ANSWERING THE SKEPTICS
You may encounter opposition at some point in your quest to start a Release Time Program. Opposition may come from school faculty, school board members, parents or even ‘Christians’ in the church. This page is dedicated to giving you ammunition to answer questions and remove doubts.
The Skeptic:
By allowing "Release Time" in our schools, we open the door for cults or religious groups we don’t agree with to come in and do the same thing… after all this is a free country!
The Answer:
We cannot halt our efforts in reaching our youth just because we fear this. Do you know of any schools in the United States of America where there are ‘cult’ release time programs? Do you know of any ‘denominational’ programs where parents of different denominations (reluctantly or against their will) send their children?
To be realistic about this we would have to agree that most parents would not choose to send their child to a program that had ‘cult’ teachings…..it is also very unlikely that they would sign up their child for a program that taught a denominational doctrine other than their own (unless however it was based on a nondenominational format). It is important to remember here that in order for a school to consider a release time program they would need to know that it has been collectively sought after by parents. Ultimately it is the parent who has control of what ‘religious’ education their child receives. That right cannot be taken away from them by anyone, much less the public school. It is true that any denomination can start their own release time program. Baptists can have a Baptist program with Baptist doctrine taught, Catholics, Methodists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians & Jewish etc. can all do the same thing. Parents of students with the same religious background and affiliation can send their child to the program that reflects their beliefs...that will be their choice. However, we suggest a nondenominational format in order for a program to be successful (
see "Guidelines and Helpful Hints for a Release Time Program" for details). Currently, the majority of release time programs in the United States are "Christian" and most are run on a nondenominational format.FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
If Christians do not get busy and pilot these programs in the schools and set proper guidelines, then the door is open for others to try. With a program already in place, this will be even less likely to happen!
The Skeptic:
Children who attend these Release Time classes will become targets for harm and acts of violence.
The Answer:
Christians have been persecuted and martyred for their beliefs throughout time! True, persecution and martyrdom has continued throughout the world and will continue until the end of ‘time’. Yes there have been countless school shootings and other acts of violence that have singled out Christians… however, other students have been targeted as well, such as athletes, popular students and minorities. Even X-girlfriends and bullies have been singled out as targets. No one with any sanity at all would want a child to be the target of violence for any reason! Christian students are already known among their peers for their beliefs…attending a class for those beliefs will not change that. Is the answer to NOT pass down knowledge of God to the children simply because we fear violence? What would the first followers of Jesus say to that one? Think about it!
The Skeptic:
Release Time Programs have hidden agendas.
The Answer:
First of all the word ‘agenda’ means "Things to be done." I do not know of any Business, Church, School, or even one’s personal life that does not have a list of things to be done! However ‘hidden’ agenda is quite different. Most release time programs we have seen and are affiliated with have no ‘hidden’ agenda. They have made their statements of faith and their intent for the program quite clear.
Food for thought:
One way you can tell if a program has a ‘hidden’ agenda is to ask for a clear statement of intent in writing… if they refuse to do that, then they may have a ‘hidden’ agenda. Again, most release time programs in operation today have publicized their intent and are very clear about it.
The Skeptic:
Additional ‘religious’ education is good, but it has no place in the school day. The approved state curriculum is more important.
The Answer:
Believe it or not, this statement came from CHRISTIANS!
We are commanded by God to pass down knowledge of Him and His Commandments to our children and our children’s children (Deuteronomy 4:9). If we are not diligent in this we will become a nation who has forgotten God and sin against Him. (
See "Gone Fish’n" for more details)A great deal of children who attend public school have no religious background. They have no knowledge of God and His Commandments. Are we going to forget about them just because the ‘approved state curriculum’ is more important? Reading, Writing and Arithmetic are all very important and vital in training our children for adulthood. However, consider this scripture… 2nd Timothy says…"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." In order to be thoroughly equipped (the Bible says) is to teach God’s Word…learn God’s Word…and live by God’s Word!
Many children would not have learned of God or His Word and Commandments if not for the Release Time Program they attended!Every school with a Release Time program in existence today has found time during the school day in which they can provide ONE HOUR PER WEEK to release the children. Some teachers use this time as their ‘CLASS PLANNING PERIOD.’ Teachers need time to plan their lessons, grade papers, run off copies of tests and homework sheets, set up class projects as well as just getting that much needed break to sit and rest…regroup their thoughts. Teachers have told us that they LOOK FORWARD TO THIS TIME EACH WEEK! If done properly a release time program can be a WIN/WIN situation for all involved. Before and after school bible study programs and prayer meetings are wonderful and should be promoted and supported by the Christian community. However consider this thought… "Before" school programs are too early for some and students will not attend for just that one reason. Also, unless the group conducting the program provides transportation, students who are under the driving age, or do not have an accessible vehicle will not attend simply because they have no way of getting there other than the public school bus. The same holds true for after school programs as well, except in reverse…If the student has parents who work, they will need a ride home after the program. Unless the group conducting the after school program provides transportation, students will not attend.
