Bible Approved as Public School Reference

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"A Senate Committee in Idaho has approved a bill that allows the Bible to be used for reference purposes in public school classrooms. S.B. 1321 is stated to have been introduced by the Senate Education Committee with the urging of Sen. Cheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, who also works as a high school teacher.

'The Bible is expressly permitted to be used in Idaho public schools for reference purposes to further the study of literature, comparative religion, English and foreign languages, United States and world history, comparative government, law, philosophy, ethics, astronomy, biology, geology, world geography, archaeology, music, sociology, and other topics of study where an understanding of the Bible may be useful or relevant,' the bill reads...

"Nuxoll explained that the legislation was crafted to mirror law in ten other states."

Idaho Senate Committee Introduces Bill Allowing Bible to Be Used as Reference in Classroom | Christian News Network
 
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Ludlow

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I remember reading A Tale of Two Cities in English class in High School. A great work of fiction. Catcher in the Rye. Moby Dick. The list of fictional works is endless that were read as an assignment in public school. If you consider the books of the Bible to be figurative and do not emphasize the historicity of the writings, then it would be another work of fiction full of allegory, metaphor, hyperbole ,prose and poetry. Wouldn't it then be the same as the other works of fiction that are allowed?
 
gerryh

gerryh

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Ludlow said:
I remember reading A Tale of Two Cities in English class in High School. A great work of fiction. Catcher in the Rye. Moby Dick. The list of fictional works is endless that were read as an assignment in public school. If you consider the books of the Bible to be figurative and do not emphasize the historicity of the writings, then it would be another work of fiction full of allegory, metaphor, hyperbole ,prose and poetry. Wouldn't it then be the same as the other works of fiction that are allowed?
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They aren't approving it as a "work of fiction". On the contrary, they are approving it as an acceptable reference book in subjects that include but are not limited to Biology, Astronomy, Geology, etc.
 
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Ludlow

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gerryh said:
They aren't approving it as a "work of fiction". On the contrary, they are approving it as an acceptable reference book in subjects that include but are not limited to Biology, Astronomy, Geology, etc.
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If that be the case and I had a voice in the matter I would vote no. And I am not an atheist .
 
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Curious Cdn

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damngrumpy said:
Religion has no place in the public school system it is not a secular document
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Perhaps not but it would be very difficult to cull out every document that isn't strictly secular. Religion is so deeply ingrained in our culture that you would have to ban a mountain of books to erradicate any mention of religions or their teachings.
 
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Ludlow

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Tecumsehsbones said:
Ain't sure how the bible can teach American history, but I'm sure they'll think of something.
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I'm thinking heliocentrism would be out as well.

I would probably refer to Memorial and remonstrance against religious assessment by James Madison as a counter to the use of primarily fictional literature as reference material.
 
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Curious Cdn

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Tecumsehsbones said:
Heard it used to justify slavery and "disprove" evolution, too.
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I can't imagine the mind bending mathematics needed to do so but the NRA types use it to justify their gun fetish.

Tecumsehsbones said:
Heard it used to justify slavery and "disprove" evolution, too.

Maybe they'll use the genocide of Jericho to justify the treatment of Indians.
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... and passges justifying the enslavement of millions.
 
Motar

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Curious Cdn said:
Perhaps not but it would be very difficult to cull out every document that isn't strictly secular. Religion is so deeply ingrained in our culture that you would have to ban a mountain of books to erradicate any mention of religions or their teachings.
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True enough, CC.

"As previously reported, the first textbook used in the American colonies even before the nation’s founding, “The New England Primer,” was largely focused on the Scriptures, and was stated to be popular in public and private schools alike until approximately the early 1900’s. It used mostly the King James Bible as reference, and spoke much about sin, salvation and proper behavior. Many of the Founders’ children were taught to read with the use of the primer."

Idaho Senate Committee Introduces Bill Allowing Bible to Be Used as Reference in Classroom | Christian News Network
 
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Ludlow

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Motar said:
True enough, CC.

"As previously reported, the first textbook used in the American colonies even before the nation’s founding, “The New England Primer,” was largely focused on the Scriptures, and was stated to be popular in public and private schools alike until approximately the early 1900’s. It used mostly the King James Bible as reference, and spoke much about sin, salvation and proper behavior. Many of the Founders’ children were taught to read with the use of the primer."

Idaho Senate Committee Introduces Bill Allowing Bible to Be Used as Reference in Classroom | Christian News Network
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I prefer the NIV translation as King James was not really a very nice person as you know.
 
Motar

Motar

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Ludlow said:
I prefer the NIV translation as King James was not really a very nice person as you know.
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Not endorsing King James, LL, as you know : ) I also prefer the NIV because the Spirit of God set this version before me when He led me to Christ.
 
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taxslave

taxslave

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Motar said:
"With one opposing vote, the Senate Education Committee voted on Thursday to print the bill, moving the proposal forward for a full hearing."

Idaho Senate Committee Introduces Bill Allowing Bible to Be Used as Reference in Classroom | Christian News Network

A majority of Idaho Senators who write and support public legislation and vote on bills beg to differ, DG.
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I'm betting the majority of them are cult members too. Isn't it agin the law in the US to mix religion and politics?
 
Dexter Sinister

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taxslave said:
Isn't it agin the law in the US to mix religion and politics?
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Not really, in fact it seems almost required. Anybody who stood up and announced a position of non-belief probably couldn't get elected dog catcher, most U.S. politicians have to at least give lip service to religion. And the right religion at that. The constitution says only that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion," which only means the U.S. federal government will take no official position on religious matters and not favour any religion over any others, which seems to have made religion a pretty competitive business there. State governments are not under that constitutional restriction, though it's also been interpreted to mean that because the federal government is the major funder of education, no publicly funded school can offer religious instruction. But there's no restriction against teaching the Bible as literature or recognizing its historical and cultural significance, that would just be promoting ignorance. It's perfectly legitimate as a reference book, can't make sense of much of western history and culture without it.
 
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