RELIGION

By: Marcus Freudenberg

Madison Rumore

Tonya Cooke

Jessica Morenzoni

CULTURAL ASPECTS

Every religion at one point has influenced a person‟s behavior ,

regardless of ethnicity.

According to a phone survey in 2010, 80% of Americans say their

religious faith is at least somewhat important in their daily lives.

WHY BELIEVE IN A GOD

OR FAITH?

The belief in some type of a higher power actually give most

Americans the drive to carry out their daily activities.

60% of Americans feel that religion can answer all/most of

today‟s problems.

This is because that type of religious behavior is learned at an early

age as the social norm.

These life values are transmitted from generation to generation by

way of a family‟s particular religion.

Religious institutions often times reinterpret your worldly

shortcomings as spiritual failures.

The church actually becomes a social “authority” by ways of

reward and punishment.

LET‟S BREAK DOWN A COUPLE

POPULAR RELIGIONS!

Protestants

• Used to be the majority population when western Europeans

immigrated to the country but are now 49%.

THE 2 MAJOR CATEGORIES

OF PROTESTANTS

Liberal – This is more of a relaxed form of Christianity.

• Allows for members to determine what is true in religion.

• May or may not believe in the “Virgin birth of Jesus,” or any miracles

in the bible.

Conservative – Strict, church going Christians.

• Believe that the miracles cited in the bible are real.

• Believe in the difference of natural and super-natural.

PROTESTANT EDUCATION

There has been many court cases to determine what can and can

not be taught in the public school system.

Evangelicals

• The population of evangelicals are often protestants, but protestants

don‟t consider themselves any part of evangelicals.

• To get a good estimate of how many evangelicals there are, you just

ask them if they are “born again” or…evangelical!

There are three criteria that people use to determine if they are

evangelical.

• If you have been born again or had a born again experience.

• If you have encouraged others to believe in Jesus Christ.

• If you believe the Bible is the actual word of God.

Reflection

• Take a moment and look at how religion of any kind has or has not

impacted you.

CATHOLICISM

Approximately 24% of U.S.

population – 67, 820, 833 members

Catholic faith is one denomination

under a pope

Wealthiest national church

Growing numbers in U.S. influence

growing numbers in Rome

CATHOLICISM AMONG

DIVERSITY

Conservative vs. Non Conservative

Involves many different ethnic groups

• Irish, Italian, Polish, Mexican, Puerto Rican, etc.

A parish may choose to conduct services in predominant language

or hold individual masses for different language groups

Incorporate cultural events

• Quinceniera for Latino females

POLITICAL INFLUENCE

Alfred Smith – first Roman Catholic to run for the office of

President

John F. Kennedy

EFFECT ON EDUCATION

The Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. has developed largest private

educational system in the world

Often offer quality educational options for both Catholic and non Catholic

students

Relative lower cost than most private institutions

Elementary and secondary schools, internationally recognized universities

• Notre Dame, Creighton and Loyola

Not rejected the belief that they belong to one universal church

JUDAISM

One of oldest religions known to humanity

Provide historical roots of both Catholicism

and Protestantism

Estimated the U.S. Jewish population to be

2.2% (approx. 6,400,000)

In 19th century, large number of Jews

emigrated from Germany

• Religious persecution

Became one of the four major faiths in the U.S.

While Judaism represents only about 2% of the population, the

contributions of Jewish Americans to the fields of science, medicine,

academia, business, economics, entertainment, and politics in the U.S.

has been profound

JUDAISM AMONG

DIVERSITY

Jewish identity is blended in historical, religious and ethnic variables

Jewish religious practices and patterns were modified to meet the

needs of the immigrants and in ways that made them characteristically

American

Reformed Synagogues vs. Orthodox Jews

Two major groups of Jews that immigrated

• The Ashkenazim and the Sepharidim

ANTI-SEMITISM

World War II – Jewish Holocaust

Neo-Nazis, the President of Iran, and others suggest the Jewish

Holocaust is a myth

The Gallup Poll over the years has found from 2% to 9% of

Americans doubting that the Holocaust took place

Also targets of KKK

Denied high-level jobs

EFFECT ON EDUCATION

Many of Jewish temples or synagogues throughout the country

operate private schools

In some larger Jewish communities, private religious schools have

been established to provide high-quality instruction to both academics

and in-depth religious studies

Inclusiveness and sensitivity

• Christmas and Hanukkah

ISLAM

“To surrender to the will or law of God”

