The Freedom Forum's Charles Haynes and comparative religion teacher Jim Maechling respond to your questions. A report on the fight to post the 10 Commandments in public schools. The U.S. Department of Education. In any case, reason is used to study any subject, including religion.
Religious studies informs students about what people believe and practice in the various traditions.
Such teaching involves the same academic guidelines as teaching about politics, social issues, history or any other complex topic. What religions are taught depends on the academic requirements of the curriculum. A good U.S. history course for example, must include a good bit of information about many of the Christian and Jewish groups that played a major role in our early history. Other religions may be discussed when they appear in the historical narrative. A World History course will look at the various traditions important in the civilizations under study.