Monday, April 23, 2007

The Bible as literature in local schools

Some people support introducing the Bible in English classes as required reading. They think it should be taught as a part of the Bible Literacy Project. The Project has created a text called, “The Bible and Its Influence,” which looks at the Bible within an historical context. Some of the project's supporters, like Chester Palesoo, who is a member of the Ravenswood City School Board in East Palo Alto, say that if the Bible is taught in the classroom, then students would be taught morals and such teachings would cut down on violence within the community

Others fear that bringing the Bible into the classroom would encourage some teachers to use it as part of a Christian agenda. Still others think the Bible as literature can be taught without a religious agenda behind it.

What do you think? Do you think the Bible should be taught as literature? Do you think, if the Bible is taught as literature, then the Holy Books from other religions should also be taught?

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

boy this is a hard one. this is why america is so great! the right of freedom speech. i think it is a great idea, but as an america and coming from an imagrant family. there are lots of religous and belief in our country. those that want to teach the word of GOD, please have a clean heart and mind and soul before thinking of doing so. i would suggest to teach the commandments, and keep the pledge of alignment intact. IN GOD WE TRUST.

Anonymous said...

No.

The bible teaches that it is ok to own slaves, beat slaves, sacrifice animals, and slaughter children. Those are not the kinds of morals kids (or adults) should be learning.

In the last 2000 years people have written better moral guides and better literature than the bible.
Those who want bible classes in schools don't want them for their moral lessons or their literary value. They want kids to learn religion.

Anonymous said...

rufus, your absolutely right... in the old testaments the kings and rich own slaves and they pleased themselves to whatever satisfaction came to mind. if they wanted to make money with their slaves then so be it, the biggest money making was by luring their slaves as prostitution.
Then the new testaments open a whole new dialogue, and JESUS CHRIST came to teach ALL the true meaning of HIS FATHER'S WORDS. HE OPENed up heaven to ALL, from the slaves, the poor (est) and especially those that were filled and convet with lustful sins. WE listened and excepted HIS TEACHING, WE opened our hearts to HIM? why? b/c it was meant to be... everything we do, there's a reason to when we do good. when you decide to do bad, that is your choice, not HIS... YOURS... JESUS CHRIST is the SON of GOD. HE WASHED US FROM OUR ORIGINAL SINS and OPEN THE GATES OF HEAVEN FOR YOU AND I. The Ten Commandments is the true law of ALL MEN kind. Till this day, it still exsist. the tiniest sins that will lead to BIGGER ones... this why we should teach the law of GOD to our little ones and espeacially those of all ages, we/all/us need a reminder here and there. the ten commandments is a part of our daily lives. The 1st one is the most important one of them ALL.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous, you pretty much made my point for me. You would rather that kids learned religion (god, Jesus, heaven, sin, and other ancient myths) than morals (real world issues of right & wrong such as nonviolence, tolerance, and liberty).

Anonymous said...

rufus, quote "you would rather" hhhmmmm... let see, the 10 commandments... hhhhmmmm... ah -yeah! the 1st one is the important one of them all.

then so forth.