Title: Ted Talk - Dan Dennett
Course: REL 201 RTZ > Section: Week 1 - Introductions, Introductions to the Course and Introductions to Religion

Check out Philosopher Dan Dennett's Ted Talk on the need for talking about religion in schools.  Here are some questions to keep in mind as you watch Dennett's talk.

1.  Why does Dennett say that religions have evolved while your instructor says - "No!  Religions have not evolved.  I want to never, ever, say that religions evolved and give each religion its own credence and respect."  How does Dennett's talk related to your instructors statement?

2.  Arizona legislatures and government are hyper focused on ensuring that only Christianity can be taught and respected in the classroom.  There have been a multitude of bills that have been sent for voting by politicians to eliminate teaching basic religious history and allowing non-Christian cultures to be organized and taught in schools.  This is not just primary and secondary schools.  Arizona government has proposed many bills that have attacked the teaching of religious studies in colleges and universities in Arizona.  It has been a long and hard fight to keep anything non-Christian and non-Westernized in the classroom and with student organizations. This is not a fight that will end by any measures in the near future.  Dennett's speech is about the needs of talking about religion in schools.

a.  Why should we talk about religion in school?

b.  What argument's can we use from Dennett's speech to say to the Arizona legislatures about the importance of all religions and cultures being talked about in schools?

c.  Do you think that all religions should be discussed in schools?  Why or why not?

Post your thoughts and ideas in the discussion board labeled Dan Dennett's Ted Talk Discussion Forum.

To get the discussion: [Detail your college LMS discussion posting procedures and location(s)]

1. Click the title Discussions on the left-side navigation pane

2. Click the discussion question - Dan Dennett's Ted Talk Discussion Forum

3. Post your thoughts to the above questions for 5 extra credit points.