3. Religion And Culture In The United States Significant number of people hold religious beliefs –190 million claim religious affiliation  Beliefs vary –Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhist, etc…..  1963: Law passed forbidding prayer in school –Separation of church and state  Education system still affected by religion

4. The Diversity of Religion has Significance: A communities religious beliefs influence expectations of school curriculum –South- S. Baptists, Church of Christ, Methodists  face criticism on sex education, evolution, alternate lifestyles –Utah- Mormons  Religion isn’t taught  Holidays for religious services are granted  Elected officials are Mormon so laws have Mormon influence –Inner City East Coast- Religions vary  Little impact on school

5. Religion As A Way Of Life –May govern a persons way of life –Affect decisions and lifestyle –Answers to problems –By age of five, a child knows their religious identity –By age 9, a child knows their religious practices and customs Religious beliefs play a very important role

6. Religious Pluralism In The US  Numerous religious groups in US  Members of all religions play important roles in society  Discrimination against some religions  Goal: acceptance of each religion Jewish synagogues: targets of hate crimes

7. Protestantism  Protestants make up 59% of the population  Diverse group: Methodist, Church of Christ, Baptist, Orthodox Presbyterian, on and on  Two very broad categories of Protestants 1.Liberal 2.Conservative

8. Liberal Conservative  Bible is the truth  Jesus will return in bodily form  Personal morality (not social justice)  Include: Church of Christ, Southern Baptist, Assembly of God  Subgroup: Fundamentalist who are literal and inflexible in their religious beliefs  Adapt religion to correspond to modern world (science)  Rights of individual to determine religious beliefs  Support social action programs –Believe environment affects a person’s life and is hard to overcome  Includes: United Church of Christ, Episcopalian, some Methodist, Disciples of Christ

9. Catholicism  Uniform doctrine and pattern of worship –Not a pluralistic denomination –Diocese may be liberal or conservative  Forms of Catholicism: Roman Catholic and new American Catholic that recognizes the strength of the US environment  US Catholic church is wealthiest catholic church in world  Private educational system-largest

11. Judaism  Oldest religion known to man  Basis of Catholicism and Protestantism  2% of the population  Jewish people impacted our world greatly: science, medicine, business, politics  Targets of hate, prejudice, & discrimination  Holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, Hanukkah

12. Jewish religious symbols: Star of David, and nine-branched menorah used to celebrate Hanukkah. The seven-branch menorah used in the temple. Menorah is the oldest symbol of the Jewish faith

13. Islam  Islam means surrender to the will to God  This is one of the worlds major religions –In US 5 million followers  Based on Qur’an: word of Prophet Muhammad  Two main groups of Muslims fighting over power –Sunni –Shi’ite Muslims  People who are Islamic are called Muslims  The majority of Muslims are immigrants who brought their religion from their home countries.  Black Muslims originated in US –Well known leader Louis Farrakhan

14. Islamic houses of worship are called Mosques

15. Buddhism  Major world religion: –780,000 followers in US –Diversity in belief & practice due to geographical origin  Views: –Negativity towards ordinary existence –Ordinary existence=suffering –Buddha provides way to escape ordinary existence  Believe and worship Buddha who reached enlightenment

16. Buddhist Symbols Buddha Buddhist temple

17. Other Groups  Other religions include: –Eastern Orthodox – 4 M in US –The Christian Scientist – less than ½ M –Unitarian Universalists –American Indians – 314 tribes so religions vary –Jainism – estimated 4000 in N. America –Sikhism – estimated 9000 in N. America –Baha’ism – 300,000 in US –And The New Age

18. Jainism

19. Cults  Term cult associated with brainwashing and suicide  Such cults are: –People’s Temple- Jim Jones –Branch Davidians- David Koresh –Heaven’s Gate- Marshall Applewhite

20. Religion And Gender  Women’s roles rarely recognized –Catholic religion, no female priest –Mormons, unable to obtain priesthood –Other major religions, not willing to ordain women ministers  Church views supported by Bible –Women suppose to relinquish themselves to their husbands  Some groups more liberal in interpretations –Believe Adam and Eve were given equal domain  Religious expectations can carry over into life –No control in religion, no control at home

22. Religion and Homosexuality  Views based on interpretation of religious material –Bible is not clear –Bible is perfectly clear –Can result in prejudice, discrimination, or attacks  Conservative Christians Liberals –Choice Born homosexual –Sin Only choice is to practice –Aids is punishment Acceptance  Views of religious leaders impact views of members.  Goal: Respect all members of society regardless of difference

24. Religion and Race  Religious views impact views about race –biblical justification of slavery –Antisemitic views  African American churches served as pulpit for civil rights movement  Segregation has been minimized as official practice –Segregation is now a choice  Society reflection of religious issues –Issues of race linger just as issues of gender

25. Where Do Our Beliefs Come From?  Related to educational level –Higher the education  Greater reliance on scientific data  less literal belief of Bible  Related to class –Lower income level  more literal in belief of Bible  Didn’t rely on science  Parents  Ties to ethnic identity –Irish Catholic, Norwegian Lutheran  Area in which one lives –Community could have diverse views (N.Y.) or similar views

26. The Religious Right  Religion influences laws –Protestant morality challenged  Voice of people with different values  Roe vs. Wade  Reinforcement of separation of Church and State –New Christian Right (Religious Right )  Television ministries  School prayer  Abortion  Pornography  Support for “their” political candidates  Putting pressure on schools to uphold conservative values

27. Educational Implications  Public school should be free from any one religion –Religious influence affects decisions –School prayer-efforts to reinstate  Schools expected to provide a basis of social morality –Which values should be taught?  Private schooling for children of specific religions –In order to help facilitate, vouchers and tax credits would help pay for the cost of private schooling.  Censorship –Effort to rid school of objectionable material –New teachers should seek advice to community climate

28. School Prayer  In 1962 and 1963 the Supreme Court ruled that prayer in school should be voluntary.  In 2003, this debate is still being had –Movement to put prayer back into the classroom –Others oppose prayer  This is a debate that shall continue forever.

30. Religion can be described many ways and from many views, but when it comes to school and religion, we need to remember that not everyone has the same beliefs. Teaching tolerance and understanding to today’s children will help build a united future.

31. Power Point Power Point Presentation by: Presentation by: Jennifer Rockey Jennifer Rockey And And Jeanette Collins Jeanette Collins

32. Paper by: Paper by: Jessica Baker And Crissie Luksa

33. Activity by: Activity by: Renee Hames Renee HamesAnd Lorie Pimentel

34. Sources Gollnick, D.M., & Chinn, P.C. (2002). Multicultural education in a pluralistic society (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall. (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.