All Education is Religious

I know we live in a world that separates religious schools and secular schools, and Americans, ever since the first amendment, have been declaring the importance of the separation of church and state. So, the statement that "all education is religious" seems counter intuitive. Obviously, parochial (church-run) schools are religious, and Christian private schools are religious, but aren't all other schools neutral in regards to being religious?

The commonly accepted educational mindset believes that all education begins neutral and only certain "church schools" make education religious; however, that is not true. While not the typical definition of "religious," all education comes from a specific belief system (a religion, if you will) that the administrators, teachers, and students of that educational system strive to follow religiously.

Logically, religious schools follow the belief systems of their specific religion. Catholic schools follow the specific "order" of the archdiocese, Jewish schools follow the teachings of Judaism and their rabbi, Islamic schools follow the beliefs of Islam, and private Christian schools follow their statement of beliefs, established by their school board.

So religious schools being religious makes sense, but what about schools that don't align itself with a religion?

Every school has a set of beliefs that come from an educational philosopher or a philosophy. Some of the more famous educational philosophers that have schools following their teaching are Maria Montessori (with early education schools), John Dewey (with progressive schools), and Aristotle (with classical schools). Proponents of these philosophers follow them with religious fervor.

Philosophies direct schools in America today and are religiously followed. Most schools are driven by three philosophies: the Greek philosophy of education, secular humanism, and the gospel of wealth.

It's Greek to Me 

The Greek model of education can be summarized simply by the Descartes quote, "I think, therefore I am." This philosophy believes that education is only for cognitive/intellectual growth. It shifted the educational system from the Hebraic model of "whole child" education, focusing on wisdom and vocational training to being solely about increasing knowledge. We are so Greek in our American system of education; every school is measured primarily and often singularly by test scores. High test scores signify an excellent school; a student who performs well on tests is an exemplary student ... it is that simple, but yet it drives everything. 

Good without a God

The second philosophy that drives most of education today is secular humanism, which is summed up by the motto of the American Humanist Association: "Good without a God." In an educational system that embraces the "separation of church and state," the assumption is that there is no choice but to also embrace secular humanism. If there is no God (or at least not allowed in schools), then the measure of schools must be tied to (and limited to) the measure of man. Humans are the sole purpose, the only actors, and the only motivation for education. Modern schools today are focused on glorifying man in academic, athletic, artistic endeavors. If there is no God, humanity is all that remains ... or as Steinbeck stated in his Nobel Prize Speech: "Having taken Godlike power, we must seek in ourselves for the responsibility and the wisdom we once prayed some deity might have. Man himself has become our greatest hazard and our only hope." Humanity is all we have, and as the Greek philosopher Protagoras said, "man is the measure of all things."  

Greed is Good

The final philosophy that is religiously followed in all schools today is the gospel of wealth. While not unique to American culture, it sure is ubiquitous in America. Wealth is the ultimate goal of life, and education is the means to that end. Students are motivated to get good grades to get into a good college to get a good job to make a lot of money. For most parents, students, and schools, it is, unfortunately, that simple. Instead of thinking about a calling (vocation), students are selecting majors/careers based on salary levels, selecting colleges that will fast-track them into that career. Wealth is tied closely to comfort. Students (and parents) equate wealth with a life of ease. American cowboy philosopher, John Wayne once quipped, "Life is tough, but it's a whole lot tougher if you're stupid." While we can laugh at that quote, most of our schools are structured around that quote. The purpose of education is to make money, so you can have an easy life.

The religion of American modern education is a melting pot of Greek Philosophy, Secular Humanism, and Wealth, and it is a bad-tasting stew that has left us sick. Due to this unholy trinity that is religiously followed in schools today, our educational system preaches test scores are the measure of all things, nothing exists beyond humanity, and whoever dies with the most toys wins. What a dangerous message to preach to our students!  

Unfortunately, many religious schools with a "higher" philosophy to follow often embrace these three philosophies as enthusiastically as non-religious schools do. 

Christian educators, we still have work to do ... let's keep working!

Stay tuned ... more blogs to come in 2024.