Bible Approved as Public School Reference

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

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.

'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...

I am not sure how relevant it would be in Biology or Astronomy. But it would be rather useful in comparative religion. Now is it just the Bible that is being approved or any religious textbook?

I don't see any harm in having it available for reference. No religious text should be required reading in order to get any part of any grade however.

 

[gopher]

For a mythology course perhaps.

We used the Bible for such purposes in our schools in NY for years.

Nothing new here.

 

[Ludlow]

We used the Bible for such purposes in our schools in NY for years.

Nothing new here.

In this day and age there is a paranoia of sorts about the threat of a theocracy. The relatively new thought of dominion theology puts a bad taste in the mouth of secularists. I would tend to side with the secular viewpoint primarily because I do believe in total separation of church and state.

 

[Jinentonix]

Ain't sure how the bible can teach American history, but I'm sure they'll think of something.

Just ask the Mormons :lol:

 

[Dexter Sinister]

...I do believe in total separation of church and state.

So do I. Religion has no business in the councils of the nation, and the state has no business in the councils of religion. Vesting religious and secular authority in the same people and institutions is generally a prescription for monstrous tyranny and oppression.

 

[Motar]

In this day and age there is a paranoia of sorts about the threat of a theocracy. The relatively new thought of dominion theology puts a bad taste in the mouth of secularists. I would tend to side with the secular viewpoint primarily because I do believe in total separation of church and state.

I would suggest that the referenced bill is a preemptive one, LL. The sponsors and supporters of the bill likely envision a day in the not-so-distant future when the Bible will be legislatively banned from all public access/use.

 

[Ludlow]

I would suggest that the referenced bill is a preemptive one, LL. The sponsors and supporters of the bill likely envision a day in the not-so-distant future when the Bible will be legislatively banned from all public access/use.

Kind of like " The Butler Act ' represented by the prosecution in the Scopes Trial Motar ? There's reasons why secularists feel as they do.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

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.

Not quite correct. The states are bound by the First Amendment, and all the other amendments. That's settled law.

 

[Nick Danger]

This one has my spidey sense tingling as well. While I agree that no reference library would be complete without a bible on the shelf, the fact that they are singling it out for special permission for classroom presence suggests a religious agenda.

 

[Motar]

This one has my spidey sense tingling as well. While I agree that no reference library would be complete without a bible on the shelf, the fact that they are singling it out for special permission for classroom presence suggests a religious agenda.

A proactive protective one, ND.

 

[Ludlow]

A proactive protective one, ND.

Sounds kind of like a defense of the 'faith' type of thing. Seems like on the fringes there exists a secular agenda just as on the other side there exists a religious agenda. Neither of which could be considered mainstream thought. We label each other by what we believe and what we believe others to believe and that is where the fear comes in. Fear of each other because of our labels. I think it's an over reaction on both sides of the coin.

 

[Nick Danger]

A proactive protective one, ND.

Somehow I doubt that. Banning the bible as a reference text from schools altogether would run afoul of the constitutional restriction against religious legislature. Censorship to that extent simply wouldn't fly in the "Land of the Free". That being said, it would be a big mistake to underestimated the political clout, or the deviousness, of the christian right in America.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Not quite correct.

Right you are, I just looked it up in more detail. I stand corrected. Thanks, learned something new today.