Why Public Schools Should Teach the Bible

24 CommentsRecomended, Salt

Did you watch the History Channel’s airing of The Bible? 13 million viewers did, so it may prove to be the largest audience of the year…. Here’s an article that I agree with written by the producers of that cable miniseries, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett. Do you agree with their conclusions?

Have you ever sensed in your own life that “the handwriting was on the wall”? Or encouraged a loved one to walk “the straight and narrow”?

Have you ever laughed at something that came “out of the mouths of babes”? Or gone “the extra mile” for an opportunity that might vanish “in the twinkling of an eye”?

If you have, then you’ve been thinking of the Bible.

These phrases are just “a drop in the bucket” (another biblical phrase) of the many things we say and do every day that have their origins in the most read, most influential book of all time. The Bible has affected the world for centuries in innumerable ways, including art, literature, philosophy, government, philanthropy, education, social justice and humanitarianism. One would think that a text of such significance would be taught regularly in schools. Not so. That is because of the “stumbling block” (the Bible again) that is posed by the powers that be in America.

It’s time to change that, for the sake of the nation’s children. It’s time to encourage, perhaps even mandate, the teaching of the Bible in public schools as a primary document of Western civilization. Read the rest here.

Comments (24)

  1. Nohm

    Reply

    This idea of “the Bible as literature” is already taught at some public schools, and certainly in many public colleges and universities.

  2. Nohm

    Reply

    My argument, though, would simply be that this is not where we’re falling behind other countries.

    Therefore, it’s my opinion that our focus should be on math and sciences, since that’s where we’re failing. Once we’re kicking tail in those areas, *then* we can focus on “Bible as literature”, but not a second before.

    Just my opinion.

    For the record, I don’t know if you’ve seen “Bible as literature” classes, Steve, but I’m curious what your opinion would be on them, since they’re anything but evangelism, and are often taught by non-“True Christians”, or even non-believers.

      • Nohm

        I’m curious, Steve, why would you want to? It’s not taught in an evangelistic way, and the focus is primarily on the OT, and it’s usually taught by non-“True Christians”.

      • Nohm

        Additionally, I’m curious what your opinion on “Quran as literature” classes would be.

      • Nohm

        Steve? If you don’t mind, I’d really like to hear your opinion regarding these two questions.

    • rey

      Reply

      One reason we’re behind on science is because they’ve turned the science classroom into a philosophy classroom. They waste all their time trying to convince the students that they evolved from monkeys, so zero time is left for real, practical, science. I would imagine, if other countries REALLY are ahead of us in science, its because they skip the nonsense argument on theory that doesn’t amount to a hill of beans anyway and teach PRACTICAL science.

      • Nohm

        “One reason we’re behind on science is because they’ve turned the science classroom into a philosophy classroom.”

        Do you have evidence of this?

        “They waste all their time trying to convince the students that they evolved from monkeys”

        No one is taught that humans evolved from monkeys. It appears that you are unaware as to what is actually taught in biology.

        “I would imagine, if other countries REALLY are ahead of us in science,”

        Which, they are. Please view this Google link.

        “its because they skip the nonsense argument on theory”

        I question if you understand what the word “theory” means in science, because it’s the highest level that something can attain.

        “that doesn’t amount to a hill of beans anyway and teach PRACTICAL science.”

        I would argue that finding a cure for cancer is practical science.

        Is it possible, Rey, that your understanding of the theory of evolution is incorrect?

      • rey

        “Do you have evidence of this?”

        I’m only 30 so its no like its been that long since I’ve been in school.

        “No one is taught that humans evolved from monkeys. It appears that you are unaware as to what is actually taught in biology.”

        Why do you retards always claim this? Apes/monkeys, there’s no difference in popular speech. Normal people don’t always talk in technical jargon.

        “I question if you understand what the word ‘theory'”

        I think a well-educated or even mildly literate person would have understood that when I juxtaposes theory with practical I wasn’t making any kind of comment on the use of the term “theory” in science but was referring to its normative sense, i.e. Theory as something opposed to practicality. When you sit in a college classroom, for instance, and complain “this is all theory, when will we get to something practical?” what does that mean? You apparently don’t have the mental capacity to comprehend it.

        “I would argue that finding a cure for cancer is practical science.”

        I would too. That’s the point. Why no give kids medical training in high school rather than brainwash them on evolution. Teach something with real value, practical value as opposed to useless theory.

  3. rey

    Reply

    The problem is, of course, when Christians say “the Bible” they mean the New Testament. If public schools were to teach the Old Testament, who would complain? The Jews? Nope! The Muslims? Nope! Probably the Christians!!!!! THey could get away with teaching the Old Testament without ruffling the feathers of anyone other than Atheists (and lunatic fundamentalist christians). Because the Old Testament does not say “believe this, or burn in hell.” Whatever judgement the Old Testament teaches is based on the life lived, based on works, based on morality. So who would object to the Old Testament but a nutcase? But the New Testament teaches condemnation to hell simply for not believing a story. So there is objection to what Christians erroneously call “the Bible.” The Bible is the Old Testament, not the Gospels and not Paul. When the Jews say “the Bible” they only mean the Old Testament. And that’s the part that teaches morality! The point of teaching the Bible in school would be to increase morality. But we know (Deist here) that Christians would hijack the plan to teach “believe in Jesus as the second person of a tribunal of Gods, or burn” and so we say “hell-no, keep the Bible out of school.” If only you would quit pretending your pagan stories are part of the Bible and accept the REAL Bible, the Old Testament, we could put the Bible back in school.

