Why not?
Excerpted, Stephen Prothero’s argument from The Los Angeles Times, advocating a Bible literacy course for all high school students.
Some have argued against Bible courses in public schools on the theory that they would unconstitutionally “establish” Judeo-Christianity. For Scripture courses to be lawful, this argument goes, teachers must give equal time to all the world’s scriptures, treating the Bible as one scripture among many. But the Bible is of sufficient importance in Western civilization to merit its own course. Treating it no differently from, say, the Zend-Avesta of the Zoroastrians or Scientology’s Dianetics makes no educational sense.
What makes sense is one Bible course for every public high school student in the U.S. This is not a Christian proposal. It does not serve the political left or the political right. It serves our young people and our public life.
What do you think? Would the Bible serve a sufficient purpose in high school to avoid violation of the First Amendment’s establishment clause?
****
Dr. Vincent Biondo of the philosophy department, will speak on this subject on Thursday, January 24 at 3:30 p.m. in USU 311.
tony • May 20, 2008 at 6:16 pm
that is telling them
tony • May 21, 2008 at 1:16 am
that is telling them
Walter Cordle • May 19, 2008 at 1:33 pm
This country was found on religion! The Bible says that” all nations that forget God will be turned into hell”, It’s no wonder our country is in the shape it is in and its not going to get any better until our country realizes we can not even breathe unless “GOD” allows us to, let alone do anything else. This is suppose to be a ‘FREE’ country, then our children and everyone else should have the right to be able to read the Bible and be taught it if they so desire. Just because pornography is free to anyone who wants to view it definately does not mean I am going to view it or allow my children to but its there if you want it. It is a shame and disgrace that a country founded on religion and so blessed by God has allowed a few people to take the right away from people to honor God who has blessed us so. As long as we continue to let people deny us this right they will and this country will go down hill faster than anyone can even imagine. If you don’t believe in God or the Bible why are you so afraid for it to be available in our schools and public places?? If there is nothing to it, why worry about it??? Church world and believers, “Wake Up”. Lets stand together and get our rights back. I am not saying you have to take part or believe but we have the right to and well us not.
Walter Cordle • May 19, 2008 at 8:33 pm
This country was found on religion! The Bible says that” all nations that forget God will be turned into hell”, It’s no wonder our country is in the shape it is in and its not going to get any better until our country realizes we can not even breathe unless “GOD” allows us to, let alone do anything else. This is suppose to be a ‘FREE’ country, then our children and everyone else should have the right to be able to read the Bible and be taught it if they so desire. Just because pornography is free to anyone who wants to view it definately does not mean I am going to view it or allow my children to but its there if you want it. It is a shame and disgrace that a country founded on religion and so blessed by God has allowed a few people to take the right away from people to honor God who has blessed us so. As long as we continue to let people deny us this right they will and this country will go down hill faster than anyone can even imagine. If you don’t believe in God or the Bible why are you so afraid for it to be available in our schools and public places?? If there is nothing to it, why worry about it??? Church world and believers, “Wake Up”. Lets stand together and get our rights back. I am not saying you have to take part or believe but we have the right to and well us not.
Micah Foster • Feb 7, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I took “The Bible as Literature” when I was at Clovis West High School. Everyone loved the course, not because everyone suddenly believed in it, but because everyone suddenly understood it’s cultural importance. Movies, political figures, historical figures, literature, music, tv…the bible has had an influence on it all.
Micah Foster • Feb 7, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I took “The Bible as Literature” when I was at Clovis West High School. Everyone loved the course, not because everyone suddenly believed in it, but because everyone suddenly understood it’s cultural importance. Movies, political figures, historical figures, literature, music, tv…the bible has had an influence on it all.
Benjamin Baxter • Jan 23, 2008 at 5:07 pm
The Collegian Staff Comment
Future Squirrel Stuffer
Naturally, that ignores the question of whether it should be taught in schools. Rather trollish, I might add.
Benjamin Baxter • Jan 24, 2008 at 12:07 am
The Collegian Staff Comment
Future Squirrel Stuffer
Naturally, that ignores the question of whether it should be taught in schools. Rather trollish, I might add.
Whatever • Jan 23, 2008 at 4:53 pm
It should be placed right next to all the other tall tales and fiction stories!
Whatever • Jan 23, 2008 at 11:53 pm
It should be placed right next to all the other tall tales and fiction stories!
user friendly • Jan 23, 2008 at 11:47 am
Amen, brother!
user friendly • Jan 23, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Amen, brother!
Benjamin Baxter • Jan 22, 2008 at 10:37 pm
The Collegian Staff Comment
Future Squirrel Stuffer
Its popularity and prominence, and that so many figures allude to it, is argument enough for its inclusion.
That’s discussed further in the link provided.
Benjamin Baxter • Jan 23, 2008 at 5:37 am
The Collegian Staff Comment
Future Squirrel Stuffer
Its popularity and prominence, and that so many figures allude to it, is argument enough for its inclusion.
That’s discussed further in the link provided.
Joey Potter • Jan 22, 2008 at 10:14 pm
It’s not even that great of a text—–popular and prominent? Of course—–but it’s very mediocre by literary standards…..
Joey Potter • Jan 23, 2008 at 5:14 am
It’s not even that great of a text—–popular and prominent? Of course—–but it’s very mediocre by literary standards…..