The roads to hell...

The full saying goes: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

In modern democracies, the legislator assumes that people, and especially institutions, are overly well-intentioned. This is also the case in our country. There are laws and regulations that suggest those who enacted them were either extremely malicious or extremely naive. There is a Council of State decision that reflects an incredibly naive approach toward Turkey: 'The reason for conducting religious and moral education and instruction under the supervision and control of the state, as stated in the justification of the article, is to prevent the abuse of the freedom of education and instruction in this field. Religious culture and moral knowledge courses have been included among the compulsory courses taught in primary and secondary education institutions with the aim of providing impartial and introductory information about religions and instilling moral values.'

THE LAMB ENTRUSTED TO THE WOLF

The legislator and our judges operate under the naive assumption that the state has a goal of 'providing impartial and introductory information about religions and instilling moral values.' However, not just the current government, but numerous governments have been imposing a religious education that is clearly and blatantly biased and completely indifferent to moral values. To use an idiom, 'the lamb has been entrusted to the wolf.' 

COMPULSORY RELIGIOUS PROPAGANDA AND DECLARATION OF OPINION

As if that were not enough, the table has also been set for the wolf. Consider this: In a decision by the Presidency of the Higher Board of Education and Instruction, it was decided that students who are citizens of the Republic of Turkey and belong to the Christian or Jewish faiths, excluding those in minority schools, are not required to attend the Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge course, provided they document their membership in one of these religions; however, if they wish to attend this course, they must provide a written petition from their parents.

It is understood from this that in order to escape compulsory religious propaganda, people must belong to specific religions and, furthermore, must declare them. Yet, this situation is clearly contrary to Article 25 of the Constitution: 'Everyone has the freedom of thought and opinion. No one shall be compelled to disclose their thoughts and opinions for any reason or purpose; nor shall they be condemned or accused because of their thoughts and opinions.' A person's religious belief is also included in their thoughts and opinions. Therefore, no one can be forced to make a declaration on this matter. The de facto situation, however, is the opposite.

THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION AVOIDING QUESTIONS

The Ministry of National Education (MEB) has graciously prepared a question and 'answer' booklet. They have decreed the following:

'QUESTION 57: What will happen to the children of parents who do not want to take courses in the field of Religion, Morals, and Values?'

'ANSWER 57: Elective courses in the field of Religion, Morals, and Values can be selected based on the preferences of students and parents. Those who do not choose to take courses from this field can select courses from other elective fields. No student can be forced to choose a course from a field they do not want.'

If you notice, they have only addressed elective courses. Is there such a question as: What will happen to the children of parents who do not want to take the religious propaganda course titled Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge? This question is missing. Because this course is mandatory. What kind of public interest is there in this? Which principle of the Constitution is it compatible with? In essence, the religious culture and moral knowledge course, in the form of mandatory religious propaganda, is clearly unconstitutional. But who are we telling? Who will audit it? What happens if it is unconstitutional?

WE HAVE RUINED THIS WORLD, LET US SAVE THE AFTERLIFE

In the new MEB curriculum, the History of the Republic of Turkey and Atatürkism course is not mandatory in primary school. However,  our children in the fourth grade of primary school will be exposed to 2 hours of mandatory religious propaganda every week. Foreign language is also 2 hours. Visual arts and music are 1 hour each. In the same grade, Science and Social Studies are only 3 hours. Although it is not clear how proper the content of these courses is. But when spending public resources, they cannot avoid prioritizing mandatory religious propaganda over science.

In middle school, the mandatory religious propaganda course is 2 hours every week in every grade. In contrast, social studies is 3 hours. Mashallah, our children will be very moral. We have ruined the world, perhaps we will save the afterlife. If we add the elective courses, maybe we will be successful in the afterlife.

Although the mandatory religious propaganda course is titled 'Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge,' it is evident that it is a course based on a specific interpretation of Islam. Therefore, even if we were to attempt to name the course objectively, the most accurate title would be: 'Some Information About Sunni Islam.' This is because, under the heading 'Good Morals' in the Ministry of National Education's textbook for this course, instead of discussing morality, the text answers questions about what morality is in the eyes of the Quran. Consequently, there is no actual moral knowledge. Instead, a series of aphorisms regarding morality are used to praise a specific interpretation of ethics.

So, what are we going to do in light of these problems? Nothing. Let us soften our stance. Let us chase votes. Those who have the means will now send their children to study abroad, while others will pray that their children are not subjected to this and that their lives are not darkened. May those prayers be accepted.