A Few Words on Religious Awareness …

A few words on religious awareness vs. engaged celebration of religious (or even secular) holidays: The American way of freedom and respect may necessitate limiting what happens during the public school day. However, other public areas, and the school’s after-hours, may also provide more opportunities to celebrate holidays or other events under our right to the freedom to assemble.

Parents (and teachers, on their personal time) may need to take more responsibility for organizing such events or clubs. Possibilities may include a Christian music choir, for instance, that could be held at a school (not during school hours), as long as it is open to the public. The same goes for Jewish, Muslim, Wiccan, etc. clubs and gatherings. A gay alliance group, such as PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), currently co-hosts public forums with the Region One Housatonic Youth Service Bureau after school hours. This type of event might be more controversial if it were held during the school day.

With the world in such turmoil over differences of religion, economics, social and political rights, we need to look ever more closely at the existing systems, such as education, and see if they need fine-tuning to reflect our values. For example, there is a push toward more inclusiveness of gay life, including descriptions of gay sex life, in some educational platforms.

Everyone has the free will to practice their religion or philosophical beliefs without threats or violence, and even with respect or at least common courtesy. Everyone does not need to embrace everyone else’s beliefs and practices, however. We can love a sinner but not the sin. Considering what each group considers a sin may prove very educational and help us not offend each other unintentionally—and certainly not intentionally. Speaking of behaviors or belief systems instead of people may give us all food for thought.

A natural consequence of all this openness of discussion and inclusiveness may cause some folks to separate themselves from the public forum. An alternative may be a strengthening of groups outside the main school forum, for instance. Going to school would then become a practice in being in the real world with all that entails, and one’s home life and religious life or other secular groups might grow in guiding and grounding one’s life.