I saw an article in USA Today titled Americans get an ‘F’ in religion. It points out the incredibly deep ignorance that Americans have regarding world religions, including Christianity.
To give you a couple examples from the article, sixty percent of Americans can’t name just five of the Ten Commandments. Fifty percent of high school seniors think Sodom and Gomorrah were married.
Biblical stories and histories just aren’t being taught anymore. People who are old enough to remember learned them in school. Bible stories were used to teach character and morality. They helped to teach history as well. When teaching about nations, it was common to include lessons on what they believed. There are many who say we can’t do that anymore. In reality we can, but most school systems are afraid to. So I guess we might be able to blame the schools.
We could certainly blame the churches. Aren’t we teaching the right things in Sunday School anymore? The article indicated that Sunday Schools have watered down the message and try to make it so fun, that no real teaching is taking place. Lot’s of games, and a snack, but few Bible Stories. I don’t about that – maybe there is something to in some churches – I don’t know.
I do know that churches don’t see too many kids anymore. The reality is that only about fifteen percent of the general population is churched. And much fewer than that fifteen percent are actually attending Sunday School.
To give you a couple examples from the article, sixty percent of Americans can’t name just five of the Ten Commandments. Fifty percent of high school seniors think Sodom and Gomorrah were married.
Biblical stories and histories just aren’t being taught anymore. People who are old enough to remember learned them in school. Bible stories were used to teach character and morality. They helped to teach history as well. When teaching about nations, it was common to include lessons on what they believed. There are many who say we can’t do that anymore. In reality we can, but most school systems are afraid to. So I guess we might be able to blame the schools.
We could certainly blame the churches. Aren’t we teaching the right things in Sunday School anymore? The article indicated that Sunday Schools have watered down the message and try to make it so fun, that no real teaching is taking place. Lot’s of games, and a snack, but few Bible Stories. I don’t about that – maybe there is something to in some churches – I don’t know.
I do know that churches don’t see too many kids anymore. The reality is that only about fifteen percent of the general population is churched. And much fewer than that fifteen percent are actually attending Sunday School.
Perhaps education just isn’t as valued as much as it used to be. Or is it church that isn’t valued as much? Or, worse yet, is it God?
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