Up until this school year, high school classes where the Bible is the focus of study have only been available in some Texas public schools.
With these types of results….
Mark Chancey, associate professor in religious studies at Southern Methodist University, has studied Bible classes already offered in about 25 districts for the Texas Freedom Network.
"Some classes promote creation science. Some classes denigrate Judaism. Some classes explicitly encourage students to convert to Christianity or to adopt Christian devotional practices," Chancey said.
This school year Texas is implementing, as Bill Maher would say, 'new rules'. The Bible will be an accredited class this year in virtually all Texas public schools.
If, for a particular semester, fewer than 15 students at
a school district campus register to enroll in a course required by
this section, the district is not required to offer the course at
that campus for that semester.
Each school district that offers kindergarten through
grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum:
(1) a foundation curriculum that includes:
(A) English language arts;
(B) mathematics;
(C) science; and
(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United
States, and world history, government, and geography; and
(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes:
(A) to the extent possible, languages other than
English;
(B) health, with emphasis on the importance of
proper nutrition and exercise;
(C) physical education;
(D) fine arts;
(E) economics, with emphasis on the free
enterprise system and its benefits;
(F) career and technology education; [and]
(G) technology applications; and
(H) religious literature, including the Hebrew
Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on
history and literature.
Texas public schools theocratized…Also here….
The Wall Street Journal… goes into the details about what Texas theocons have in mind with the Bible as a subject for public school study. It seems that recommendations for implementation of Texas' new theocon law is in the hands of three reviewers….
Three reviewers, appointed by social conservatives, have recommended revamping the K-12 curriculum to emphasize the roles of the Bible, the Christian faith and the civic virtue of religion in the study of American history. Two of them want to remove or de-emphasize references to several historical figures who have become liberal icons, such as César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall.
……The conservative reviewers say they believe that children must learn that America's founding principles are biblical. For instance, they say the separation of powers set forth in the Constitution stems from a scriptural understanding of man's fall and inherent sinfulness, or "radical depravity," which means he can be governed only by an intricate system of checks and balances.
The curriculum, they say, should clearly present Christianity as an overall force for good — and a key reason for American exceptionalism, the notion that the country stands above and apart.
"America is a special place and we need to be sure we communicate that to our children," said Don McLeroy, a leading conservative on the board. "The foundational principles of our country are very biblical…. That needs to come out in the textbooks."
ABC explains here that this has to do with Christianizing all U.S. public school textbooks.
Some in the Village think mandatory Bible classes in high school is a super idea….
Newsweek's David Waters…As a source of divine inspiration, prophetic imagination and poetic wisdom, the Bible is unsurpassed.
Willis Elliott, a dean of American Protestantism, wrote, "The Bible is the scriptural foundation of the American mind, including the mind of the American military . . . The American way establishes no religion and privileges biblical religion."
Newseek editor John Meacham….You cannot understand America or its institutions without understanding the Bible and its influence. But that is a different thing from saying that the country's public institutions elevate one vision of religious faith over another.
Naturally, The Reverend is not in favor of accreditizing Bible classes in public high schools. The First Amendment is crystal clear about government being prohibited from establishing religion…..and the Bible is ONLY a religious book.
This comment from the KLTV link captures the essence of this Texas theocon nonsense….and my sentiments on the matter….
Guest: This is truly an amazing story. Requiring The Judeo-Christian Bible to be taught in school serves no purpose but to begin raising generations of people to accept a theocracy and reject and destroy American Democracy. Texas has a church on every corner for worship, and instead of spending secular time on religion, children need to be spending that time learning math, science, music, art, etc. This is not progress. If the class were an elective in ancient literature, and said class included the Qu'ran, the Vedas, etc., it would make sense for children with talent and propensities toward history, language, etc. Human intelligence has to be given a chance to evolve and this will never happen if people just plain refuse to progress. We don't worship nature anymore like, for example the ancient American Indians did; we don't sacrifice babies like the ancient Incans; we don't kill people like the ancient Celts; or animals like the ancient Hebrews; and now it's time to quit bowing down to big black rocks, statues and pictures of a virgin mother, to quit believing in sacred cows, to quit dancing around with snakes, to give up Voodoo and all primitive thinking, and evolve. Good luck, Texas, you just dumbed down.