  4. rey

    Reply

    I’m not done yet. Say I was an English teacher and I assigned my students to read Exodus 19 – 20:22 in the KJV for the majesty of the language and the great literary merits of the scene and so on. Which parents with inundate me with angry letters for having their children read the scene where God Himself gives the 10 commandments with a booming voice on Sinai? The faithonlyist Christian parents. Not the Jews who would be all to thrilled, not the Muslims who would be just fine with it, not the basic Theists or even Deists. No, it would be the radical Protestant types, who would complain about how ‘Pelagian’ the assignment was. Justification, they would yell, is by faith alone. How dare I have the kiddies read the 10 commandments, the basis of all morality! Don’t I know, the Calvinist and classical-Arminian parents would ask me, that salvation is by faith alone in Jesus work alone by grace alone and not at all by morality which is of no importance whatsoever in their systems? Why, these guys are as hateful to the 10 commandments as any Atheist. So, the fact is, it is Christians, Protestant Christians, faith alonist Christians, not really Atheists or Jews or anyone else, who have banned their own Bible! They’ve banned the Bible by their doctrine of “faith alone” which bans the reading of the 10 commandments in school. Because, oh no, if we had the kids read the passage that forms the basis of all morality, (oh the horror) they might think that justification requires just a teensy bit or morality!!!

    • Nohm

      Reply

      “Why, these guys are as hateful to the 10 commandments as any Atheist.”

      I’m an atheist, and I’m not hateful to the 10 commandments. Do you know of any examples where people have displayed “hate” towards the 10 commandments?

      • rey

        I was referring to militant atheists who throw a hissy fit and sue if they see the 10 commandments displayed in public.

      • Nohm

        Hi Rey,

        Can you point to or name a single one “militant atheists who throw a hissy fit and sue if they see the 10 commandments displayed in public”?

        Or is this just an urban legend.

  5. Garrett

    Reply

    We learned about the Bible and Christianity in grade school history. We also learned about Islam and the Koran, Buddhism, Confucius, and so forth.

    They are important to know about from a historical standpoint, the problem is that I don’t think you are being sincere in just teaching the Bible from that one historical perspective. If you want to the Bible to be taught as literal fact, well, you have churches and Sunday schools for that.

  6. rufustfirefly

    Reply

    The Bible should be taught, as part of a comparative religion course, teaching the texts honestly. The problem is the folks who think because Shakespeare mentioned the Bible or someone did a painting or sculpture with a Biblical theme that that means the Bible is “God’s” word and everyone must live by it.

  7. Richard Chavarria

    Reply

    Christians love the Old Testament.

    A consistent Christian believes that there are no contradictions in the Bible and that it is the revealed truth of God found in holy scriptures. Especially Genesis. Where we read about creation, the flood, and the tower of Babel.

    No other religious book can compare to the Bible. The reason the Bible is not in schools is because people love their sins and don’t want to be held accountable. Accountability is found all over scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. God says you will be without excuse.

    • Nohm

      Reply

      Richard, we covered this earlier: the Bible *is* in public schools, already. Please scroll up the comments so you can see where we discussed this.

      Therefore, the claim “The reason the Bible is not in schools is because people love their sins and don’t want to be held accountable.” does not match reality.

      As an aside, I’ve never understood this whole “don’t want to be held accountable” thing. It’s not like I don’t understand that, if your belief is true, I will be held accountable. I fully get that. What would be the point in not wanting to be held accountable by an all-powerful, all-knowing being? Where exactly would one escape to?

      “I don’t want to be held accountable to you, all-knowing and all-powerful being!” Where would that get anyone? What would be the point of shaking one’s fist at an all-powerful being?

      It makes no sense to me.

      • rey

        “Richard, we covered this earlier: the Bible *is* in public schools,”

        You mean mentioned, not “covered.” Yes, in middle school, in the 90s, in world history, we had half a class on the story of Moses, half on Jesus, followed by a full week on Mohammed, So, sure the Bible was mentioned. But “covered”? In what sense? First, they questioned nearly every aspect of the stories of Moses and Jesus but none of the Muslim story about Mohammed. The Jews may or may not have really been slaves in Egypt, Moses may or may not have really led them out of that country. They accept that Moses gave the ten commandments, but probably the rest is made up. There is how they “covered” the Bible. But with Mohammed, oh no, there’s no room to question any of the Muslim story. Mohammed lived exactly when the Muslims say he did, and did everything they say he did (except fly to heaven on a magic horse). With Moses they have to question if he even really lived at the time the Bible says, and really even questioned a bit if he ever existed…but Mohammed must have existed…because if they question that the Muslim students would cut their infidel heads off.

      • rey

        Lol. Wow. How did I transpose the word covered like that. Oh well.

      • vintango2k

        Wow rey where is this fictional school curriculum you are raging against, is it possible to get a review? And I hate to break it to you, but its the honest answer for teachers to tell students these events may or may not have happened because historical accounts (like the jews being slaves in egypt) are spotty at best. Most school curriculums are based off of the evidence gathered by historians and scientists after undergoing scrutiny and review. You can be a part of that review process too if you apply yourself, swallow your pride, and do the work. =)

    • Nohm

      Reply

      On a different note:

      “A consistent Christian believes that there are no contradictions in the Bible ”

      That’s… an interesting way to phrase it. Your words, not mine.

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