© 2024, Kevin M. Jones, licensed under CC BY-NC-N Book Review Horwitz, Ilana M. God, Grades, and Graduation: Religion’s Surprising Impact on Academic Success. Oxford University Press, 2022. by Dr. Kevin M. Jones Why do some students excel in school and others fail? There has been much research and writing on school culture, school leadership, gender, socioeconomic status, school choice, ethnicity, suburban schools compared to urban schools, and even the impact athletics has on success in schools. However, In God, Grades, and Graduation, Ilana Horwitz’s research explores the impact religion has on student success. So, does religion help? Religion itself has been a hotly debated issue as related to schools, from local issues up to Supreme Court cases. To name a couple, in the 1940 Minersville School District v. Gobitis case, the court looked at a Pennsylvania law requiring students in school to salute the United States flag. Some believed saluting, or reciting the pledge of allegiance, violated one's conscience because salutation and allegiance are required for a god. In 1980 Stone v. Graham, the Supreme Court explored whether or not the 10 Commandments posted in every school in Kentucky violated religious liberties. These two examples only scratch the surface of issues explored and debated. What’s the big deal with religion? Most religions lead to a deity or god. The god of most religions requires some form of adherence to rules and law. Religion reminds those associated of right and wrong, good and evil, humility and hard work. Of this idea C.S. Lewis said, “Now this Law or Rule about Right and Wrong used to be called the Law of Nature. Nowadays, when we talk of the ‘laws of nature’ we usually mean things like gravitation, or heredity, or the laws of chemistry. But when the older thinkers called the Law of Right and Wrong ‘the Law of Nature,’ they really meant the Law of Human Nature.”1 Human nature is predictable, but elusive. In short, C.S. Lewis and Horwitz remind us that religion matters. Religion reminds people of the Law of Nature. For those who believe in the works of Jesus Christ and accept Him as Lord, Savior, and King, I remind us of what Paul states in Romans 1:19: “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” God has shown us Himself, and our conscience will either excuse or accuse us as relates to the things of God. So, yes, religion can cause one to adhere to certain behavior and standards which, in return, can garner rewards and stability on earth. Horwitz states, “My work centers on the broad flavor of Christianity because it is the most prevalent religion in America, with 65% of Americans identifying as Christians, including Evangelical Protestants, Mainline Protestants, Black Protestants, Catholics, and members of the Church of Latter-Day 1 C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (HarperCollins, 2001), 4.
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