Dumbing down for Jesus. Or, No Child Leaves His Bible Behind. For radical extremists, like Texas' theocons, this is called progress.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with the Newsweek comment:
"Newseek editor John Meacham….You cannot understand America or its institutions without understanding the Bible and its influence. But that is a different thing from saying that the country's public institutions elevate one vision of religious faith over another."
Teaching how Judeo-Christianity impacted American history is teaching…..history. It would be false history to leave it out.
But trying to advocate a particular religion in public schools is a Constitutional violation. That's where the line should be drawn.
I categorically reject Meacham's assertion that a student "cannot understand America or it's institutions without understanding the Bible."
It's patently ridiculous.
Much of our history and founding was based on the Bible. But you can understand our history knowing nothing about the Bible? Gotcha
Rev,
It will be interesting to see whether they use the King James version or the Marian (original) version of the Bible. Will students learn of the schism between the gnostics and the Paulists or Constantine's political calculations and the role they played in the formation of the Bible? Will they learn the difference between Deism and biblical Christianity? Will they learn of the anything about how the Bible has been abused by those seeking power?
Most of our history and government is solely based on the democratic ideology of non-christian civilizations. (Rome and Greece). The King James bible even contradicts the idea of democracy. But we'll go ahead and teach that our "country was based on Christian ideas".
The only true part of that was that the country was based on the Christian ideas of "acceptance of all". Which teaching the bible would explicitly remove.
It's not that our country was originally "based on the Bible" or that much of American history couldn't have happened without the influence of the Bible……it's none of that, because none of that is true.
What this is about is extreme American Christian fundamentalists who believe that the Bible, as I wrote in my blog title, is some kind of magic book. It's very presence in classrooms, according to these extremists, is supposed to magically make the children better. In this way it's similar to the voodoo thinking of these same Christianists who argue for prayer in public school. It's the same superstition often seen in people's shock over placing another book on top of a Bible. It's the same superstition that's witnessed in the 'special' paper used to print the Bible.
Catholics show reverence for "papa", and Protestants revere a book. Worship of the magic book, the Bible, is called bibliolatry. Thou shalt make no graven images, I guess, is simply an outdated commandment.
Religion poisons everything. In this case Bible worshippers are trying to poison the Texas public school system.
King says…
"But trying to advocate a particular religion in public schools is a Constitutional violation. That's where the line should be drawn."
The book made up of the Old and New Testaments is called the Bible. The only "particular religion" that regards the Bible as "holy" is Christianity. Thus, exclusively studying a book which is only regarded as holy by one religion…..would be advocating one "particular religion." If Texas was mandating a comparative religion class…or….a comparative "holy book" class, then this would be a different matter entirely.
This attempt is reminiscent of the bogus "intelligent design" arguments thrown out by the Dover, Pa.. judge. Let's hope the same happens here.
Those are understandable frank. But the folks that did those things weren't real Christians. Do you think Obama is a real Christian? Or any of his minions or most of our politicians on the left and right, yet most offer a prayer or talk about relying on God. Here are the real Christians. I wonder if they will teach how Christian organizations are the most charitable in the world. Or how they tried save the children being killed in the biggest for profit hollcaust in history, Roe vs. Wade, over 50 million deaths. Or how they risked their lives in times of war to help the injured soldiers or civilians voluntarily. Or if they will talk about how in disasters like Katrina, 911 and other disasters around the world, they are always the first to arrive with help and supplies. Always faster than the govenrnment. Are they going to talk about all of the good things Christians do in their own communities like running food and clothing banks for the poor manned by volunteers and not paid workers. These are only a 100th of a percent of the services Christians provide in our communities. Doing all of these things in the face of diversity, being called crazy and using only the donations given by their fellow Christians all out of love for their fellow man, woman and child. It's easy to focus on the negative, but the latter is the real Christianity.
Take away the tax deductions and you'll see how "good" all those Christians are, average.
Charitable people are charitable regardless of their religious affiliations.
