Democrats propose Bible course for public schools

[Shaphel]

I couldn't agree more with you kat8585, the only thing I would add to that, is they are trying to make themselves look good by doing this. Their motive is that they think and probably know that "John Q Public" is going to fight this and get it turned down. Their thinking that there is know way all the atheists out there are going to let this fly, so they can be the "good guys" trying to help the Christian man, but sorry the public won't let it happen. They're counting on this. I wish I could say their gonna get proved wrong, but the way this country has been the last few years, I don't see it. Schools will never foster a "bible study", or biblical class of any type. People are going to be forced to go underground to read the Word before long. Sad isn't it? Our rights are getting pulled from us daily. All we can do is continue to pray and be stern in where we stand. Because we all know that in the end........We Win. God's people will finally win, and it's going to be so sad that of all the millions of people here on earth now, not even a quarter of us will be there to celebrate with the Son.

[Guest]

God controls the hearts of kings!

Think maybe God is putting His Word back into the public schools?

Must be some prayer warriors out there praying for American kids!

[Guest]

First off, it should not come as a surprise politically, that democrats would propose this. They have gotten an anti-God reputation and it has hurt them. They way outnumber republicans, yet republicans can give them a run for their money. The so-called religious right, is fairly effective at getting out the vote. Dems just want to get some of that. That is as a party. However, there are lots of Democrats who are personally very dedicated to Christ, and that is not a bad thing. It is surprising though, that they have this allegiance to the party, when most of the values they hold dearest, are in the other party.

Remember also, this is in the bible belt. Democrats there are more conservative and religious than most Republicans are where I live (in California). In spite of the shocked look on many of your faces that a democrat would suggest having a class on the Bible, it is not an unheard of thing. Here in liberal California, I became a Christian, largely because at my secular high school, they taught a class on creation, it was one quarter of my American Government and Society class. I am not in a conservative district either, by the way. I have a fiend, who is a high school teacher in another liberal beach town here. He taught a class called the Bible as Literature. It proved to be popular. Now he teaches another called the Bible as History.

All this takes, is a few good people with commitment, offering their services to the school district, and getting a bunch of parents together, who tell the board they think it would be a good thing (with the implication that they might just lose the board seats, if they do not give the students, what their parents want.

When Christians let beaurocrats and the ACLU etc, run the show, they get what they deserve. When they stand up and be counted, having the boldness that is the evidence of the filling of the Spirit, then He who has overcome the world, does.

[Emily~Anne]

Just found this thread and have not real all the replies yet, but I just want to say I would not trust the public schools to teach my children a bible course. What if they misinterpret God's word? What if the person teaching is not led by the Holy Spirit?

[Guest]

Amen!

[senerhu]

Democrats propose Bible course for public schools

Two Democratic leaders of Alabama's House of Representatives introduced legislation that would authorize local boards of education to offer a course in Bible literacy as an elective in grades 10-12.

The bill, expected to pass both legislative chambers without opposition, would make Alabama the first state to offer a Bible curriculum in a public education setting.

The legislation, introduced by Speaker Seth Hammett and Majority Leader Ken Guin, refers to use of a course called "The Bible and Its Influence," with an accompanying textbook authored by Cullen Schippe and Chuck Stetson and published by the Bible Literacy Project.

The text does not approach the Bible as a devotional study but as an academic exercise, examining its influence on Western civilization, including literature, art, history and public policy.

The textbook, released earlier this year, has been praised by educators, as well as Christian and Jewish leaders, for its depth of research, accuracy and fairness.

Contributing author Marc Stern, general counsel for the American Jewish Congress, said the text "will serve as an excellent and even-handed introduction to the Bible."

Leland Ryken, professor of English at Wheaton College in Illinois, Billy Graham's alma mater, called the textbook "an undisputed triumph in scholarship and presentation. I learned something new on virtually every page."

Majority Leader Guin, the author of the bill, said it's imperative that children be "imparted with the scholastic knowledge of the Bible that is being lost between our generations." He pointed out that 98 percent of high school English teachers believe Bible literacy gives students a distinct educational advantage, and more than 60 percent of the allusions on the Advanced Placement English Literature exam have a biblical basis, but only 8 percent of American students in public schools report that their school offered an elective course on the Bible.

its about time...thanks for posting this and lets hope its a trend that continues...

[__coffee]

That's a great idea! Whether or not you are a Christian, Christianity has shaped portions of history, politics, worldviews, law, etc. Knowing more about the Bible and studying it even for non-religious reasons is pretty smart. Considering it's an elective, not mandatory, course and that the proposed course would deal with the Bible not for religious conversion but for factual information, I can't see how anybody could object.

[Guest stevej]

i laughed so hard at this post. Was wondering if it did not belong in the Weird and Wacky News section..because it qualifies as both weird and wacky!

[kat8585]

First off, it should not come as a surprise politically, that democrats would propose this. They have gotten an anti-God reputation and it has hurt them. They way outnumber republicans, yet republicans can give them a run for their money. The so-called religious right, is fairly effective at getting out the vote. Dems just want to get some of that. That is as a party. However, there are lots of Democrats who are personally very dedicated to Christ, and that is not a bad thing. It is surprising though, that they have this allegiance to the party, when most of the values they hold dearest, are in the other party.

Remember also, this is in the bible belt. Democrats there are more conservative and religious than most Republicans are where I live (in California). In spite of the shocked look on many of your faces that a democrat would suggest having a class on the Bible, it is not an unheard of thing. Here in liberal California, I became a Christian, largely because at my secular high school, they taught a class on creation, it was one quarter of my American Government and Society class. I am not in a conservative district either, by the way. I have a fiend, who is a high school teacher in another liberal beach town here. He taught a class called the Bible as Literature. It proved to be popular. Now he teaches another called the Bible as History.

All this takes, is a few good people with commitment, offering their services to the school district, and getting a bunch of parents together, who tell the board they think it would be a good thing (with the implication that they might just lose the board seats, if they do not give the students, what their parents want.

When Christians let beaurocrats and the ACLU etc, run the show, they get what they deserve. When they stand up and be counted, having the boldness that is the evidence of the filling of the Spirit, then He who has overcome the world, does.

Right on.

But I live in Texas, and we have some of the most far out leftists here imaginable. Some are gone, but we still have a lot. Thank God our 2 senators aren't.

[forrestkc]

It could not be anything more than a history / philosophy course, or it would be blatantly unconsitutional. It is kind of a dangerous route really. The only way for it to be constitutional would be if it were simply something like a comparative religions class. The problem you have there is having a comparative religions class in a classroom like setting, and not use that public institution to promote, endorse, or compel adherence to a religious belief.

I would be very surprised if this were not challenged in the courts, if it were, even the most conservative judge would probably strike it down. However, that would be contingent on how the course was taught and the language in the bill.

State legislators have a tendency to pass bills that they know are unconstitutional and will be struck down in the courts, simply to play politics and appease their constituency.