Overcoming Religious Illiteracy : A Cultural Studies Approach to the Study of Religion in Secondary Education

In Overcoming Religious Illiteracy, Harvard Professor And Phillips Academy Teacher Diane L. Moore Argues That Though The United States Is One Of The Most Religiously Diverse Nations In The World, The Vast Majority Of Citizens Are Woefully Ignorant About Religion Itself And The Basic Tenets Of The World's Major Religious Traditions. The Consequences Of This Religious Illiteracy Are Profound And Include Fueling The Culture Wars, Curtailing Historical Understanding And Promoting Religious And Racial Bigotry. In This Volume, Moore Combines Theory With Practice To Articulate How To Incorporate The Study Of Religion Into The Schools In Ways That Will Invigorate Classrooms And Enhance Democratic Discourse In The Public Sphere. The Purpose Of Education -- Why Religion Should Be Included In Public School Education -- How To Teach About Religion In The Schools -- Teacher Education : What Teachers Need To Know -- Constructing A Learning Community -- A Case Study : Teaching About Islam -- Incorporating The Study Of Religion Throughout The Curriculum : American History, Economics, Biology, And Literature. Diane L. Moore. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [191]-211) And Index. In Overcoming Religious Illiteracy, Harvard professor and Phillips Academy, Andover, teacher Diane L. Moore argues that though the United States is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, the vast majority of citizens are woefully ignorant about religion itself and the basic tenets of the world's major religious traditions. The consequences of this religious illiteracy are profound and include fueling the culture wars, curtailing historical understanding and promoting religious and racial bigotry. In this volume, Moore combines theory with practice to articulate how to incorporate the study of religion into the schools in ways that will invigorate classrooms and enhance democratic discourse in the public sphere Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Front Matter....Pages 1-8 The Purpose of Education....Pages 9-25 Why Religion Should Be Included in Public School Education....Pages 27-52 How to Teach About Religion in the Schools....Pages 53-88 Teacher Education: What Teachers Need to Know....Pages 89-104 Front Matter....Pages 105-110 Constructing a Learning Community....Pages 111-138 A Case Study: Teaching About Islam....Pages 139-164 Incorporating the Study of Religion Throughout the Curriculum: American History, Economics, Biology, and Literature....Pages 165-176 Conclusion....Pages 177-178 Epilogue....Pages 179-181 Back Matter....Pages 183-226