Spiritual development: Do you need religion to live a meaningful life?
By Eric Morris
EDI 17 Psychology & Development of Adolescent Students
School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
April 15, 2009
I really enjoyed yesterday’s class discussion on religion and faith. When it comes to teaching religion and faith in the classroom I feel that the history of religions should be taught rather than the spirituality side of religion. What I found interesting about our discussion is the fact that parochial schools such as St. Anthony’s as well as other parochial high schools can actually have more kids with behavioral problems than in the public schools. I wasn’t expecting this.
I think when people are forced to follow a religion that they don’t take serious or believe in they tend to act out and rebel against the norm. I think this is why more kids rebel in parochial school. Many kids are forced to go to Sunday school when they are younger not by choice, but because their parents want them to go. This can turn kids off to religion in general and I think parents should reconsider forcing kids to go to Sunday school.
We also discussed whether a person needs to have faith and religion in order to live a meaningful life. My answer was that they don't. People don’t need religion to lead a meaningful life and religion isn’t for everyone either. In order to live a meaningful life your life has to have some sort of purpose that you as an individual find meaningful. Some people want to help others or raise a family to make their life have meaning. For me, religion can be used to make a person’s life more meaningful to them but it isn’t the only way, nor should anyone tell you that you need religion in order to obtain a meaningful life.
Long Island University, C. W. Post
April 15, 2009
I really enjoyed yesterday’s class discussion on religion and faith. When it comes to teaching religion and faith in the classroom I feel that the history of religions should be taught rather than the spirituality side of religion. What I found interesting about our discussion is the fact that parochial schools such as St. Anthony’s as well as other parochial high schools can actually have more kids with behavioral problems than in the public schools. I wasn’t expecting this.
I think when people are forced to follow a religion that they don’t take serious or believe in they tend to act out and rebel against the norm. I think this is why more kids rebel in parochial school. Many kids are forced to go to Sunday school when they are younger not by choice, but because their parents want them to go. This can turn kids off to religion in general and I think parents should reconsider forcing kids to go to Sunday school.
We also discussed whether a person needs to have faith and religion in order to live a meaningful life. My answer was that they don't. People don’t need religion to lead a meaningful life and religion isn’t for everyone either. In order to live a meaningful life your life has to have some sort of purpose that you as an individual find meaningful. Some people want to help others or raise a family to make their life have meaning. For me, religion can be used to make a person’s life more meaningful to them but it isn’t the only way, nor should anyone tell you that you need religion in order to obtain a meaningful life.
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