North Texas Daily

Depending on who you are, religion can be a big part of your life.

No matter what your beliefs are, you as an individual have every right to practice whatever religion you believe in. Religion often involves a sense of seeking things out, in which one looks and discovers what they believe in.

So why then do predominantly religious schools enforce students to learn about religion?

Firstly, education about religion is not a bad thing. As a matter of fact, looking into different faiths can further strengthen individual beliefs overall. Many religious education institutions require a theology class of some kind, even on the university level. However, being forced into studying it for a grade should not be allowed.

Religion being placed as a curriculum can drastically change how one views their faith. Students who are given coursework based around religion may feel as if the faith is being shoved down their throats. On top of that, when it comes to assessments and exams, it could possibly be seen as defining their individual faith, even if that may not be the one they want to practice.

Let’s be frank for a second here. Students who often go through a semester of coursework are usually tired of learning the material by the end of it. Why then are we allowing religion, a sacred belief that we are supposed to hold our entire life, to be subject to the same outlook?

Being someone who has been through private religious education his entire life, there were times where my own religion felt more like a task. Being told to study about the Bible instead of wanting to do it on your own can change the outlook of the subject at hand. Along with that, receiving grades based on beliefs that I had made me associate religion as tiresome coursework. Because of my school’s curriculum, my faith was tested and at one point, I completely dropped it. It wasn’t until I decided that I wanted to look more into it, that I was able to call my faith my own.

This is honestly something that we can learn about any topic.

Telling someone to do something after so many times will deter their outlook on the topic at hand. For example, think about a chore that you hate doing the most. Why do you dislike it? Is it because of the task a hand or it is because someone is constantly telling you to do it or you have to constantly remind yourself to do it? While religion and chores are two completely different ballparks, the fact remains the same that a person that is told to do something may not want to do it after a while.

However, someone who acts on their own accord will better understand what they are doing and why they are doing it. In terms of faith, this can bring about a stronger belief because they found a religion on their own and made it theirs.

Again, I say religious education is not a bad thing whatsoever. It is almost necessary in order to fully understand your own beliefs. However, being told to study it will almost certainly deter individuals from doing so. I personally can say that I have seen many leave their faith because of their outlook of religion as a class.

Regardless of topic, a person will develop their morals and beliefs in their own way. We should not force an individual to choose their beliefs or to learn about one that may not be interested in. I hope in the future these religious institutions recognize the need for separation of church and school, and that people choose a religion based on their own discovery.

Featured Illustration: Jae-Eun Suh