Analysis Of Stephen Prothero's Religious Literacy

In Stephen Prothero’s Religious Literacy, the author gives us an insight into the controversy of teaching religion in United States’ public schools. Prothero’s premise is that we as a nation of supposed religious citizens are actually lacking in any real knowledge of the core teachings of the many world religions, “I am convinced that one needs to know something about the world’s religion in order to be truly educated”(Prothero 11). Is this lack of religious knowledge at the core of the intolerance that is so pervasive in our nation and threatens to continually drive us apart? At the core of Prothero’s book is that we all need religious literacy in order to truly be effective citizens, and being effective citizens we must realize that religion …show more content…
It has been reinforced in class and again in Prothero’s book, religion and the right to worship is our inalienable right that no one should be allowed to take away. Teaching religion in schools is not about having kids choose a faith to believe in by telling them that one religion is superior to another. Instead, it can and should culturally enrich them and open their minds to other religious teachings; and at the same time they can have conviction in their choice to believe or not believe in any one faith. Learning the foundation and concepts that make their religion unique can give each person a greater understanding and appreciation for their own religion. By doing this I believe we then empower them to realize that there are many other different perspectives than just their own, learning about this diversity can in Prothero’s words, make for an effective citizen (Prothero