Essay on Connection Between Religion and Education

The exploration of religion has brought forth diverse views from people in relation to the education aspect. The understanding of religious education involves a number of aspects in respect to religions (Ninian, 1975). The definition of religious study should be in the context of standpoint within the field of religion. A thorough study on religion should involve institutional openness as well as the incorporation of a specific phenomenological style (Arthur, 1952). An in-depth understanding of religion brings forward a focus on belief and behavior as real but not just as abstractions. On another point religions actual existence can be made subject in other words the suspension of disbelief or belief.

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The wide exploration of religion in relation to education seeks to describe with the aim of understanding a specific aspect of human behavior. Human cultures and history is embedded in religion because of the extraordinary formative powers (Ninian, 1975). It is of importance to the society as it helps bring out the positive sides of people, politics in that the state is built upon set rules some of which are borrowed heavily from religion, art is showcased in various communities for instance the pictures used by Catholics to symbolize Christ. People do seek religious exploration for diverse reasons one being in search of having a better understanding of faith, and judgement of truth of what is contained in religion (Bernard, 1961).

There has been a bond of contention when it comes to teaching religion in the public schools (Ninian, 1975). In the United States of America, public schools are non-sectarian naturally thus making it rather difficult when it come s to imparting religious instruction. The education system is thus confined towards teaching secular subjects, resulting in the lack of a well-balanced education system. Such is the situation between the church and the state (Arthur, 1952).

Despite the fore mentioned challenge posed in the public education system, the growth of the religious day school is eminent as a result of dissatisfaction of a great number people, with the aim of restoring religious education among public school pupils. There is need however for the harmonization of curriculum of what is taught in both the public and religious schools to avoid conflicting results in the teaching of knowledge (Bernard, 1961).

Through the constitutional provisions religion and education tend to be linked in a way. During the convention of the United States Constitution in 1787, congress enacted the famous northwest Ordinance which states religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged (Ninian, 1975). Religion was incorporated into the law of the land as a way of bringing order and position that would enable harmonious living among the people.

Christianity was brought to America from England by pilgrims, then it was interwoven into the law of the land through maxim resulting to the church and state being closely linked. Along the way the state and church may have separated but this does not do away with the fact that Christianity was and still is the religion of the people (Arthur, 1952). The United States Supreme Court stated in its declaration that Christianity is part of the law of the land thus making an obvious condition for any American existing institutions. Christianity has in an array of ways influenced the peoples way of life ranging from social institutions, customs and relations this goes even further to the individual basis, whereby a personal mode of thinking and acting is affected (Charles, 1949).

Religious education is deemed a necessity for the development of a spiritual life as well as the education of the soul. Education in itself comes in three folds as an obligation, first to the parents, then state and lastly to the church or religious groups (Bernard, 1961). This is to allow each group take up their responsibilities without infringement into another, on another front it is to also maintain the proper separation of power while fulfilling the responsibilities stipulated for each one. Under the constitution it is the parents responsibility to guide a child in a religious direction they see fit. Fourteenth and Fifth Amendments clause give the parent right to guide a childs education (Arthur, 1952). This is regardless of whether the parent choses to educate the child in discretion applying the homeschooling, in private or public school as long as they meet the public standards.

The responsibility of the state is provide minimum education to a child but it excludes the responsibility to engage in sectarian religious education. The church has the responsibility to teach religious studies but put into consideration the recognition and guarantee freedom of religion as well (Ninian, 1975). The government however must give the religious groups space to deal with their duties without any hindrance or control.

During the constitutional development there is reference to the religious basis in regard to Declaration approach. The background of the first amendment is a clear indication that religion was of great importance as regarded by the earlier statesmen (Charles, 1949). Four instances in the Constitution make a reference of the true philosophical appreciation of mans relation to and with God, this in itself is a true indication that the state recognizes relationship between God and man, man with one another as well as the state to an individual (Bernard, 1961). In the first sentence of Declaration, it is declared that the American people were entitles to the laws of nature as well as those of God. This in itself is a clear indication there is recognition of God as the source of laws of nature.