Major religions of the world

• Over 1 billion

First Muslims to settle in this country was over a

hundred years ago in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Based on the holy writings of the Qur‟an or

Koran

Two groups of Islam – Sunni Muslims, which

compromise 85% of Islam, and Shi‟I or Shi‟ite

Muslims

The basic tenets of Islam include:

1. Faith: belief in one God and Mohammed as his last messenger

2. Prayer: five times daily, facing Mecca

3. Charity: contributing to the poor

4. Fasting: without food or water from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan (9th

month of Islamic year)

5. Pilgrimage: a visit to Mecca once in a lifetime, performing the Haji

ISLAMIC BELIEFS

Worship the same God as Christians and Jews (Allah)

Jihad is one of the most misinterpreted concepts in Islam

Often mistakenly translated as “holy war”

Comes from the Arabic jahada, meaning “struggle,” “effort,” or

“striving” in the way of God

ATTITUDES TOWARDS

ISLAM

September 11th, 2001

Often blamed for hate crimes

22% of Americans indicated that they would not want a Muslim as a neighbor

18% indicated that they would be nervous if they notice a Muslim woman on

their airline flight

31% expressed the same sentiments if there were a Muslim man on their flight

Nearly 40% admit to harboring feelings or prejudice, while nearly 60% indicate

they do not

BLACK MUSLIMS

Form unique identity of their own

Likely began with Timothy Drew or Noble Drew Ali (1886-1927)

who taught that blacks were from Asia and, therefore Moors or

Muslim

EFFECT ON EDUCATION

Vast majority attend public school

Muslim students feel unsafe in school and fear that tradition attire

could draw unfavorable attention to themselves

• Stereotyped

In the U.S., about 15,000 students attend 200 Islamic schools

• Designed to provide full-time educational programs “to help a child grow into an Islamic personality with the ideals and images which can help him and her achieve the best in this world and the best in the Hereafter”

Class Activity

“ EVERY STU DENT SHOU L D HAVE

THE SECU RITY IN KNOWING THEY

WILL NOT HAVE ANYONE ELSE ‟S

REL IGIOU S DOGM A IM P OSED ON

THEM .”

PROFILES AND INFLUENCES

OF THE DOMINANT GROUP

The forces of religious groups are

far from dominant

They influence the election of

school board members

Influence curriculum and

textbooks

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION

Geographic region of the U.S.

Some areas may be more dominant

in certain religions

Various immigration & migration

patters throughout history

INFLUENCES IN SCHOOLS

Majority of schools have historical

background of rural white, Protestant

domination

Such influence has determined

holidays

INFLUENCES IN SCHOOLS

In some schools teachers are

expected to expose students to many

different perspectives

Largely based around the dominant

religion in community

Students have little influence on

what is taught in classroom

In other schools, the teacher may be

attacked for discussing evolution

ISSUES RAISED OUT OF

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

School Prayer

• Law forbids public prayer

• Students may pray in private

School Vouchers

• Provide parents with a choice of

schools for their children,

public, or private

Censorship

• Heavily influenced by individuals

from fundamentalist &

conservative religious groups.

TERM

Secular Humanism:

• A nonreligious based philosophy promoting man as the measure of all things.

Typically rejects the concept of a personal God & regards humans as supreme.

Secular humanists tend to see God as a creation of man, rather than man being a

creation of God.

