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 Volume 6 | Issue 19 | May 13, 2012 |


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Opinion

Inclusive religious education

Kohinur Khyum Tithila

Religion education is not only the study of a belief system, but also the study of history, culture and philosophy. Undoubtedly Religious Study is important to understand a culture and historical significance of different times and contexts. This subject is no less important than subjects like Sociology and Psychology. In a country like Bangladesh, where we get to see religious intolerance every now and then, a single book for all religion can be a tool to wrestle with communalism. Religion influences almost every sphere of our lives. Our ritual, culture, behaviors, lifestyle are highly influenced by religion. So, an informative book of 'World Religion' can highly influence our mindset in a positive way and develop mutual respect among followers of different religions.

Different religious books indeed alienate students from each other. Sourav Talukdar, a student of East West University, says, “Though we had a Hindu teacher in our school, our religion studies (on Hinduism) class was never taken. We used to play at the premises during the class-time. I understood that I am a minority at the age of twelve.” There are lots of students who encounter the same problem. A common book for every student might draw an end to this problem. The best outcome of having a common book of religious studies in school curriculum is that, it can be a tool for developing religious harmony among students. In recent years, we have seen the demonic picture of religious intolerance. Needless to say, religious harmony is one of the most important things that needs to be promoted in schools. In school curriculum, the subject 'Islamic studies' is designed in such a way that students get to learn only about the Prophets of Islam, Muslim religious leaders and remarkable Muslim influential persons. Why should Muslim students learn about the history, ritual and historical characters of Islam only and not of other religions? Similarly, followers of other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity should be introduced to Islamic rituals, ideology and influential persons. One book, combined of the concepts of all the religions can indeed create a revolution in the education system of Bangladesh. It can work as a catalyst to construct the notion of religious harmony among young people.

People are not accustomed with this concept of teaching Religious Studies in an incorporated way. If the young people of our country cannot accept the concept of religious equality then it is a shame for us. The government should take an initiative to design a common book of religious studies for students, regardless of their religion. Subjects should be divided by students' interests and expertise, not by their religion. If there can be a common book for other subjects like Mathematics, Bangla, History and Sociology, there can be a common book for Religious Studies as well. We are looking for a generation which will be free from communalism and the inception of this process can take place in classrooms.


DID YOU KNOW?

Joseph Louis Barrow

 

Boxer Joe Louis was born on May 13, 1914 at the north of Lafayette in rural Chambers County, Alabama. Louis was the son of Munroe Barrow and Lillie (Reese) Barrow, the seventh of eight children. Both Louis's parents were the children of former slaves, alternating between sharecropping and rental farming. Louis spent twelve years growing up in rural Alabama, where little is known of his childhood. He suffered from a speech impediment and spoke very little until about the age of six. Munroe Barrow was committed to a mental institution in 1916 and, as a result, Joe knew very little of his get to see religious intolerance every now and then, a single book for all religion can be a tool to wrestle with communalism. Religion influences almost every sphere of our lives. Our ritual, culture, behaviors, lifestyle are highly influenced by religion. So, an informative book of 'World Religion' can highly influence our mindset in a positive way and develop mutual respect among followers of different religions.

Different religious books indeed alienate students from each other. Sourav Talukdar, a student of East West University, says, “Though we had a Hindu teacher in our school, our religion studies (on Hinduism) class was never taken. We used to play at the premises during the class-time. I understood that I am a minority at the age of twelve.” There are lots of students who encounter the same problem. A common book for every student might draw an end to this problem. The best outcome of having a common book of religious studies in school curriculum is that, it can be a tool for developing religious harmony among students. In recent years, we have seen the demonic picture of religious intolerance. Needless to say, religious harmony is one of the most important things that needs to be promoted in schools. In school curriculum, the subject 'Islamic studies' is designed in such a way that students get to learn only about the Prophets of Islam, Muslim religious leaders and remarkable Muslim influential persons. Why should Muslim students learn about the history, ritual and historical characters of Islam only and not of other religions? Similarly, followers of other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity should be introduced to Islamic rituals, ideology and influential persons. One book, combined of the concepts of all the religions can indeed create a revolution in the education system of Bangladesh. It can work as a catalyst to construct the notion of religious harmony among young people.

People are not accustomed with this concept of teaching Religious Studies in an incorporated way. If the young people of our country cannot accept the concept of religious equality then it is a shame for us. The government should take an initiative to design a common book of religious studies for students, regardless of their religion. Subjects should be divided by students' interests and expertise, not by their religion. If there can be a common book for other subjects like Mathematics, Bangla, History and Sociology, there can be a common book for Religious Studies as well. We are looking for a generation which will be free from communalism and the inception of this process can take place in classrooms.

Information Source: Internet.


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