Food for thought:
Therefore, you can reach a greater range of students DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. Students are already collectively there at the school… during the school day is the best time to reach them.
The Skeptic:
Release Time Programs are Unconstitutional and Illegal.
The Answer:
This is a very common often quoted statement. This statement is understandable because it stems from the often MISS-quoted phrase "Separation of Church and State." Look up the U.S Constitution, try to find this quote in there…I’ll save you the trouble…IT’S NOT THERE! So many people for so long have quoted this that they believe it to be true. Years ago, a Judge told the Lawyers in his court room that "If you do not stop quoting this phrase people are going to start believing it is in the Constitution." Well, I can tell you that over time that is exactly what has happened.
The 1952 court case (Zorach v Clauson) set presidents that established legal guidelines for Release Time (religious education) programs. Release Time programs have been successfully operating and functioning by these guidelines ever since!
Go to "Religious Expression in Public Schools / Legal Info" for more details. Also, see our "Links" page to hook up with the web site for "WallBuilders". They are a great well of information on this very subject.
The Skeptic:
Students will be penalized for missing (public school) class time. They will miss out on valuable lesson time and fall behind in their studies.
The Answer:
As stated above, there are guidelines set in place that all parties must follow in order to have a successful (legal) program. One of those ‘guidelines’ is that ALL CLASSROOM ACTIVITIE MUST COME TO A HALT DURING THE RELEASE TIME HOUR. By allowing classroom activity (lessons) to continue would be showing unfair bias against students attending release time. Those students who stay in school during the program are usually given that time to get homework done, study for a test etc.
It works both ways… students who attend or do not attend the program should not be penalized by either side (school or church).
If however you have trouble getting your school to cooperate in this particular area, you may consider offering tutoring (free of charge) to those students who are struggling in certain areas. As we have stated in other parts of this web site, the High School may be one place where this could be a problem. They are less likely to ‘halt’ classroom activity. But, it can be done. To the same extent they halt classroom activity for ‘movies’ (some schools show movies once a month to students as a reward for good behavior) and ‘pep assemblies’ they can halt classroom activity for release time!
Release Time programs are FOR the children and their education, NOT against them. If a release time program is properly run and operated it will promote respect for authority figures (parents, principal, teachers and bosses); it will also promote better behavior towards fellow students. We want to work WITH the school and offer our help and support. Many who work within the release time program have children of their own in public school. They want what is best for their child as well. They know that proper bible teaching along with reading, writing and arithmetic are part of that.
The Skeptic:
Those parents wanting ‘religious’ education for their children already attend church, why would they want release time in addition to that?
The Answer:
Believe it or not, a Christian parent did once tell us that, at first they thought their child had enough church, they didn’t need anymore. But, once they saw how much fun the children had and how much this added option was improving the students’ all around knowledge of the bible, they changed their mind and signed their child up.
Most Christians will send their child to a release time program not only to further their child’s bible study education, but also to set an example for others. The bible teaches us to be a LIGHT wherever we go…. that includes the public school. Most Christian parents recognize that. (if Christians do NOT set the example and go to a release time program……how can we honestly expect the un-churched to care?!)
A great deal of the children who attend public school are un-churched. Slightly more than half to be exact. Those are the children who need this program the most.
Some Christian parents are forced to work during regular worship times and can’t get to church some of the time….they are grateful for this added option for their child called release time.
Quite honestly, what Christian wouldn’t want continued bible education? We never stop growing in our knowledge of God. If you discontinue bible study and think that you already know it all…something is drastically wrong. To grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord is a continuing process (2nd Peter 3:17-18) not something you do for a while and then quit.
The Skeptic:
I am for this added religious education, but don’t think it should be publicly promoted because that will call too much attention to it and cause opposition to come in and shut it down.
The Answer:
OH BOY! If every ‘Christian’ put their light under a bushel we would be living in complete darkness! The answer to this question is certainly NOT to keep it quiet! That is exactly what the enemy wants. He has had control of our schools LEGALLY since 1962; do you think he would want to give that up quietly? We cannot allow this fear to stop us from reaching other children for the Glory of God. Publicity not only creates awareness about the program and gets the information out to others who never knew it existed, but it also aids in local community awareness to create support and funding for the program. There are many out there who, if not for public recognition of other release time programs, would have otherwise never known about it and ultimately never reached the children that they have in their own program right now!
Is the answer to this dilemma to withhold this blessing from all those precious children in public schools where there is no release time program in existence? I would hope not! That would go against what the bible teaches us to do….. "go…into all the world…" that includes the public school!