SECULAR HUMANIST

OBJECTIVES

Full development of every human being

Universal use of the scientific method

Affirmation of the preciousness & dignity of the individual person

Personal freedom combine with social responsibilities

Fulfillment through the development of ethical & creative living

SECULAR HUMANISM

Often targets of conservative

Christians

It is not an organized religion

• No Rituals

• No Church

• No professed doctrines

“RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES

ARE IM P ORTANT IN OU R STU DY OF THIS

P LU RAL ISTIC NATION BECAU SE IT IS A

WAY OF L IF E F OR M ANY P EOP L E.”

SEPARATION OF

CHURCH AND STATE

SUPREME COURT RULINGS

Engle v. Vilale (New York 1962) –Prayer even nondenominational

Abigton School District v. Schnepp (Pennsylvania 1963) –Bible

reading over the intercom

Murry v. Curlett ( 1963) – forcing children participate in Bible

reading

Epperson v. Arkansas (1968)- Banning of the teaching of

evolution in order to promote a religious point of view

SUPREME COURT RULINGS

II

Stone v. Grahm (1980 Kentucky)-posting of the 10 commandments in

school

Wallace v. Jaffree (1985 Alabama)- Moment of silence unconstitutional

because it is encouragement of prayer

Edwards v. Aquillard (1987 Louisiana)- The state can not require the

teaching of “creation science” in all instances in which evolution is taught.

Lee v. Weisman (1992 Rhode Island)- No clergy to preform

nondenominational prayer at elementary or secondary school graduation.

WHY IS SEPARATION OF CHU RCH

AND STATE NEARLY IM P OSSIBL E ?

90% of the U.S. claims to practice some form of religion

Community Where you live (religious groups have

influence)

Congress is prohibited from making laws that prohibit

religious worship.

W H Y I S S E PA R AT I O N O F C H U RC H

A N D S TAT E N E A R LY I M P O S S I B L E ? I I

Oaths made on the Bible ( what are the final words?)

„In God we trust‟ on currency

Military and congressional chaplains

Congressional prayers are held at breakfast

Pledge of allegiance

A State Church cannot exist

CHURCH AND STATE

Catholic Schooling

Amish remove children from school after 8th

grade

The question comes up of who teaches the

students morals?

OTHER VIEWPOINTS

Liberal viewers tend to believe that children should be

exposed to other religions and ethnic groups

Conservatives do not want exposure to other perspectives

Secular Humanism- The emphasis of respect for humans

and the de-emphasis or ignoring God.

COMMUNITY INFLUENCE

People tend to agree with religion in schools when the teachings

are parallel to their own practices

Unaccepting if other dogmas are infused

Parents have fought to bring back

• prayer in the classroom (1963 ruling banning it)

• Sex Education

• Evolution

• Textbooks/ Literature

COMMUNITY INFLUENCE II

Parents have influence on the censorship

Censorship comes from a group from the community that or is

self appointed

• Districts/ Libraries

• Bookstores

• Publishers

• Art Galleries

SECULAR HUMANISM

Believe Religion has a negative history

Schools are required to teach using secular

humanism

Direct target to censorship attacks

• Respect for human beings

SUGGESTIONS

MAKE SURE THE STUDENT KNOWS THAT THEY DO

NOT HAVE TO PARTICPATE

Religion seen as an objective study

School may sponsor the study on religion

School may expose students to other beliefs, but none can be

forced upon the student

STRIVE FOR STUDENT AWARENESS

QUESTIONS?

Do You Have Any

GRAPHIC CITATIONS

Slide 1: http://www.verus-co2.com/blog/?m=201002

Slide 2: http://www.college-info-online.com/christian-colleges_gg.htm

Slide 3: http://blog.recklessphilosophers.com/2008/07/01/map-education-vs-religion.aspx

Slide 4: http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=853059&ct=1092845

Slide 5: http://mytallideas.com/tag/world-religion/

Slide 6: http://www.getreligion.org/2008/07/a-carefully-secular-public-education/

Slide 7: http://www.logosapologia.org/?p=1159

Slide 8: http://www.sechumscm.org/

Slide 9: http://suddenlyatheist.wordpress.com/page/4/

Slide 10: http://home.earthlink.net/~nappy2xl/id1.html