:)
"A well-known, local Christian pastor is denouncing a controversial new Bible curriculum designed for public schools which he says encourages students to question whether the Bible is the inspired Word of God."
I support the right of school districts to have elective Bible classes.
But if they do, it can't be religious and so the class will of course question the bible.
That's one reason I'm not enthused about forcing non-Christians to teach bible in public schools.
The only solution is anarchism + christian self governance.
bump
It is not surprising in our current cultural environment that a textbook designed for public schools essentially ignores historical-critical problems. However, these could easily have been incorporated within the attribution approach with statements such as, "Many biblical scholars believe..." Moreover, it is not just historical criticism that is absent; synchronic methods and conclusions receive no real attention either, despite several references to the work of Robert Alter, who is also listed as a consultant. None of the actual authors or "content contributors" — Joanne McPortland, Marjorie Haney Schafer, Ph.D., Marc Stern, J.D., and Eve Tushnet — is listed in the SBL directory or appears to be a biblical scholar by profession. On one level, the absence is astonishing. The project as a whole might be likened to a high school textbook on, say, government, in which no recognition is given to the fields or methods of political science or history, and treatment of issues proceeds by attribution: "conservative Republicans say," "moderate Democrats hold, etc."
Since that time, I have looked more deeply into this project.
There used to be a running joke in response to Falwell's Moral Majority that ran "The moral majority is neither.' Well, the same could be said of the Bible Literacy Project: it is neither Biblical nor literary, and whatever it is about, it is certainly not Bible Literacy.
High school and undergrad students questioning and discussing the Bible, history and what not out of position of sheer ignorance is a very 20th century American idea of education, which has lead to many of the cultural and knowledge crises we are experiencing today. We really have a dumbed down populace.
Of course it’s a minefield. How can you teach such a controversial topic without upsetting students every day? How do you deal with the multitude of private interests who see an opportunity to indoctrinate your children? I’d like to see the curriculum. Anyone have a link?
:)
We depend upon teachers too much, instead of THE Teacher.
John 14:26 says,
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
I've learned much more by reading THE WORD, than by reading about it.
Happy Resurrection Day!
How about ending "public" education?