Should "The Bible as History" be an elective course in public high schools?

Question

In some school districts in Florida and in Georgia, efforts are being made by school boards (successfully) to indroduce courses such as "the Bible as history" or "the history of the Bible" as elective courses in public high schools. Those programs are being contested in court, but in the interim continue to be offered and attended. What are your thoughts on this innovation? As an agnostic, I must confirm that I am naturally opposed...

Answer 1

LOL...the bible is NOT reliable history. How about "The 1001 Arabian Nights" as history? It's the same class of document.

I can even accept "The Bible as Literature," because that's what it is. And the KJV is undeniably masterful English, on par with Shakespeare. But while some sections of the bible are based on historical events, they've been so overlaid with legend that it's practically impossible to extract the kernel of truth, as with the legends of Arthur.

Answer 2

I actually took a class like this while being a senior in high school. I was skeptical about how they were able to teach a bible course in a public high school. It was simply under the topic of viewing the Bible through a historical perspective. In my experience, it was nothing more than glorified Sunday School. As a Christian, it cheapens my faith in a way. I believe that faith-based teaching should be in churches only. However, with that said, if it was TRULY a Biblical History class then ANY person of ANY religion that is a religious scholar could test the class. In fact, I would rather someone that was NOT a Christian teach it so that faith wouldn't even be a topic in there.

Many colleges have classes such as these. They are taught from an academic point of view. I am just perfectly fine with this. However, as stated before, faith shouldn't be taught in public schools, unless, there is a class from every faith that is represented in that school and a section made for those that do not have faith in any higher being, such as yourself. It should be fair.

Answer 3

IF it could be taught without a religious, agnostic, or atheist spin, yes. But that's VERY hard to do, unless you just give everyone a copy of the same version of the bible and say, read this and regurgitate it verbatim on a test.
If it's not taught in this way, then someone will get offended and file some major lawsuit which will inevitably lead to the Supreme Court outlawing reading, or school or something like that. I think it's better to stick with what the LDS do. We have what's called Seminary, where high school aged kids can either go to their church or to a church owned building across the street from the school to take religious instruction classes. Sometimes they are before school, sometimes they are an elective taken during the school day, but technically off campus.

Answer 4

Just whoes Bible is being tought?
Shouldn't the course be The History of all Religious Writings plus the written philosophies of non believers?
Are not the old & new testaments tought in Churches?
What is the real intent in the public school offerings?
Is there enough immediately above to suggest why those
courses are being challenged in the courts?

Answer 5

I think the bible should be though in schools as on history not a literature as some people with alot of opinion says. That's their opinion but in their heart they are thinking different . I think most of these persons are scared they would turn around and become a christian instead so that's the reason their answers are like ugly I know God forgive you already so I won´t be the judge nor the Jewry. weather it´s been though in schools or not God will win alot of souls. You receive my vote for the bible as history in schools thumb up .

Answer 6

Yes, God gives free choice and so should the government. My kids had classes that taught of false greek Gods, etc. and it wasnt choice. so, why cant we have other beliefs that are choice? Noone should be forced to take any religious classes of any kind, including Christianity. But, lets let it all be taught by choice, or not taught at all. When a teacher can teach to chant for results, but cannot pray, let me tell you, something is wrong here folks. That chanting is someone religion, but not mine. Let us teach our programs also, and be sure they are all taught on a CHOOSE to take basis.
You say you are agnostic and aposed to christian education of any kind. Do you also feel that strong about them not being able to teach their various beliefs, such as athiesm, or pantheism, or any of it. My child cant say being homosexual is a sin, but a teacher can tell my child that its not. whats up with this? Either let it all be taught, or get it all out and teach only reading, writing, and arithemtic, if you know what I mean.
Others beliefs are fine, only those of christians do most want to be silenced, and whether they know it or not, the devil is behind it all. I am a strong believer in Jesus and yes I have seen miracles. God had showed me things, and told me things, audibly, and no I am not a mental case. I have been given the gift of prophecy, and God shows me into the supernatural reaslm, and I tell you what, if you knew what I knew, you would be running to jesus right now this very moment. He is coming soon. Once you die or He comes to rapture us home, then its too late. So think on this, pray on this, and ask Him to show you if He is real, you will be surprized at what comes next. For you I will pray...

Answer 7

I think it should be taught as theology or mythology or even just literature- I had those options in high school and I took all 3 and I was an atheist then and I am now but I did learn a lot from each class, but not as history

Answer 8

No. But the Bible as Literature should be available. It is foundational to the Western World's literature, and it is difficult to follow many of the analogies of tthose like Shakespeare without that knowledge.

However, Christians are not willing to permit the study of their mythology on the same level as, say, Greek mythology, so it becomes impossible to study it as literature, despite how worthwhile it is.

Obviously, this study would help Christians, as many here know less about their Bible than non-Christians who have studied it as lit.

Answer 9

the bible as history is a poor choice to word it and would be very biased material.

Though if it were to be done it should be taught as biblical history using the bible as a reference to historic events that happened in biblical Judeah.

It should also include other sources such as Archaeological evidence

Answer 10

If they would like to add "Bible as history", they should also add other religious books as "history". But I oppose the idea. The bible is just a bunch of stories that contain lots of scary, and untrue events.