Do you think that the Bible should be reinstated, or at least offered, as a textbook in public schools.?

Answer 1

Yes, because all knowledge can be integrated through the Bible. As a teacher, integrating knowledge is difficult, but offering the Bible will help to integrate knowledge. All true knowledge originates with God.

Answer 2

A textbook on what? It may have been used as a reading primer way back in the 17' and 1800's but it has never served as a textbook per se.

History, NO. AT best the bible plays fast and loose with history, the old testament is the propaganda written to aggrandize the isrealite kings. The new testament is a confabulation of mythological plagerism and unreliable folk history.

Science, NO. The bible says the earth is flat, the fixed and unmoving center of the universe. That the stars are just lesser lights stuck to the arch of the heavens. That the moon gives off its own light. That insects have only four legs, that bats are birds and whales are fish.

Math, NO. The bible says the value of Pi is exactly 3.

English, NO. The bible is written in an archaic form of english making it unsuitable as an aid to proper grammar and usage.

Englsh Lit, even if the fundies could be trusted with it no, but since they can't resist NO. The bible has played an important role in the development of english language and literature because it was central in early drives for mass literacy and national identity after Henry VIII's break with the vatican. It contains some of early english's finest bits of poetry. I have no objection to passages taken from it being used, provided the passages have artistic or literary value and aren't sneaky attempts at religious indoctrination. Most of the bible is gibberish that even the finest of early englands poets coudn't make readable, putting the whole book at the center of a lit class would be a waste of time.

Comparative religion, NO. I wouldn't mind seeing comparative religion classes in public schools, but I don't think christian nationalist activists could handle their wee'uns being exposed to respectful explanations of living world religions. I'm equally ceartain they'd hate for them to find out how much of the christ mythology was cribbed from earlier middle eastern religions. Putting just one example of holy writ up as a textbook would be wasteful and useless. A textbook discusing the similarities and differences between living and extinct religions and the psychological underpinings of religious and supernaturalist thought would be called for.

Ethics classes, NO. Another subject I wouldn't mind seeing. However the bible is rife with uncivilized exhortations to mistreat and kill people for reasons that would get folks in totaly justified deep legal $hit in any civilized nation of the modern world.

Answer 3

I think Religion(all Religion) should at least be given an equal opportunity as non-religion in public schools. The vast majority of people living in the United States believe in one religious Faith or another. I had to study Math and English, but it didn't turn me into a Mathematician or Literary Professional by studying it. It just made be a better educated person to make my own choices on how to live my life.

Answer 4

Absolutely not. Our forefathers studied history and found that
no society could survive which mixed matters of religion
and matters of state. Besides, they were trying to escape
religious persecution in their home countries. Do you see
how even now, Christian kills Christian because of sectarian
differences? Just study some history and you can see how
much worse it can get.

The First Amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. "

Clearly, requiring schools to teach the bible would be an
establishment of a specific religion, namely Christianity.
Do you feel okay about studying the Koran, Bhagavad Gita,
the Torah, or the Dhammapada?

Answer 5

In a religious studies course, along with other religious books. I would have no trouble with that But in any other lesson no it should not be offered because it would not be relevant to the course.
Maybe as something to take a reading out of in an assembly, so long as you read from other books and made it clear that people didn't have to follow your religion again I would have no trouble with that.

Answer 6

No.

We are a melting pot and at our inception it may have been a JudeoChristian country but it is not anymore. Religious education is a task for family and religious institution. It should never be in public domain. The government would ruin it...just as some might suggest that religion has ruined politics.

We can only teach morality in the schools based on traditional values that provide us with the commanality to get along in that community setting.

Answer 7

Yes. It contains great poetry, for a start. And a great deal more.
The American free public school system started so that all children could learn to read--in order to be able to read and understand the Bible.

Answer 8

Yes, just because it's in the library doesn't mean it has to be taught. Don't let the minority lead the majority. The majority makes the the nation what it is. So since this nation was found on Christian principals. That makes us a Christian nation.

Answer 9

Yes along with every other religious blue print . This would be a class to understand and dissect all faiths.Then everyone could be open [because of knowledge] to learn from one another. Wow then because of this people might not kill each other. No greater foe than ignorance.

Answer 10

reinstated? never was offered for reading in public schools