Thirty years ago, 90 percent of American adults identified as Christians. Now though, only 63 percent of the population are Christian.
Christianity is still the most prevalent religion in the states, it’s simply that times have changed. The population has grown from 250 million thirty years ago to 336 million today.
Once you consider the growth in population and diversity in religion the picture becomes clearer. The actual amount of Christians hasn’t changed that much, it’s just that the population became bigger and more diverse.
One of the reasons that Christianity is so prevalent in the US is that it creates close links within the community, the church, and families, and this can spread to education also.
What is a Christian school?
Faith schools are simply places of education that follow the same subjects you would expect from any school, but with a religious grounding.
A Christian school then would teach math, geography, music, physical education, and social studies, as you might expect. However, the school would emphasize faith and hope to provide some focus on Christianity.
Faith schools might have a very strong ethos of religion, or they may simply be paying homage to history and its founders, and these schools are very often privately maintained and funded.
Visiting generationschristianacademy.org/ shows that particular school believes that the spiritual aspect of life is intrinsically linked with learning and life skills.
What can Christian schools offer students and parents?
Some Christian schools will only offer some loose links to their religions, but most will provide education that is joined with prayer and faith. One aspect of Christian schools is that they attempt to teach students to make positive changes in the world and build genuine friendships and provide strong examples of faith to follow.
The National Center for Education Statistics shows a list of private schools that have a special emphasis or are based around religion including Christianity and Judaism, and it is clear that millions of students have followed their education through faith schools.
Do you have to be a Christian to attend faith schools?
As previously mentioned, some schools are deeply founded in their religion, while others are Christian based through history. But, both types of Christian schools will often be open to accepting students of other faiths.
Generally, priority will be given to those who follow Christianity and worship Christ, but if there is a shortage of applicants then these schools will normally open their doors to other students.
The difference between covenant and non-covenant schooling
There are covenant schools and non-covenant academies, and their application criteria differ.
A covenant school will have faith-based criteria and would require parents and students to be Christians. The application criteria will include a demonstration of church attendance and baptism.
However, a non-covenant school would be less strict; it could be that a student has a stronger belief in Christianity than their parents or no beliefs at all. These children could still attend a non-covenant school, and parents can support educational success regardless of their faith.
What will be expected at any Christian school though is that the student would be expected to follow a curriculum that is based on Godly beliefs and religious faith. This is so that the student carries on with their education following the same Christian values and fellowships as the other students and teachers of the school.
Is science taught in faith schools?
You might expect Christian schools to slide over the subject of science, but the subjects that are set in faith schools will largely be the same as in any non-faith college or school.
The sciences will generally be taught in religious schools, and the subject can be taught while instilling Christian beliefs and with relation to faith.
The main benefits of attending a faith school
Attending a Christian school means the student learns about genuine friendship and fellowship. They will be taught examples of what it means to have faith and to live life positively.
For a family that has Christian values and lives their lives accordingly, being able to send children to a religious school means more exposure to these beliefs, and there is an emphasis on moral codes and stability.
Many children today cope with stress at college, but Christian schools aim to bring students together and build a faith-based support system where there is unity.
Summary
Christian schools may be heavily faith-based or simply honoring their heritage, but all religious schools will implement elements of religion within their teaching.
As a Christian parent, it can be welcome to know that the values that you hold dear at home will be carried on in your child’s place of education, and worship and unity will be practiced and taught to the benefit of all students.
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