Thinking 'About' Religion: The Need for Freethought in the Curriculum

Massen, John B., Free Inquiry

An important new book has been published entitled Freethought Across the Centuries. Written by Dr. Gerald A. Larue, emeritus professor of Biblical History and Archaeology at the University of Southern California and an FI senior editor, the book provides conclusive historical evidence that freethought and nonreligion have contributed immensely to intellectual and material progress throughout human history. Hence, freethought should be added as a separate unit in any study of religion in public schools.

In 1987, the California State Board of Education adopted History - Social Science Framework, which ordered comprehensive improvements in the teaching of history and social science. For the first time, "teaching about religion" and instruction about Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism are required for sixth and seventh-grade students. In a sixteen-page 1990 report to the California State Board of Education, the coalition for Objectivity, Accuracy, and Balance in …

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Publication information: Article title: Thinking 'About' Religion: The Need for Freethought in the Curriculum. Contributors: Massen, John B. - Author. Magazine title: Free Inquiry. Volume: 16. Issue: 2 Publication date: Spring 1996. Page number: 23+. © 1999 Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism, Inc. COPYRIGHT 1996 Gale Group.

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