Morality as a High School Course
This angers me on so many levels. SO MANY levels. I once posted something about it, and I think I might have scared a few people. It's something I really believe strongly about, and I'm going to guess that there's probably a number of people on here who would say the same thing. It might seem almost repetitive in comparison to some of my other Blogs about religion; this is more of a continuation of the last one I posted.
SO, in the Catholic schools around me, Catholic Morality is part of the schools' curriculum. Personally, I find Catholic Morality to be the most biased, stubborn, bull-shitting class you could be forced to take. I don't exaggerate when I say that the class' purpose is to teach us how to live our lives. And if someone didn’t steal my Morality book two months ago, I’d so be spamming this blog with as many quotes as possible. There’s times when, in class reviews, I’ll be posed with a question that, in it’s true nature, is purely an opinion question. So, I state my opinion on the matter, and I lose points and get the question wrong because, apparently, I have the wrong opinion. Here’s an example of what happens. And this is what happened, WORD FOR WORD, last week in class:
Teacher: Sarah, this question is for you – is television either corrupt or a way to express ourselves?
Me: Hmmm…. Well, it could be a way to express ourselves, couldn’t it?
Teacher: No, that’s incorrect. Take a seat.
What’s wrong with this picture? Sure, television can be misleading and corrupt. But not all television. Take television programs. Although they might be “setting trends” on how to dress and act, really it’s just a way for the director to create a form of art. So a director wants to write a story and put it on the television. Art is a way that we can express ourselves, and TV dramas are considered a branch of art. So that was my point of view, I thought that TV could be used to express ourselves. This is clearly an opinion question. But I guess my opinion was wrong, according to my teacher.
Along with this, we are taught step-by-step methods we can use to make the Catholic decision. We are taught what the root of our problems are and that, I swear to GOD, if we live a God-fearing life, we will live perfect Catholic lives. This class is from a Catholic point of view directed to an audience whom they assume all people have the same conceptions about “god” and lifestyle. They teach us that it is okay to be born homosexual, but that it is a sin against God if they act on their own preference. They teach us that reading books like Harry Potter is bad because sorcery is a sin against God, and that all the characters are implying that they are greater than God. They teach us that we shouldn’t listen to certain music or watch certain TV shows because they do not demonstrate Godly values and are, therefore, sins against God.
And that’s alright if they believe that. I am not criticizing their own beliefs. An opinion is an opinion. But it’s not alright when they force their own opinions on everyone else who might not share the same views. Some people believe it’s alright if two men marry; some people believe it’s alright to read Harry Potter because it’s a book that represents so much more; some people listen to certain types of music because they simply like the type of music and/or they can relate to what the singer is trying to communicate. It’s all an opinion.
Likewise, our decisions are based on our backgrounds and opinions. And if we have different opinions about certain subjects, then we might be inclined to making a different decision than someone else would. To use the gay marriage example, the fact that he prefers men would be part of his background, and his opinion is that any two people who are in love should be allowed to marry. Therefore, he would be inclined to choose marrying the love of his life, rather than living a celibate lifestyle.
So, in conclusion, we all have our own perceptions of “what is moral,” because we are all different. We should not be instructed on how we should go about making decisions based one someone else’s perception of what is moral.
SO, in the Catholic schools around me, Catholic Morality is part of the schools' curriculum. Personally, I find Catholic Morality to be the most biased, stubborn, bull-shitting class you could be forced to take. I don't exaggerate when I say that the class' purpose is to teach us how to live our lives. And if someone didn’t steal my Morality book two months ago, I’d so be spamming this blog with as many quotes as possible. There’s times when, in class reviews, I’ll be posed with a question that, in it’s true nature, is purely an opinion question. So, I state my opinion on the matter, and I lose points and get the question wrong because, apparently, I have the wrong opinion. Here’s an example of what happens. And this is what happened, WORD FOR WORD, last week in class:
Teacher: Sarah, this question is for you – is television either corrupt or a way to express ourselves?
Me: Hmmm…. Well, it could be a way to express ourselves, couldn’t it?
Teacher: No, that’s incorrect. Take a seat.
What’s wrong with this picture? Sure, television can be misleading and corrupt. But not all television. Take television programs. Although they might be “setting trends” on how to dress and act, really it’s just a way for the director to create a form of art. So a director wants to write a story and put it on the television. Art is a way that we can express ourselves, and TV dramas are considered a branch of art. So that was my point of view, I thought that TV could be used to express ourselves. This is clearly an opinion question. But I guess my opinion was wrong, according to my teacher.
