Religious School Curricula
Religious schools are institutions that teach students about religion through courses such as Bible study, prayer, and worship. The type of religious education received may vary depending on which denomination is attended.
Christian schools may focus more on reading Scripture while Jewish schools may emphasize Torah studies. Catholic schools typically incorporate both. Regardless of the specific curriculum, however, there is one aspect common to all: how it influences adolescent sexual identity, exploration, and relational competence.
Adolescents
Adolescence is a time of physical and emotional development when individuals begin to explore their sexuality. During this period, they often experiment with new feelings and behaviors related to intimate relationships, including romantic partnerships, sex, and even premarital cohabitation. This can be an exciting yet challenging experience because many teenagers lack the skills and knowledge necessary for healthy communication and decision making within those interactions. Consequently, they may struggle with self-confidence or even suffer from trauma.
Sexual Identity
Sexual identity refers to how people view themselves in terms of gender roles and attractions toward other genders. Some research suggests that religious schooling impacts this perspective by restricting certain activities or messages.
Some conservative Christian schools condemn same-sex attraction as sinful behavior, causing LGBTQ+ youth to feel ashamed or alone in their beliefs.
Girls who attend such institutions may internalize traditional gender norms such as submissiveness and obedience towards men, leading them to question their own feminism.
Exploration
Adolescence is also a time of exploring oneself through trial-and-error learning opportunities like dating, kissing, touching, etc.
If religious education discourages these actions entirely, then teens might not learn valuable lessons about consent, boundaries, and respect until later in life - perhaps when it's too late. Without guidance on safe practices or relationship dynamics, young adults could engage in high-risk behavior like unprotected sex or abuse instead.
Relational Competence
Relational competence involves understanding emotions, needs, goals, motivations, expectations, and behaviors regarding relationships. Religious school curricula often focus on personal responsibility towards others but may not provide enough context for forming meaningful connections outside the family unit. This can cause teenagers to develop unrealistic expectations or be unaware of healthy communication skills, resulting in breakups, conflicts, or even abusive partnerships.
Religious schools have an immense impact on adolescent sexual identity, exploration, and relational competence by shaping how they view themselves and interact with others. While some teachings encourage positive values like modesty, purity, and selflessness, there are drawbacks that can lead to poor self-esteem, dangerous choices, and damaging interactions. Therefore, parents should consider discussing these topics openly at home while supporting children's individual beliefs and developmental needs simultaneously.
How do religious school curricula influence adolescent sexual identity, exploration, and relational competence?
Religious schools often promote abstinence-only education regarding sex, which has been proven to be an effective approach for teenagers who are not ready to engage in intercourse, but it is more challenging when applied in cases of premarital relationships. Religious schools that teach about abstinence until marriage may also emphasize traditional gender roles that could have long-term impact on their students' self-esteem and feelings of attractiveness.