Cross Posted with Talk to Action, Political Cortex and Gene's Thoughts

This is not an original idea with me, but one I think would solve several problems and one I have been interested in for a while Given the current situation in this country regarding the encroachment of religion into the public space, it is necessary that we give our children a sound, fundamental grounding in religion. I propose an intensive religious education beginning in the fourth grade and culminating senior year. This would be a nine year course of study taking students from the founding myths of the world's major religions through comparative religious instruction with emphasis on similarities and differences and why these differences exist. Finally, the last two years would consider the philosophy of religion, how religions start, what makes them important to their adherents and how our lives are shaped by our religious beliefs. Along the way topics on science and religion, science as religion, religion as science, worldviews, and the psychology of religion would be studied. By the time students reach the end of this study, they will be in a much better position to recognize religious issues and make their own decisions regarding such issues.