Texas school board adds Bible class to high schools

MLive.com ^ | April 27, 2005 | The Associated Press

[bahblahbah]

A Christian education isn't just adding school prayer, a bible class, and downplaying evolution. In all actuality we've really had a socialist education system since the beginning of this country, it's just the religious leaders then fell for the trap. We need separation of state and schools.

[WestTexasWend]

The ACLU would rather they hand out automatic weapons...

[bahblahbah]

And those trying to push religion on our public schools are extremely naive that they could actually change the system and should just leave the government school system. School vouchers are not the answer because that will lead towards a fascist education system where the system is privatized but the government still has control. The best route is to allow for tax breaks for those who provide the education for themselves or donate to charities which then give money to needy students who can't afford the private education.

[Zeroisanumber]

A comparative religions course that examines the major tenents and history of "The Big Five" Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism might pass legal muster. This course will not.

[CatoRenasci]

Perhaps so. Regardless of how one views the Bible, it seems to me that anyone trying to understand the history of western civilization, western art or english literature absolutely has to be more than passingly familiar with much of the Bible. Regardless of the translations used in church/hebrew school, students need to read the Authorized Version (King James) in the same way that they read Shakespeare, with annotation to explain the words whose meanings have changed and inscrutable obsolete spellings.

[GarySpFc]

My wife was a child psychologist in Russia. At the direction of President Putin she helped develop a Bible curriculum for Russian elementary schools, which Putin signed into law. My wife was stunned when she came to America and discovered the Bible could not be used in public schools. I explained to her the ACLU is not in Russia yet.

[GarySpFc]

I should add Putin also had others develop Bible programs for the trade schools and military.

[boofus]

I explained to her the ACLU is not in Russia yet.

I thought they were?? They were called Bolsheviks. I'm guessing because of the disastrous results of a century of communism has softened Putin's stance on religion.

[Zeroisanumber]

Even as an Atheist strongly against mixing church and state, I would support the idea of reading the Bible and studying Christianity's important contributions to Western culture. However, no one can manage to just do that, there's always some busybody culture warrior (either from the left or the right) that perverts the original intent of the class to their own ends. Add that to the arguments that would break out between kids from different religions (not to mention different Christian denominations) and meddling by the parents.

*ugh* Better just to kick it further up the line and make it a college elective and spend more time on the three "R's".

[mlc9852]

It's an elective - what is the problem?

[mlc9852]

And why not? If my child can study communism or basket-weaving, why can't he study the Bible?

[<1/1,000,000th%]

This is great. I can't wait to see how this plays out.

[mlc9852]

And sometimes they even ask Bible questions on Jeopardy!

[Zeroisanumber]

Communism and basket weaving weren't taught at my high school. Well... We were taught a little about the Soviet Union, but by then the Soviet Union had gone the way of the Dodo. We knew that there was such a thing as basket weaving, but mostly what we were taught was reading, writing, science, and math.

[wideawake]

This is a very bad idea.

Once the government starts teaching religion in the schools we will have:

(1) Classes denigrating the accuracy and historical meaning of the Bible in which liberal teachers use "higher criticism" to destroy the faith of their pupils and

(2) A door is open for instruction in Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, witchcraft, etc.

Children should be taught the Bible in their homes and in their churches by people who teach true doctrine - not by government hirelings.

[mlc9852]

You all didn't have electives?

[GarySpFc]

I thought they were?? They were called Bolsheviks. I'm guessing because of the disastrous results of a century of communism has softened Putin's stance on religion.

I know many of you are going to be shocked to hear this, but Putin is a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, and attends faithfully.

[joesbucks]

Wow! What a novel idea. Great revelation. Except my kid had this as an elective in the 90's. The Bible as Literature.

Problem is now the hard right Christians will want a course in The Salvation through the Bible.

[joesbucks]

Oh crap, that's not correct. My kid had this as an elective in the 90's. The Bible as Literature.
Class is still being taught today.