A Texas legislator, Rep. Warren Chisum (R), has introduced a bill that would require schools to offer history and literacy classes on the Bible. The proposal, now under debate in the House Public Education Committee, would affect over 1,700 districts throughout the state. If it passes, Texas would join several other states in offering elective courses on the most widely distributed book in the world.
Although some are criticizing the move as a violation of church and state, the bill's sponsor said, "We're not going to preach the Bible, we're going to teach the Bible." Proving that the Good Book is experiencing an educational revival, five other states are considering similar proposals.
Comments (3)
I sent this to Warren but it doesn't look like email is getting through...
Just so you are aware of how things work here on the internet, there is a poll about you and Bible classes at this link...
http://www.thedailylight.com/
And there is a huge liberal democrat web site that pasted this message on its boards...
"please DU my local paper re: State rep requiring "elective" bible course"
And here is the link to that post...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x579444
Here is one of the messages that got posted in response...
"I just voted about 15 times You have to clear your browser history and delete the cookies for each vote. I'd do more, but I do have a life."
What this means is, that internet poll is going to be heavily skewed towards anti biblical response by some of the tens of thousands of members of what is the largest liberal democrat web site on the internet. Even if a tenth of them only voted in the poll once, they would far outweigh any "normal" people reading the news paper on line who might vote in it.
I also emailed the editor of the daily light and informed them, but depending on their politics, they may not care.
Just a heads up.
God Bless you and yours!
April 4, 2007 11:28 PM | Comment Permalink
Is there anyone capable of writing the cirriculum or teaching the classes without either letting their religious beliefs influence the course or actively preaching? Perhaps a very small number, but there is no way to find them.
Its nothing but a transparent attempt to teach religion in public schools while working around constitutional wording and court precident that forbids it.
It looks to me exactly like ID - a religious idea with just enough of a secular varnish applied to just perhaps get into schools.
April 5, 2007 5:54 AM | Comment Permalink
I would venture to add that one of the greatest perpetrators of Biblical illiteracy are churches themselves. It’s scary how some pastors in Evangelical churches have positioned themselves between their congregation and the Bible. What’s even scarier is that congregations let them get away with it. Come check out an article that I have written on the subject at www.twoinstitutions.org
April 10, 2007 9:41 AM | Comment Permalink