Do American schools teach the bible as actual historical fact?

Question

Is this the reason so many americans are christian extremists?

I await to be reported by the religious minority who cannot forgive a heathen for their ignorance.

I read all your answers and wanted to say thanks for enlightening me. I honestly thought you guys got religious education so thanks for clearing that up. I haven't got a problem with christianity per se, but i do get upset with bible thumpers.

Answer 1

They do not as a matter of fact the fear of the Bible in schools will not allow it to even enter (it is easier to get a gun or drugs into a school than a bible)

Here is a good funny story of how much they WILL NOT let christianity into schools.

After being interviewed by the school administration, the eager teaching prospect said: "Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids, and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning, and I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their T-shirt messages and dress habits.
You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self esteem. You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, fair play, how to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job.
I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of anti-social behavior, make sure all students pass the state exams, even those who don't come to school regularly or complete any of their assignments.
Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps get an equal education regardless of the extent of their mental or physical handicap. I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter and report card.
All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a big smile AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps! You want me to do all of this and then you tell me...
"I CAN'T PRAY?"

Answer 2

Only if the school is a private Christan school. Separation of church and state, thankfully, keeps teaching the Bible as fact out of schools. But, fundamentalists are throwing a fit trying to get intelligent design into science classrooms, so far their attempts have failed in court.

To clear up what some other people incorrectly claimed: Bible ARE allowed in public schools, the teachers and administration are just not allowed to do things such as pass out Bibles or any other religious book, lead the students in prayer, or otherwise allow the school to be in any way associated with a religious belief. Most schools do allow students to hold religious clubs before and after school hours within school facilities as long as those functions aren't required by the school and they allow any religious or nonreligious group the same opportunity. Students can talk about their religion in school with their friends or pray with each other outside of class...they can even pray quietly to themselves before a test.....it's not a 1984 big brother situation where thought is a crime.

Answer 3

No they do not teach the bible as actual historical fact (unless it is a private school, then I guess they can do whatever they want).

The reason so many Americans are christian extremists.....I really don't know. I wish I could figure it out myself. I'm agnostic.

And to that person two above me - teachers can certainly pray, they are just not to teach their children to pray. Why doesn't everyone get it? It is important to respect other people's beliefs - and not everyone believes exactly the same thing as you, nor should they. If you want to be Christian then do it in your own time - you are NOT to bring that into schools and insist that everyone else be Christian. And why would you want to? You can certainly teach good values and morals without bringing religion into the mix. I have good values, but not because my religion TOLD me to have these values, but because I see the logic behind them.

Answer 4

The only American schools that teach from the bible are private Christian schools. Public school teachers are forbidden to teach it in class.

Not sure what you mean by Christian extremists. Are you talking about white supremacy groups?

Answer 5

Not in any public school I went to. Any religious text (and we read from more than just the Christian Bible) was read as a way of learning about different cultures in the world - specifically about their methods of story telling.

Answer 6

Not where I live they are not allowed to endorse the Bible in any manner. The public schools here won't even allow visual displays of Crosses or Crucifixes or head scarves for Mennonites. Many home school. This is small town Texas by the way.

Answer 7

American public schools don't teach the bible at all. Or any other religious text. It is considered to be a violation of the separation of church & state issue.

Answer 8

Not the schools I went to, and I went to a lot of different schools growing up. I think that Christian extremists can't be blamed on schools, maybe private schools though.
If anyone reports you for this question, they have big issues they need to deal with and pray over with their God

Answer 9

Public School are not allowed to teach religion. I am Jewish, But I noticed my son who goes to a public school spent several weeks learning about the history of the bible.

Answer 10

I took an english class in high school where we read the book of Job for a class assignment. I can't remember the nature of the assignment however.

I also took a mythology/folklore class in college that talked about stories in the bible as myth. That's about it.

Answer 11

Nope. Public schools don't bring up the Bible at all.

We haven't established that you're a heathen -- just that you didn't go to an American public school. :)