Religious Studies help to Raise Morally Decent Citizens
Religious Studies help to Raise Morally Decent Citizens
According to Cochran (2014), the study of religion should be encouraged from the entry-level since it assists in character molding. It is important to note that religious studies instill good morals in people. Examples of these morals include honesty, faithfulness, hard work, respect, and dignity.
All religious studies promote these virtues, including Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. Religion also helps to prevent vices among young people in society today. The witnessed violence among young people may be attributed to a lack of religious teachings. Video games contribute to aggressive behavior in kids of age between 9 and 12 years (Ellithorpe et al., 2015).
Religion discourages vices such as early pregnancies among young people, most of whom are in school. As part of their work, tutors of religious studies discourage drug and substance abuse among learners, thus encouraging them to be productive citizens in a country. Since religion prohibits sexual relationships before marriage, it plays an essential role in eradicating sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS, among others.
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Furthermore, religious studies teachers address the issue of the sanctity of family and the need to promote faithfulness in marriage. Hence, as future parents, students who lack such understanding from school may fail to know the aspects that must be imparted to their kids.
According to Cochran (2014), religious studies help to develop learners’ character, values, and beliefs. Hence, failing to offer lessons that instill these concepts in school may result in a violent and undisciplined generation lacking meaningful focus.
According to Cheadle and Schwadel (2012), religion helps to promote ethics among learners. Such ethical elements help to nurture students to become all-rounded citizens. The religious principles in a school setting form the basis of professional work ethics in many organizations today. It also promotes good interpersonal relationships by making people appreciate diversity and/or create the need for peaceful co-existence.
These attributes can only be acquired through the study of religion in schools, where they are instilled from the formative stages of growth and development (Cheadle & Schwadel, 2012). It is also important to note that many careers today have their foundation in religion. Religion comes in handy in the career development of disciplines such as law, medicine, philosophy, psychology, and counseling, among others.
These disciplines have their foundation established on the morals and ethics of religion as presented in the various schooling levels. Moreover, people majoring in religious studies can grow to become professionals in various areas, such as teachers, counselors, and religious leaders.
They can also run religious organizations and ministries, facilitate proper international relations, and/or work in the media and non-governmental organizations. Governmental organizations such as public schools, the police force, and the military typically have a chaplain.
Such a role can only be developed after studying religion and developing an interest in the career. According to Jeynes (2012), schools that teach religion achieve the highest level of performance compared to those that discourage religious studies. The implication here is that religious studies significantly impact career advancement.
Religion also helps in acquiring essential life skills. Such skills are acquired after learning about religious personalities who demonstrated great faith, perseverance, and commitment. Students with such skills will also try to emulate such persons and hence grow to become responsible citizens.
It is also important to note that moral uprightness is acquired by instilling the fear of God in students’ lives. Such fear helps learners to acquire knowledge and wisdom. However, it is apparent that schools are the best placed to impart this understanding through religious studies.