Texas School District Settles Bible Class Suit

Comments

• Shrdlu42

  Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:02 am : 0 : 0 Flag

  xristosnika, you are right in your analysis of the Constitution - as far as it goes, but you left out some important parts. Originally, the Bill of Rights only applied to the Federal Government, so the States were free to establish any religion they chose, and to ban all others! They were also free to jail people for criticizing the government, to take your property without any compensation, and to imprison you without trial or anything approaching “due process”. This was part of what is known as “State’s rights”.
  
  It also included the right to allow slavery. Then along came a little fracas known as the Civil War. The South lost, and the 14th Amendment was added to the Constitution. Under the doctrine of Incorporation, the 14th makes the Bill of Rights applicable to the States. Thus, whatever the Federal government previously was forbidden to do, the States were now forbidden as well. (I’m oversimplifying, but 3,000 characters doesn’t leave room for a full course on Constitutional Law.)
  
  By the way, Star2, I suggest you review the entire website you cited to. It belongs to the so-called “National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools” whose curriculum started the lawsuit to begin with (since it’s goal is clearly proselytization). If the new curriculum is anything like that, the lawsuit will simply start all over again.

• prseeker

  Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:02 pm : 0 : 0 Flag

  seedplanter, was this Jefferson's edition which removed all miracles and the resurrection from the NT since TJ did not beleive traditional Christianity had a future in a world informed by the Enlightment.

• tamna

  Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:18 pm : 1 : 0 Flag

  Star2: Thanks for the website information.

• seedplanter

  Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:44 pm : 1 : 0 Flag

  The first Bible that was printed in the US was paid for by our government for the use in public education as was recomended by Thomas Jefferson.

• star2

  Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:59 pm : 0 : 0 Flag

  If you want to know what is being taught in the Bible Class, then go to the following link
  
  http://www.bibleinschools.net/The-Curriculum
  
  and click the box that says Unit 9.
  
  Review of the outline. You will see that the Bible is taught as literature, history, how the Jews view their religion, and etc.. The students get good training in developing their critical thinking skills.
  
  If any student comes away from this course believing and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord it will be because of the work of the Holy Spirit and not the religious indoctrination of man.

• tamna

  Mon Mar 10, 2008 4:34 pm : 0 : 0 Flag

  I had several thoughts after reading the article:
  (1) The thing that jumped out at me is the fact that the original course was an "elective" which means students were not compelled to take the course. It was their, and their parents, choice whether or not they wanted to attend the class. No student was "forced" to take the class. Some "parents" really need to get a grip.
  (2) I would not be surprised if the issue resurfaces next year because the group of "educators" putting together the new course came up with something like "The Bible as Science Fiction," or "The Bible as an Instrument of Oppression" or some other ridiculous stuff like that.
  (3) I think there are assumptions being made by some/many that the course to be offered will be in keeping with the traditional Judeo-Christian view of the Bible.
  (4) I personally have no problem with the Bible being offered as an "elective" in high school. I also don't have a problem with the quran, Torah, Buddhist Sutra's etc also being offered as electives as well. The operative word here is "elective."
  In this case I am definitely "Pro-choice." But I guess in our society "Pro-choice" only comes into play when we are talking about killing children in the womb and not when we are talking about what students are allowed to study.
  Sorry, I'm rambling.

• prseeker

  Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:57 am : 1 : 0 Flag

  The reality is that simply reading the Bible is no assurance of moral behavior. We live a religiously diverse nation, and even the smallest community has different religious traditions. A KJV based curriculum is deficient to begin with as most children in the 21st century cannot read nor should they be expected to read 17th century english. Our nation has a long history of respected religious divesity. Today fear based movements try to change our freedom of religion

• 1_Corinthians_8_5-6_KJV

  Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:02 am : 1 : 0 Flag

  Returning back to reading and studying the Bible as a primary textbook (as was done in past generations) would be a great blessing to many families today. May many be encouraged to learn biblical truth for not only spiritual, but for practical knowledge and everyday living.
  
  (Deuteronomy 6:5-7, Holy Bible/King James Bible)
  “5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
  6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
  7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
  
  (2 Timothy 3:14-17, Holy Bible/KJV)
  “14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
  15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
  16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
  17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

• 1_Corinthians_8_5-6_KJV

  Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:54 am : 1 : 0 Flag

  Returning back to reading and studying the Bible as a primary textbook (as was done in past generations) would be a great blessing to many families today. May many be encouraged to learn biblical truth for not only spiritual, but for practical knowledge and everyday living.

• seedplanter

  Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:12 pm : 0 : 0 Flag

  Biblical literacy is an important component to understanding America and Americans.

• ML

  Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:14 am : 0 : 0 Flag

  scitsonga: you work in the sciences, and were asked many questions in regard to your knowledge of math and science. None about religion or the bible, they have no place in the laboratory BUT you forget that the Creator established the laws of math, science, as well as other good topics of learning, including the Bible. It is not an either, or, but rather a pursuit of knowledge and wisdom that recognizes both scientific truth as well as moral truth that makes a holy scientist the wisest scientist. Think about Isaac Newton, and other scientists that worked in harmony with faith.

• scitsonga

  Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:40 pm : 0 : 1 Flag

  TerryH "on;t ever remember being asked about science and math on a job interview either"
  
  I work in the sciences, I was asked many questions in regard to my knowledge of math and science. None about religion or the bible, they have no place in the laboratory

• xristosnika

  Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:40 pm : 1 : 0 Flag

  The famous Establishment Clause says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". An establishment of religion was to make a denomination the national church such as England and the other European powers had at the time. It did not prohibit a State government from designating a state church. The national government is also prohibited from denying the free exercise of religion. However, if a local school district, by popular vote, wishes to exercise religion in the school, the national government often interferes with their right to do so, granted under the constitution.

• chicago24

  Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:32 am : 1 : 1 Flag

  For those of you who favor religion being taught in public schools, be careful what you wish for. Your great granchildren just might be taught a religion other than Christianity.

• TerryH

  Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:52 am : 1 : 0 Flag

  I am glad to see that someone is teaching the history of creation on an alternative level than evolution. Personally it makes more since that we were created than evolving from some sort of explosion. After all out of all of the explosions we here of I haven't seen anyting other than death and destruction created especially nothing of human form.

• TerryH

  Fri Mar 07, 2008 2:37 am : 1 : 0 Flag

  Hey first - I don;t ever remember being asked about science and math on a job interview either. What is your point? This curriculum is not based on any from of religion but offered as a history teaching you know like the theory of evolution. Get your facts straight before posting a comment as such.

• antietam1958

  Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:51 pm : 0 : 0 Flag

  II don’t see what the problem is about having a class on the bible. The class should be on a volunteer basic and not a forced basis or a required subject. (In other words if a student didn’t want to take the course they wouldn’t be forced to). Then make sure then instructor that the course as set down don’t try and force her/his beliefs on the students in other words no type of religious faith would be taught in the class.
  
  I would love to attend a class on the bible because I believe it would be very interesting.

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