Religious history and public school

While I'm expanding my blog...first politics and now religion...I thought I'd share some thoughts on a bill that is going through Geogria's legislature right now. Senate Bill 79 provides for the introduction of a couple of elective courses within the public schools. In particular, these are courses based on history as presented in the Bible. Apparently, this bill passed our Senate with a vote of 50-1, and is currently under consideration by our House.

The bill provides for 2 elective courses:

1. History and Literature of the Old Testament Era
   
2. History and Literature of the New Testament Era

I agree that an understanding of the stories in the Bible is useful and that references are all around us, so I don't object to kids learning about this. What I do object to is the fact that it is only the Bible, explicitly so. According to the text of the bill:

The courses provided for in this Code section shall:
(A) Be taught in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the biblical materials or texts from other religious or cultural traditions;
(B) Not include teaching of religious doctrine or sectarian interpretation of the Bible or of texts from other religious or cultural traditions; and
(C) Not disparage or encourage a commitment to a set of religious beliefs.

(B) excludes any other religious texts from being introduced, taught or discussed. Holy cow, wouldn't it be better if we did a more comprehensive introduction to the various religious texts that different religions are based on, rather than having Bible Study? Let's teach our kids that the world (shrinking as it is) has many different beliefs and, by the way, here are some of the texts on which these beliefs are based on. Then, if you are so inclined, you can delve deeper into the particulars of your religious beliefs, but it's not only helpful to know the history of the Bible, but also the history, differences, and similarities with other religious beliefs.

My guess is that since we've successfully (so far) kept religion out of the science classes, we are trying to find other ways into the classroom, and this happens to be a convenient path. I don't like it one bit given that it is exclusionary, which I believe is the root of all evil.
My letter to my state representative, Jan Jones:

I understand there is a Senate Bill 79 which provides for the state funding of an elective in History and Literature of the Old Testament Era and an elective course in the History and Literature of the New Testament Era.

I would urge you to vote against this bill. While I agree that students should learn about the stories in the Bible as they are in general good stories and have basis in history, I strongly object to this being the only and exclusive religious based history that is taught in our public schools.

I would back a bill that would introduce and teach students about the various and diverse religious texts, writings, and learnings, but I believe it is a gross misuse of public funds to teach an exclusively Bible based religious history. I feel that an introduction to the broader world of religious history would be useful and feel that teachings on a single religious text should be the job of the church.


Thank you,


Kipp Jones

p.s. I used Congress.org to get my message through...