What do you think about the Bible being taught as an elective class in public schools?

Question

In your perspective, tell me what you believe. Whether you're a Christian or not, do you believe the Bible should be taught as an elective class in school? And I'm not talking about as literature or a history lesson, but really study and learn about the Bible by choice.

Answer 1

If you offer courses on the other five "major" world religions. Then why not.

Answer 2

I am an atheist, and I absolutely feel that an elective Bible history class should be allowed. When having the "prayer and creationism in school" debate with my religious family, I often point out that creationism does not belong in a science class (where all information has to be empirically proven), but that it need not be missing from a student's curriculum entirely. Students and their parents should be able to include that information through the use of electives. Religious people pay taxes to support public schools, and they deserve an elective if they want it.

Answer 3

If by "really study and learn about the Bible by choice", you basically mean making VBS a high school elective, then no. In order to graduate high school, you're required to have a certain number of credits. "Church" shouldn't count towards getting your diploma.

If you mean studying the stories of the bible, the history, and its effects on society, I have no problem with that. I took two elective religion classes in high school -- one was an overview of world religions, and the other was exploring literature and myths -- a combination of the bible, Norse, African, and Mesopotamian myths, a pretty strange but entertaining class, by the way.

Studying and learning about the bible as the inspired word of god is something that out to take place on Sundays -- and not in public school.

Answer 4

Hi, jansterg.

First I must say: there haven't been very many other responses which actually addressed, let alone answered, your question.

Therefore, let me get down to my response which is based on an article written about students currently taking the elective class you mention and based on life experience.

First, as we know, elective courses are voluntary and, as long as there are other elective courses from which to choose, any type of elective course can be added.

I read a recent article on your subject. Students who are currently taking this elective course gave their reasons. One student wants to participate in discussions on the subject of science and the Bible. Another student wants to converse intelligently during discussion about anything on the Bible. I can understand these reasons.

Let me add:

"The Code Which Saved The Life of An American Soldier"

During the Viet Nam Conflict, an American soldier had become separated from his unit and ended up hidden but surrounded by Viet Cong. The trapped American was in radio contact with his unit buddies but because the Viet Cong knew English and also received the American radio transmissions, they knew every move the Americans made.

From a distance, the America unit could see there was an opening, due East, by which their trapped buddy would be able to escape but they couldn't tell him to exit towards the East or the Viet Cong would have been "tipped off" and they would have captured him.

One insightful unit soldier thought of a "code" the Viet Cong would not understand and by which he was able to "spring" the American soldier. He told his trapped buddy, "Go in the direction the Wise Men came from."

Needless to say, it behooves a nation which holds general knowledge of a subject in common, to continue to generally know the subject.

PS: After his tour of duty was finally up, the "trapped American" made it home without harm or injury and rejoined his family--my family. He's my brother.

Answer 5

i wish it COULD be taught. after a few years of schools doing this, i bet u ANYTHING the crime WILL go down. and the world would just be a better place to live. i really think it should be taught as an elective class. the only thing is, is that there probly wont be 2 many kids in the classes. :( thats really sad to think about. but really if u think about, thats why they have private schools. i was raised in private schools just about ALL my life. i did go to a public middle school and high school, but for the time b4 that, i went to private schools.

God Bless♥

Answer 6

I really think the Church should teach the bible and that it should not be taught in the public schools.

We merely read scripture but we did not "study" the bible in school. That is the Church's job.

Now it would be nice if the schools allowed a Bible Club.

My opinion.

Answer 7

If is part of a humanities/comparative religions course where other major religious texts like the Quran, The Book of Mormon, texts of the Buddhists, the Hindus and pagan religions then I think it is appropriate to be taught to high school seniors in college prep courses.

If one is willing to teach only the bible then that is proselytizing and has no place in public education.

Answer 8

As long as the Quran and every other holy book of every other religion of children that go to public school is taught there. Otherwise it wouldn't be fair would it? You can'f force only the Bible on people, but even if you make it available electively, it's not fair to not teach other religions too. Better to have none.

Answer 9

It would be a good thing if they could find someone that is anointed of God to be able to teach it from a spiritual standpoint. That would be a problem. Few people are qualified to do so. There are too many that think that the Bible does not fulfill the spiritual needs of people, or even that people have spiritual needs. They think that it is simply a history, and not a book of prophecies. Prophecies that have been fulfilled, and prophecies that are going to be fulfilled.
As sad as it feels to say this, I think it is better to leave the teaching of the word of God to those that are anointed of God.

Answer 10

Personally, I think that it would be ok to do something like that. HOWEVER, I would have to state that, if that were the case, it would only be fair to also allow classes about the Koran, etc. And, as you stated, they should be elective... No forced classes.

I know that there will probably be people bringing up "separation of church and state" and things like that, but this question would really not fit under that in my opinion. ONLY if it were a required class would it start to cross any lines.

Answer 11

As long as Evolution can be taught in Sunday School as an elective.