LETTER: Understanding world religions helps us to understand the world
Published 7:30 am Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Editor,
In Europe where I went to school religion was taught from Grade 1 to high school. We learned about Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism in a fairly factual way. And I don’t remember any complaint of sectarianism or animosity, although it made it clear that you can not lump together divergent religious traditions into one concept of “religion.”
In a general way, it has helped me to understand and appreciate the great works in art and literature and the major movements in recorded history.
I feel that understanding the origin, scope and expressions of major world religions is essential to understand forces shaping our present world, and should be part of the general education of all our citizens.
Volker Norbert Klaue