During the adoption of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787, under the articles of confederation, there is a provision for freedom of worship under the condition that the person following religion sentiments is peaceful and orderly. It goes further to explain religion as a good component for the government, life fulfillment for men and thus encouraged to be taught in schools.

Prior to the constitutional amendment, the earlier statesmen had input a provision regarding religion which read no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. Despite the fore mentioned statement original states were not content with it thus wanted a more precise and explicit restrictions regarding the issue of religious matters (Charles, 1949). The first amendment went forth and gave a clear explicit provision clause that cleared all doubt on matters regarding religion, which stated the federal congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise of religion. On the educational platform, teachers are protected by the constitution against discrimination based on their religious preference.

Teachers in public schools, especially those wearing Religious garb have had an issue that was brought up, to harmonize the clauses to prevent any discrimination when it comes to employment based ones religious beliefs and mode of worship. In this sense the constitution under the first amendment does not select or specify any one group or type of religion to receive a preferred treatment, thus puts all religion in the same position. This is evident in one case Murdock v. Pennsylvania, 319 U.S. 105. As explained in Davis v. Beason, 133 U.S. 333, 342, With mans relations to his maker and the sense of obligation he may think they impose, and the manner in which an expression shall be made by him of his belief on those subjects, no interference can be permitted, provided always the laws of society, designed to secure its peace and prosperity, and the morals of its people, are not interfered with (Charles, 1949).

The American constitution neither limits its people nor does it place conditions on them to act in a similar manner in order to enjoy the greatest liberties provided by the same constitution, such as freedom of worship, conscience or religion. This however does not make free exercise of religion absolute to the laid down rules such as child labor, disturbance of peaceful coexistence, polygamy as well as refusal to bear arms in the case of insecurity issues. This excludes the wearing of religious attires when heading to work in the instance of public school teachers.

Education and religion are intertwined in a way that makes religion important thus be included in the school curriculum. This in return brings up the issue of judgement on the importance of the subject. Second, religion is used as an area of exploration in reference to intellectual status, there is the element that religion helps unfold more knowledge beyond just spirituality (Joonmo, & John, 2012). The psychological approach towards religious study, invites other dimensions to be used by educationists when it comes to the development of the curriculum. Religion embraces wider issues not just limiting what the students and pupils experience.

Commitment is paramount when teaching religion as it is the driving force that enables growth as well as influence of the religions traditions. In return to teaching religion the installation of good behavior is brought forth because moral behavior education is key (Joonmo, & John, 2012). Religious studies are diverse because of the presence of different religions such as Christians, Muslims, Jews, as well as Sikhs. This brings about the aspect of pluralism in religion, minority religions must also be put into consideration as people do practice them, and these also affect and shape the cultural influence on individuals.

Religion and education are embedded together from the onset of a persons social setting. Volunteer work is unpaid labor that is done by a person or people with the intention of benefitting an organization, cause or even another person rather than self. Volunteerism has in an array of ways been influenced by diverse factors that people tend to interact with. Through thorough research, studies have discovered the link between volunteering and religion and education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008), in the United States every year approximately sixty million Americans above the age of sixteen par take in volunteer work. It was discovered that a huge percentage of the people who have taken part in any form of volunteering tend to be more religious as well as more educated, with no possible clear explanation.

One assumption states that the spirit of volunteering is instilled in people from a young age, through the act of attending church services in the different religions or pursuing education, whereby they are taught a sense of obligation with regard to volunteerism (Joonmo, & John, 2012). The fulfillment of obligation can only be achieved through the helping of others. Religion may not be a direct aspect to volunteering but its background in terms of teachings sure has a greater influence in how people get to view the sense of obligation in respect to volunteering. However the private and public religiosity is the key to how a person thinks in terms of sense of obligation.

The aspect of volunteering is intertwined with education and religion on the basis of social norms which is the core element towards peoples behaviors. Norms are the specific rules of conduct observed and followed by a person or group of people that they learn early in life or even associate with the a specific current behavior of another person with regard to how appropriate one is supposed to behave in an given situation.

In relation to the norms, values a person adheres to conformity results in social approval while deviance is dis...