Should Antitheism be taught in Schools?

...it broadens the horizons of my religious beliefs, gives me all the different perspectives of religion.

How exactly do you broaden the horizons of your religious beliefs, unless they are of the Einsteinian sort? What do you do, become more open to dogma? Believe harder? Allow yourself to get sucked into more profound moral and mental oblivion? I'd sincerely love to know, because it sounds very tricky.

Seriously. What makes you continue believing that the religion you happened to be brought up in / converted to, is *the* correct one? I mean, they can't all be right... can they?

Should Antitheism be taught in schools? That is, the study of the negative impacts of religions, direct or indirect, upon society, politics and the individual mind and arguments against the validity and truthfulness of religions. Criticisms of all sorts could be discussed. Everything from sexual repression and homophobia to the Crusades and the Israel/Palestine issues. Criticisms could be made from a theological, philosophical or societal viewpoint.

I think it is important to teach it and has so far only been missed from the curriculum because of the fuss religious people would make. However, religion is a hugely influential force in the world and like anything should be criticised and examined fully.

I can see problems emerging such as which religions should be examined and maintaining objectivity but no problems that don't already occur with teaching history.

Thoughts?

It opens up the world and shows me views outside those of religious believers, that's how it broadens my horizons. It shows me what people who don't believe in religion believe in. It doesn't affect anything or do anything drastic, it doesn't poison me as you're trying to make it sound like - all it does is shows us that in religion not everything is as it seems, and that there are non-believers. It shows us what we, and other people believe when religion just isn't for them.

What I meant was it broadens my knowledge of different religious views, not that it broadens my religious beliefs.

I wasn't brought up in any religion, my family are atheist so...

Am I the only person who thinks there is something horribly 1984 about forcing children into atheism?

It's not about that. Just looking at the negative side of religion.

What about the positive side of religion?

That can also be discussed, scant though the points may be.

This shows why RS is stupid, everyone has a bias, as demonstrated by you.

These biases are taught and kids are too stupid to think for themselves anyway.

I'll not lie that I have a negative view of religion but that's based on the evidence I've found and the time I've spent studying it. I'm not going to deny there are some positives such the emotional comfort religion gives, as much as I find that undesirable.

To a degree, biase can be neutralised by a standard curriculum.

What about historical issues like the Troubles and social issues like racism and sexism are discussed in class and teachers will certainly have biase on those issues?

Is biase the same as bias?

If so, they're not allowed to convey bias because then they'll end up being racist/sexist!

The e makes it even more bias!

People can be very subtle about these things.

Aaah, I see! (now I don't know if you're being sarcastic )

It's true... Everything will have it's... Biase

I'm being sarcastice.

It's annoying how my phone had biase as a word...