Along with this, we are taught step-by-step methods we can use to make the Catholic decision. We are taught what the root of our problems are and that, I swear to GOD, if we live a God-fearing life, we will live perfect Catholic lives. This class is from a Catholic point of view directed to an audience whom they assume all people have the same conceptions about “god” and lifestyle. They teach us that it is okay to be born homosexual, but that it is a sin against God if they act on their own preference. They teach us that reading books like Harry Potter is bad because sorcery is a sin against God, and that all the characters are implying that they are greater than God. They teach us that we shouldn’t listen to certain music or watch certain TV shows because they do not demonstrate Godly values and are, therefore, sins against God.
And that’s alright if they believe that. I am not criticizing their own beliefs. An opinion is an opinion. But it’s not alright when they force their own opinions on everyone else who might not share the same views. Some people believe it’s alright if two men marry; some people believe it’s alright to read Harry Potter because it’s a book that represents so much more; some people listen to certain types of music because they simply like the type of music and/or they can relate to what the singer is trying to communicate. It’s all an opinion.
Likewise, our decisions are based on our backgrounds and opinions. And if we have different opinions about certain subjects, then we might be inclined to making a different decision than someone else would. To use the gay marriage example, the fact that he prefers men would be part of his background, and his opinion is that any two people who are in love should be allowed to marry. Therefore, he would be inclined to choose marrying the love of his life, rather than living a celibate lifestyle.
So, in conclusion, we all have our own perceptions of “what is moral,” because we are all different. We should not be instructed on how we should go about making decisions based one someone else’s perception of what is moral.
To be honest, Christianality was the whole reason I started to hate religion.
You know what is truly weird? I'm not religious- yet I seem to be more spiritual then most of my born Catholic friends. I admit now, I'm no athethist. I just don't believe in religion, and I hate it when religion and spirituality is confused, because I know they are in no way the same thing. Spirituality is more of a feeling and religion, well, to me it's just another excuse for people to think they are better then everyone else and to exclude people. This is just my opinion though. I know a heap of nice religious people, like my Grandma, some of my teachers etc.
As for the Harry Potter thing- it's a book. Fiction! Why would someone be angering God for reading something that was purely for entertainment only? It makes no sense!
I go to a Catholic school too. The education is good, they don't deny global warming or the theory of evolution or anything like that. And in my RE class, my teacher doesn't take the bible as literal, so I don't mind it as much. But it is hard to listen to a sermon in church on how we should let go of our possessions when I'm sitting in a place filled with marble, gold and coloured glass.
If I set up a religion- I'd make everyone sit outside with nature.
GreenDayCookieFairy, May 30th, 2007 at 02:10:14am
I go to a public school. My friend however goes to a private Christian school. The same things happen there, from what he tells me. He says they basically cram religion and their beliefs down their throats.
vonny, May 30th, 2007 at 02:08:13am
Hmm,I'm totally Catholic.I'm all for it.I practice my faith and what not.
But I hate Catholic School. It gets monotonous after 9 years. If I have to hear one more abortion story,I will choke someone. I know it's wrong for God Sakes. Fortunately,I graduate from it Monday.
ohmygodshutyourbutt, May 29th, 2007 at 10:55:41pm
When you attend a catholic school, you have to accept that their morality will be forced upon you; thats basically what your parents are paying them to do. It sucks when you're younger, because you can't control the school your parents make you attend. I personally find almost every form of organized religion to be biased and disgusting in some way. Sadly, when you're attending a private school that your guardians agree for you to attend, they do have the right to throw whatever morals they want at you. It's their own private establishment, not like a public school. I agree with you, it shouldn't be like that, but sometimes it does happen that way. I seriously think I'd have to take shelter in a small underground hole if my mother ever even considered sending me to a Catholic school. Im so greatful shes not religious.
Kurtni, May 29th, 2007 at 08:22:10pm
well. You're In a catholic school
so you're going to be learning catholic things.
Just bullsh*t your way through the class so your parents money doesn't go to waste
southernidiot, May 29th, 2007 at 07:49:22pm
I've got no problem against religion, in and of itself. I like studying religion.
But it's when she's shoving CATHOLIC morals down our throats and telling us it is the absolute truth is when it's wrong. Because people have different religious beliefs, you know?
Funky Platypus, May 29th, 2007 at 07:44:52pm
Hell, I could teach a class where I force my morals down your throat. I understand that some of it is religiously based, but it seems like the teacher in question is trying to feed you her opinions as absolute truth.
Lor, May 29th, 2007 at 07:42:43pm