If we don’t talk about and ask questions of one another, how will we learn all perspectives? Discussions about religion are often avoided or dismissed due to stereotypes and biases. These misconceptions are majorly influenced by the limited knowledge many people have on religious beliefs. Everyone has the option to explore and learn more about different religions, but most people simply don’t take the time to do so.
The First Amendment was written to protect five fundamental rights for all U.S. citizens, and one of them is the freedom of religion. In simple terms, the freedom of religion prevents the government from establishing a national religion. But if this protection is in place, why do government-run schools say the Pledge of Allegiance every day, which includes the phrase “one nation under God?” Does this phrase not contradict the idea of keeping the church out of schools?
The opposing perspective many would point out is that the Pledge of Allegiance is not “required,” which is true. Every day, all students have the choice of whether or not they want to participate. But if that is the case, why is there such extreme pushback when a religion-based elective is brought up, even when it is not required? Why can something as prominent as the pledge be seen as an option, but not an elective class? Obviously, no one can force their beliefs on others, but what is the harm in learning about other people’s beliefs and opinions?
“If I’m asked about my faith, I can express what I believe,” Fox Valley Career Center teacher and Student Impact adviser Clayton Hansen said. “I just can’t tell a student this is what you should believe. That is the First Amendment.”
Religion should not be forced into schools, and people should not be telling others what to believe. With that law in place, why is the phrase “one nation under God” repeated five days a week in most public schools across America? When something is said so often, it can distort the way people perceive information. Laws tend to be held to a high standard, yet this shows how easily beliefs can subtly be introduced into educational spaces, leading to a surge in misinformation.
When something is repeated frequently and presented as the norm, anyone can accept it without question. This illustrates how repetition can make any information seem true, even when it may be completely false.
With misinformation on the rise in recent years, especially on social media platforms, many people are unsure who they can trust or simply lack knowledge on certain topics.
While religion consists of many biases, it also consists of many hidden truths that lots of people do not know about. A way to counteract the bias is by simply listening and paying attention to multiple perspectives. Even though everything you come across might not be fully accurate, it is still important to look into it yourself rather than forming conclusions based solely on what you see on social media. All people should make it an obligation to learn and acknowledge all points of views, especially with the topic of religion.
“We’re supposed to honor people with different beliefs, whether we agree or not, ” Hansen said. “Well, how do you know if you agree or disagree if you don’t know anything about the beliefs they have?”
The Pew Research Center conducted a survey of 11,000 U.S. adults, asking the participants 32 multiple-choice questions to identify their knowledge on religious facts. The average adult answered only around 14 of the 32 questions correctly. The study also found that people who explore different sources of information tend to know more about religion. The article noted, “Those who have religiously diverse social networks show higher levels of religious knowledge.”
In recent years, many people have begun to rely solely on social media platforms for their information. As a result, they often form conclusions after seeing only one side of an issue. This is contributing to the widespread surge in misinformation. One way to become more informed as a society – and to slow the spread of false information – is to look into multiple perspectives on topics we find. When it comes to religion, why wouldn’t we take the time to understand what others believe and have to say? While the world will never completely see eye to eye on every issue, gaining even the slightest level of understanding on perspectives beyond our own is essential to gaining informed opinions.
