ABSTRACT
Teaching about religion in the classroom is at once one of the most controversial aspects of the profession and one of the most important lessons we can teach our students. Along with celebrating racial and cultural differences, respecting and understanding various religious traditions is crucial to the future well being of democracy. There are clearly pitfalls, however, for if teachers stray into teaching religious dogma rather than religious traditions, they could find themselves in direct conflict with the First Amendment's establishment clause. Teachers should thus educate themselves on the laws regarding the teaching of topics containing religious components and think proactively about communicating that knowledge to parents and even to students. Another serious concern is presenting course materials without unwittingly reinforcing students’ preconceived notions and thus contributing to stereotyping of religions. Teaching religion in a cultural context rather than from an orthodox practices approach should reinforce the concept that that religion is a component of a society's culture and thus varies from place to place. The teaching of a variety of religious traditions in a cultural context is crucial if we wish to help students not just tolerate differences, but embrace them.
