over on is that legal? eric has begun an interesting discussion re: the promotion of religious materials in public schools. in replying to it (and unclearly questioning incorporation as it applies to religion), i started to think about my own experiences with religion and schooling.

for two years, i attended a missionary-run private school in honduras (ahh, the wonders of the internet. and they still have those nasty green gingham shirts!). the quality of instruction at the american school in teguc was… deficient at the time, and my ‘rents didn’t want to impede the education of their kids more than necessary.

so, for two years, i was subjected to mandatory wednesday chapel, pressure to testify, and intense questioning of my religious beliefs. the wankers. anyhoo, fast forward twenty years, and i voluntarily enrolled in a jesuit institution of higher learning (if you can call law school that).

the differences between the evangelical approach to religion and education and the jesuit approach (as experienced by me) is stunning. i’m taking a course on philosophy and the law, with an amazing priest who completely excises his own religious convictions from the philosophical discussions. he will discuss his own beliefs — if pressed — outside of class, but insists we learn philosophy by placing ourselves as much as possible within the context of the particular philosopher. critical analysis comes after learning the whys of the particular philosophical theories. in all, it’s pretty heady stuff.

my basic comparison chart of the two experiences:

heh. no, i’m not biased. or even a smidgin still angry at attending ALP.