Religious education is an oxymoron...

Angus: "Religion and education have no place being together. Religion is about converting people to a specific set of beliefs and values. Education is about giving people skills and knowledge that equips them to function in the real world. Religion is inherently sectarian; education is meant to be universal. Religious schools can't function like real schools because they are trying to mold non-believers into their belief system more than trying to teach students about the real world."

Hercule: "I see you feel strongly about the matter. But how is an anti-religious theory of education not a religious entanglement in education?"

Angus: "Look, real education affords no place for religion in the classroom. But religious education insists that religion take first place in the classroom."

Hercule: "Is not religion a part of the real world? If students are given no real contact with and instruction in religion, can they really be said to know the real world we live in?"

Angus: "You're being sophistical."

Hercule: "Oh? You say students must learn that religion has no proper place in their studies. Religious instructors say that religion does have a proper place in their studies. The difference is only a matter of degree, of proportion. You are making a religious claim about education, namely, that education ought to be non-religious."

For those interested in more along the same lines, long ago Elliot wrote about the contested place of religion in education, here: http://veniaminov.blogspot.com/2004/05/why-i-love-teaching-in-taiwan.html .

-- c/o Elliam Fakespeare, FCA Superintendent