John Hagee's endorsement of Sen. McCain. | | | | design? We must also face the issue of who will |
| Rev. Hagee has a long history of making rather silly | | | | teach about creationism or intelligent design. Will a |
| remarks, such as God wiping out New Orleans through | | | | non-believer or someone who accepts a more |
| the agency of Hurricane Katrina for the city's moral | | | | classical position on evolution perform to the |
| failings. Being a representative of the Republican base, | | | | satisfaction of conservative Christians? That is the |
| Sen. McCain seemed to welcome Hagee's | | | | position that most of the science teachers I know hold |
| endorsement, but awkwardly. He has been courting | | | | (and I have trained pre-service teachers for about |
| the Religious Right in a guarded manner, calling the U.S. | | | | thirteen years and know plenty of examples). |
| a "Christian nation." Yet, he seems eager to retain his | | | | All of this seems to smack of the evangelical |
| "maverick image." It is a difficult tightrope for McCain to | | | | conundrum. They must evangelize. It is part and parcel |
| walk. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out as | | | | to the evangelical position. They must preach the |
| we approach November. | | | | gospel even to those who do not want to hear it. |
| One position taken by the Religious Right, and often | | | | They cannot take "not interested" for an answer. |
| supported by politicians seeking votes, is that we need | | | | What then; is it best to completely avoid religion? That |
| to get God back into our schools. They have | | | | seems like an unwise choice in a society that claims to |
| attempted to achieve this through many and varied | | | | value a well-rounded education. Maybe we can take |
| approaches. These range from the tried and true to | | | | an example from others who have found a way |
| the deceptive and pseudo-scientific. | | | | through these choppy waters. Modesto, California |
| The tried and true involves making a place for religion | | | | sometimes referred to as the "Bible Belt of California," |
| in public schools by calling for school prayer. Never | | | | a politically conservative area with a vocal evangelical |
| mind that anyone can pray any time s/he wants to | | | | presence has found a unique answer to the dilemma. |
| pray. (I sent a little one "up" just now. Yep! Still works! | | | | This region of the country, like most other areas, has |
| Even in a busy coffee shop!) The problems of school | | | | seen increasing diversity, including religious diversity. A |
| prayer are myriad. Who would pray? What prayer | | | | group of teachers concerned with issues of tolerance |
| would s/he pray? If a teacher reads a prayer because | | | | developed a program on world religions in consultation |
| s/he is required to do so, but does not believe, does it | | | | with leaders of many faiths represented in the |
| count? Furthermore, what about Jewish children, | | | | community. The course avoids the teaching of religion, |
| Muslim children, and children of atheists or agnostics | | | | by strict control of content that teaches about religion. |
| parents? Will they be subject to prayer, or at least a | | | | Students explore six religion units covering the main |
| form of prayer they do not desire? | | | | religions present in the region, including Buddhism, |
| All of this has led to the "moment of silence." An | | | | Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The |
| official moment of silence is a thinly veiled guise for a | | | | course gives equal time to each faith's influence, |
| "moment for prayer." Moreover, once again it begs the | | | | history, and basic beliefs. Teachers follow a scripted |
| question: Can't anyone pray any time? If that is not | | | | program and cannot share their own faith |
| true and a moment of silence is required, surely a | | | | backgrounds. All classes use the same district created |
| "moment of silence" must be a publically sponsored | | | | textbook and content. Students are free to share their |
| "moment of prayer." | | | | own faith perspectives and ask questions. |
| Leaving that attempt behind, we move on to attempts | | | | Parents can opt out of the program. At the time when |
| to teach the Bible in school. "Nondenominational" groups | | | | the program was described in Teaching Tolerance |
| of theologians and scholars have devised just such a | | | | (Kilman, Fall 2007), only a handful of parents had |
| curriculum. Curriculums designed by The Bible Literacy | | | | prevented their children from participating. It seems that |
| Project or the National Council on Bible Curriculum | | | | even in this conservative environment, it is apparent |
| claims to be even-handed, nonsectarian, and | | | | the world and our nation are changing. Research on |
| concerned with teaching about the historical impact the | | | | the program reveals that the level of tolerance and |
| Bible has had on American society. That might seem | | | | understanding of other faiths increased. However, |
| like a good idea. Still, one has to wonder when the | | | | those children with strong religious convictions |
| most vocal supporters are conservative Christian | | | | maintained their religious outlook. |
| groups such as Concerned Women for America. With | | | | In a world of increasing religious diversity, we can |
| that in view, it does seem to appear as something | | | | scarcely ignore religion. Recent events in our world |
| driven by a conservative religious agenda rather than | | | | make it apparent that ignoring differences is not the |
| a burning desire for young people to learn about U.S. | | | | answer. Understanding is the key. Tax-funded |
| cultural history. What will we say about the | | | | evangelism has no place in public education. The |
| contributions of non-Christian religious groups to | | | | Religious Right must not get its way. The U.S. is a |
| American society? For example, what about the | | | | diverse nation and diverse religious groups deserve |
| growing Buddhist community in the U.S.? Shouldn't they | | | | respect. "Religious respect?" That is a curriculum we |
| merit mention? | | | | can truly live by. |