Posted on 09/28/2005 5:24:14 PM PDT by Libloather
Publisher says Bible textbook respects both facts and faith
NEW VOLUME IS AIMED AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
By Richard N. Ostling
Associated Press
Posted on Fri, Sep. 23, 2005
An interfaith group released a new textbook Thursday aimed at teaching public high school students about the Bible while avoiding legal and religious disputes.
The non-profit Bible Literacy Project of Fairfax, Va., spent five years and $2 million developing ``The Bible and Its Influence.'' The textbook, introduced at a Washington news conference, won initial endorsements from experts in literature, religion and church-state law.
American Jewish Congress attorney Marc Stern, an adviser on the effort, said despite concern over growing tensions among U.S. religious groups, ``this book is proof that the despair is premature, that it is possible to acknowledge and respect deep religious differences and yet still find common ground.''
Another adviser, evangelical literature scholar Leland Ryken of Wheaton College, called the textbook ``a triumph of scholarship and a major publishing event.''
The colorful $50 book and forthcoming teacher's guide, covering both Old and New Testaments, are planned for semester-long or full-year courses starting next year.
Multiple contributors
The editors are Cullen Schippe, a retired vice president at textbook publisher Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, and Chuck Stetson, a venture capitalist who chairs Bible Literacy. The 41 contributors include prominent evangelical, mainline Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish and secular experts.
Religious lobbies and federal courts have long struggled over Bible course content. To try to avoid problems, Bible Literacy's editors accommodated Jewish sensitivities about the New Testament; attributed stories about miracles to the source rather than simply calling them historical facts; and generally downplayed scholarly theories -- about authorship and dates, for example -- that offend conservatives.
Educators say biblical knowledge is valuable -- 60 percent of allusions in one English Advanced Placement prep course came from the Bible -- and that polls show teens do not know much about the Christian Scriptures. Yet few public schools offer such course work, partly because of demands for other elective classes, partly over legal worries.
The U.S. Supreme Court's 1963 decision barring schoolroom Bible recitations said that ``the Bible is worthy of study for its literary and historic qualities'' if ``presented objectively as part of a secular program of education.''
Church-state accord
The textbook follows detailed principles in a 1999 accord, ``The Bible and Public Schools,'' brokered by Bible Literacy and the First Amendment Center, a non-partisan program of the Freedom Forum devoted to constitutional liberties. That accord is endorsed by seven major educational organizations and Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups.
Stetson said, ``The important thing was not to compromise on people's beliefs. They are what they are.'' To Schippe, the key is respect for the biblical text, constitutional law, scholarship, various faith traditions and divergent interpretations.
The new textbook was tested in two high schools. Bible Literacy will offer online teacher training through Concordia University in Portland, Ore.
The First Amendment Center's Charles Haynes told the news conference that public schools constantly ask him for advice on what Bible course material to use but he has had nothing he could recommend -- ``nothing, that is, until now.''
Haynes said the only previous textbook, decades old, was inadequate because it treated the Bible only as literature, slighting its religious significance.
Bible classes? As long as I'm paying for it - I'm game.
Personally, I want to get rid of all public schools. I don't want any bible classes taught by non-christians. And a Christian education is more than a daily prayer and a bible class.
Here's another ap story:
"ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) - The Rock Hill School Board will consider using a textbook on the Bible in district schools.
Board member Jason Silverman plans to research the textbook, "The Bible and Its Influence," and prepare a report for the board next month. The Winthrop University history professor said he was intrigued by the textbook because of the Bible's legal controversy.
"Students today have grown up in a world in which the Bible is controversial and prayer is outlawed," he said Monday. "They've seen the Bible used both pro and con on whatever issue. Religion and the Bible have become so politicized they shy away from it."
Silverman said "anyone who is an educator knows knowledge of the Bible is important." He cited allusions to Bible stories and excerpts that pervade our culture and literature.
As a parent, he said, "I would like my child exposed to it in an approach that is broad and fair to everybody."
The textbook, released last week, is said to take an academic approach to Bible study without bias to any particular religion. It presents narratives, themes and characters of Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament, covering their influence on art, literature, music and culture.
It was created to fulfill the standards set by the Bible Literacy Project, a three-year study that concluded few teens are "Bible literate."
"I remember walking hallways in Ebinport Elementary to Bible class each week," said board chairman Bob Norwood. "It's hard to believe with the culture in our public schools today that ever happened."
He and two other board members supported Silverman's quest to study the textbook and pursue public comment.
The text has been reviewed by educators and scholars from Roman Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Eastern Orthodox and Jewish traditions.
On the Net: The Bible Literacy Project: http://www.bibleliteracyproject.org"
Interesting article.
Who says they would be? Today I heard a story that mentioned Muslims, in the US Army, meeting their daily prayer requirements while others watched. No harm, no foul.
Bible classes in public school? No problem.
I'll bet it don't have a discussion about the quote from John 14:6 in it.
First, I'm one of the strongest (or pig headed depending on your position) separation proponents you'll find on this forum. That said, the bible and more importantly the history surrounding it has incredible historical significance to western civilization. As long as it is taught in that context and in an objective way, it would be a valuable addition to the curriculum.
Actually I think the SCOTUS nailed it with "the Bible is worthy of study for its literary and historic qualities'' if ``presented objectively as part of a secular program of education."
I have not seen this book in person obviously so I can't sign off on this specific example, I'm just speaking generalities.
"This textbook contains material on God. God is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of the Universe. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered."
That's the way the tolerant, open-minded leftists see it - no?
I also note that creation by supernatural forces by one or more gods is the only explanation for the origin of the universe. One could suppose the universe has simply always been here, but modern astronomy now suggests it all just sprang into existence in some kind of big bang...a miraculous event, which obviously supports the one pre-existing hypothesis: divine creation.
So since it is the only explanation, why not discuss it. Maybe someone will come up with a new one.
funy nut job = fundy nut job
Wonder who "owns" God in this textbook, that always does seem to start the feuds, who gets the "authority"?
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