The Texas State Board of Education took issue Thursday with a proposal to include more coverage of religion in U.S. government and history classes in school. Despite that fact that even a cursory reading of American history reveals considerable religious influence on movements and policy, some on the Board of Education feel the inclusion of religion is largely irrelevant and unnecessary.
If understanding religion is unnecessary to understanding the past, it is unnecessary to understanding the present. The myopia of this view serves to distort history and handicaps students in their understanding of society and the world. The widespread ignorance among many concerning religion, and its history and role in society, is a large factor in the bewilderment, unease, and even animosity of many towards religious beliefs and concerns, except, of course, where those beliefs and concerns run parallel to policy. It is this ignorance of religion that the Texas State Board of Education proposes to address by trying to sidestep the issue.
Religion is at risk of becoming an eccentricity, sometimes useful, sometimes irrelevant, and sometimes harmful, depending on the person and which religion is being considered. It seems that where there is disagreement over religion and its place in society and history, it is often concluded that the best approach to the subject is to avoid it.
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