2006-10-03 17:01:45 · 23 answers · asked by curious88 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This conroversy is happening in the state of Tennessee....Sorry for not writing this earlier.
2006-10-03 17:32:55 · update #1
It should be great to allow students that want to study the Bible. They should be allowed to if they want to. It shouldn't be required, but it should be offered. There is nothing wrong with learning about history of the past.
2006-10-03 17:05:08 · answer #1 · answered by salvation 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
In Canada our laws,legislation's and currency ,accepted and was mostly based on the laws of God of the Bible. Do we not have laws that state freedom OF religion? It seems like this has been turned around to most people to mean freedom FROM religion. The factions that don't believe in God or are humanists are actually being a religion that lives it morality and lifestyle the way it wants, The laws have been constantly lowered to allow freedoms and no persecution to people,groups and other than bible reading religions that it seems rather odd to be upping a law forbidding freedom of speech,religion and the gathering of a certain belief structure.Do we only accept "other religions their freedom. . So if as a humanist i DO NT want to have a bible class as i feel it is right for me not to attend such a class then i should not participate as that is my religious or conscious right. There for if some one WANTS to participate IN a bible class then i cannot condemn them as this would be prejudice on my part to take or deny their rights.
Remember the motto=If you don't stand for something , you will fall for anything. I really don't think this should be a controversy at all. As for government funding of schools and some people feeling this is a problem with the division of church and state there are other things to consider. What are these bible classes for? Are they for study and teaching of the bible.? If so then this to me is a valid form of education. I would rather students are in a group studying the bible than out behind the school spray painting graffiti,getting high or just being wasteful to their time and mind. Just what are the issues and who is being offended by this class? If i don't believe in secular or humanistic living then why would i allow this view to stop a bible study class i wanted to be involved with? Note also that the bible has been proven to be an accurate historical and geographical document that has been recorded and believe by generations for over 3000 years. Most of our history,geography,science etc books are being re-written constantly so their accuracy and truth factor are always in doubt.
I feel anyone who is passionate about learning would want to have the freedom to explore this ancient and yet still relevant today manuscript. As a taxpayer i pay school taxes and have for years and yet i have no children at home. Should I ask for my taxes back unless the school teaches what i want? Knowledge is knowledge and what you do with it is where wisdom comes in so that you will be able to discern what is good and what is evil. We cannot be wise if we do not hear,read and obstructing or denying any ones the right to do this in the place of teaching is narrow minded ,prejudiced and ignorant.
2006-10-04 00:55:56 · answer #2 · answered by glenda b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suppose as an "elective" it doesn't really bother me. However...a public school is filled with kids from every walk of life and religion (or non-religion)..and some I suppose believe that if it were mandatory (and not an elective) ...that's not only mixing church & state (a no-no) but, it would be forcing a religion upon someone who practices differently..then there are those that believe that doesn't belong in the public school at all.
There's so much more to be said (as in not every Christian reads or takes scripture from the Bible in the same context and maybe the teacher might be led to "teach" the Bible per their own belief system) that perhaps it's best to leave that to their parents or their own individual churches to guide them, or send the children to a parochial or Christian school then. Not really a place for the public school system - is what many people believe...and even many Christians. Very contraversial indeed.
2006-10-04 00:08:33 · answer #3 · answered by svmainus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We all had to take them when I was a kid, and it didn't hurt anyone back then. In fact, I feel it's an important part of my culture today and it's sad children are being denied it because of a handful of fanatics who can't be trusted not to take it too far. I don't see anything wrong wih it, but I do have some concerns about how the specifics are taught.
1) Religion is religion and science is science - you can't ignore science in the world today and theologians are simply not qualified to answer questions of science. I have no problem with young people reading Genesis, but a) They must be taught evolution b) The person teaching them Genesis must be open-minded enough to recognize the literal interpretation of that text is one of many.
2) I would insist on specific credentials for teachers. I would have zero tolerance for fanaticism and intolerance being preached in the classroom. Studying the Bible means reading the Bible and understanding it's meaning, not promoting someone's strict interpretation of it.
3) It's important young people understand there is a historic context to the Bible. It is thousands of years old and has been put together by a process of decisions made by Church councils. It is no longer a reasonable belief to think it was simply handed down from God as is, and that every syllable is an absolute truth. I would not want to see religion taught at the expense of critical thinking.
4) If Christianity is taught in school, it is important to at least touch on other faiths as well and teach them in a manner that is calm and objective. We live in multicultural societies and, especially in large urban areas, it is no longer possible to simply assume every child will have a Christian upbringing.
It is a touchy issue, and must be approached carefully, but I think there is a way to impart young people with the rich heritage of the Bible (Which is central to western culture), without opening the way to endoctrination in the classroom.
2006-10-04 00:13:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The academic study of religion is a good idea as long as students are able to gain an academic distance. This can include the revered texts of the particular religions. Any attempts at conversion, however, are not appropriate in a public school.
Also, there should at least be an attempt at balancing the types of religion. Studying Saudi Arabia? Spend time looking at the influence of Islam. India? Hindus. World War II? Jews & European Christianity. There are lots of ways to incorporate the information into an academic program.
2006-10-04 00:07:04 · answer #5 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I haven't heard about this yet. Where is this taking place? I don't see why it would be a controversy if the students canddecide to take it or not. On the other hand, there will be questions on why other religions books arent offered for study in a class
2006-10-04 00:05:25 · answer #6 · answered by pink9364 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm not sure what specific case you are talking about...
I'll pay for kids to learn about all religions in a survey of religions course, but I won't pay someone to teach one religion. There are not enough resources for schools as it is. They need to focus on and accomplish teaching the basics first and they have a long way to go on that.
Why would you go to a public school class to learn religion when there are better sources in religious organizations?
2006-10-04 00:12:48 · answer #7 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Bible may be fiction, but I do acknowledge that it has historical value. However, I think it is too much of a charged thing to teach in schools. It wouldn't be long before some evangelical nut teaching the class would be spending all the time trying to "save" his students. That kind of stuff has no place in public schools.
Also, "intelligent design" has no place in science class because it is not science. If it can't be tested, it isn't science. Period.
2006-10-04 00:07:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think it's a fine thing, but those students and teachers had better remember to set a good example for Christianity. They cannot use the privilege of class time for self-righteousness or proselytizing when people don't want to hear it. High-school students are a volatile bunch. Christians need to tread lightly so that people come to them.
2006-10-04 00:06:58 · answer #9 · answered by roberticvs 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
1. WHAT new controversy?
2. The bible does not belong in a school...nor the Koran...nor the Bhagavad Gita. Unless as part of a Sociology/comparative religion course. Study any of these you like on your own time or in your house of delusions/worship...
3. I guess 2 is my answer.
2006-10-04 00:06:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