That's BS Rev. I know many middle class, rich and poor people that don't even ask for reciepts for tax deductions. You always paint Christians with a broad brush. How do you measure their volunteerism or the things we do for people. I don't see other groups out their doing it without wanting to collect great sums of cash. Maybe the louse politicians and some business men do it for the tax deduction, as frank describes, but many don't. And so what if there is a tax deduction, at least they are giving and doing, not like Biden (who gave like $700 to charity over the last 10 years)or Barrack (who gave like $4000 on $4.5 million to charity)who donated very little of their money to charity. In 2007 Bush donated 35% of his income and Cheney donated 70% of his income.
Selfishness is the primary reason most people stay poor and don't become rich. It is also the reason poor and the middle class stay in their classes and don't move beyond their mediocre lives of lack of abundance. It's also the reason the Dems and Libs want to penalize the rich for being successful
You just hate rich people and Christians and there is no reason to hate either. One question about the rich: do you hate them because they are hogging all of the money and making it harder on the poor people to get ahead?
Rev says, "It's not that our country was originally "based on the Bible" or that much of American history couldn't have happened without the influence of the Bible……it's none of that, because none of that is true."
Are you nuts ? What American history books have you been reading ? Have you ever read one ? The Bible has been an ENORMOUS influence on American history. No coulda, shoulda comes into play. History is about what DID happen.
Let's start at the beginning, with the Pilgrims.
http://www.allabouthistory.org/pilgrims.htm
joe,
Don't be so hard on the Reverend. Without hate, what else would he have ? Hating the rich, Christians, free markets, free speech, corporations, low taxes, conservatives, the South, etc. is what this blog is all about. He should call it The Daily Hate, just for a little truth in advertising.
Let's get something clear here. I don't hate anyone. I don't hate Christians, or Jews, or the rich or conservatives….I don't hate anyone.
The point of my post was intended to explain what surely appears to be an attempt in Texas to Christianize the public school system. Those responsible for bringing the new Texas law into existence sincerely believe they are doing god's will…….but the law is unconstitutional…..even with our current Roberts activist Conservative Court.
Dick Cheney contributed all that money to charity, average, because he had signed an agreement before becoming Vice that he would not take any money personally from Halliburton stock that he owned or sold while he was Vice. But what Dick did do was take a huge charitable deduction on his taxes, saving him several hundred thousand. That ain't charity.
Christians are great human beings, the vast majority I'm sure. But just as the Islamic extremists seek to push their religious morality upon the masses, so too, Christianist extremists in America. My point about the tax exemptions was that compssionate, charitable people don't need religion to be the way they are.
Mr. averagejoe5,
I'm not sure whether you are responding to my post, but I don't see how any discussion of the Bible could not include the questions I posed, unless the whole purpose of the class is proselytization.
Rev says, "I don't hate anyone."
Well, excuse me then. I guess I was misled by your continuous over-the-top name-calling, profanity, and demonization of all those things I listed in my previous post. I should have known that meant you were a tolerant and open-minded person who respects all views other than his own.
And I'll assume your silence regarding my post about how Christianity influenced America means you know you are wrong.
Elvis influenced America. The Beatles. Should we teach a mandatory class on Elvis and Beatles studies in public schools?
Maybe we should teach a class on how it is okay to kill your babies before they are born, how it is natural to have sex and marry with someone of the same sex, how to get an abortion without telling your parents, how humans alone are ruining planet earth and the only way to get them to stop is by charging them more money and taxes. Or maybe teach a class on the benefits of communism and how great things will be once the current generation of capitalists and conservatives die off. And how great Obama care will be even though they wont have the coverage they need to make themselves better. It's better for the sick to die for the sake of the herd, you know, buck up and make the sacrifice. Also about how it's better to let someone kill the whole nation as long as you aren't hurting a known murderer's feelings. Oh wait they are already teaching that in health and govt class.
Since Elvis and the Beatles are part of American history, yes, they could be mentioned in HISTORY class. What, do you think we should edit history down to only those parts that the Reverend finds acceptable ?
Bible burning at 9:00am, Rev's house.
Yes joe, but those are college level courses.
I think.