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February 11th, 2011
07:55 AM ET
Kentucky Senate passes bill to teach Bible classes in public schoolsFrom CNN Louisville, Kentucky affiliate WLKY Frankfort, Kentucky - Bible classes could be taught in Kentucky public schools under a bill that's made it halfway through Kentucky's legislature. State Senator Joe Bowen wants Kentucky public school students to have an opportunity to take classes about the Bible. "No doubt about it, the most important book ever written and obviously, it's had so much influence on our society and all of western civilization," Bowen said. Last year, former State Senator David Boswell introduced the same bill. It passed the Senate, but died in the house. Bowen defeated Boswell last November. Read the full story from CNN Louisville, Kentucky affiliate WLKY.
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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The Bible is the Jewish Book of Fairy Tales.
Actually the NT is full of pagan beliefs: virgin birth, consuming body and blood, walking on water, water into wine, resurrection of the dead. It's mythology from one spectrum as seen through the prism of another.
Yeah, this has no chance of actually being pa-ssed, and on the off-chance it does it will be quickly overturned by the judiciary. It's the same as the US House's "repeal" of the healthcare legislation: posturing for the const.ituency.
On a different note, they need to fix their filters. I had to post this 3 times.
So....are they going to allow teachers to have a class on the Quran, or teach judaism, or buddhism, or any other religion? Cause i don't see how teaching students about one religion as legal under the law saying the govt can't establish a religion. And teaching about one religion in public schools would seem that they are saying that Christianity is the right religion. Also, Is this class mandatory? I wouldn't have a problem if it was an optional class.
I'm just wondering out loud. I've heard for so long now from people like our past president Mr. Bush that the actions of fundamentalist Muslims are baffling. I appear to be clearly in the minority in my view that fundamentalist Christians behave the SAME way. Their Insistance on pushing their belief systems on others on issues such as evolution and gay marriage admendments are clearly quite baffling and not reasonable or logic to some of us!
And sorry user Common Sense NOT every founding father would have by any stretch of the imagination called themselves Christians with the same fervence we see people proclaim that today!
You are not alone in your assessment of the Fundies. The Dominionists have been infiltrating our government for a generation and are pushing their Christian Revisionist agenda for decades.
This doesn't surprise me. Kentucky is the state with the Creation Museum that promotes the Flintstone theory that dinosaurs and man lived side by side. Kentucky is also using tax payer funds to build a replica of Noah's Ark. It's insane to divert these much needed resources away from where they're really needed. It's embarrassing.
I could not attend a school that forced me to learn about Christianity. Although I understand it's basic tenets and the value of faith it provides to its followers, I am not a Christian, and simply would not send my kids to a school that forced them to take part in another religion than our own. We are Jewish.
You mean you are one of the "Chosen?" One of the "heirs" to that little patch of real estate in the Middle East that seems to be the cause of so much turmoil and bloodshed? Until you disavow any of this nonsense, you're part of the problem, not the solution. Ban religion.
Wheter people want to admit it or not, the much of the art, literature, architecture of western civilization is based on the stories in the Bible and Greek/Roman classics. Studying the Bible from an academic stand point is very valuable to students. I did so in my public High School. No one complained, like no one complained learning the Greek myths. People just need to RELAX! ITS A PIECE OF LITERATURE
It is not treated as JUST literature though. It is treated as the guidelines of everything that is wholesome and true. Which it isn't.
Um, ever hear of Seperation of Church and State? Are they going to teach the stories of the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny? They are about as important religion.
Outrageous, offensive, disgusting... Will other fairy tales be "taught" alongside? Perhaps Snow White, or maybe Hansel & Gretel.
How can we possibly criticize regimes led by "religious fanatics" in other parts of the world when we are no better? This country is moving in the wrong direction.
you don't seem very educated
Actually, they already teach fairy tales in school...
If more people studied the bible for themselves, hopefully they wouldn't be so confused by what other people tell them it says. Maybe some good could come out of this stupid waste of the legislature's time.
This world is just sad. We were founded on Christian beleifs and people just beleive what they want to now! Who do you think made this whole world?! Oh you think we came from monkeys??? Who made the monkeys? Genesis says " In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" Kids need to learn this.
No, they really don't.
You're "who made monkeys" argument makes no sense. You know that right? If, as you imply, god made momkeys, then that just moves the question to "who made god." It doesn't answer or solve or address anything.
No, we weren't founded on Christian beliefs. No one says we came from monkeys (that's a lie taught to you by your pastors). The bible also says the world flooded, which is demonstrably false.
If parents really feel their kids need to "learn this," then send 'em to Sunday school. It has no place in a public school.
Oh, sad..you're so sad...Hopefully your children can break the cycle of stupidity that people like you perpetuate.
...and Methusaleh lived to be 969 years old, and five loaves of bread and two fish mysteriously contradicted the law of Conservation of Mass and fed a multi-tude, and Lazarus came to life after being dead four days. And Santa was at my house around 3 AM on December 25 and the Easter Bunny is due early on Sunday April 24.
It's actually very "sad" how uneducated you are. There are scientific answers to all your questions. Are you from Kentucky?
There are so many false assumptions with this statement I'm not sure where to start.
Do you realize that if you were born in India, you'd very likely be blagging on about Hinduism? Does that
strike you as funny that the whole thing is determined by where you were born?
Believe don't typically believe what they want – they believe in whatever they were inculcated with as children – which 99.9% of the time is the same as their parents. Again, doesn't that strike you as a localized phenomena, rather than some over-arching truth?
Humans didn't "come from monkeys". We share a common ancestor long since gone. That's a fact, proven by molecular genetics. Whether you believe it or not doesn't change the fact. Much like gravity. Educate yourself before blathering on like the typical xian fundamentalist windbag – please!
Man I hope you haven't reproduced or have any influence whatsoever on any young minds.
So true about breaking the cycle... It takes a very small mind to perpetuate such nonsense, and the onlly reason it is such a big discussion is becase there are a lot of sad people out there who grew up entrenched in it. It takes a forward-thinking, responsible grown up to break the cycle and you are definitly not part of that group.
Adams signed the Treaty of Tripoli. Article 11 states
"The Government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the
Christian religion."
Teaching mythology as facts will not do those kids any good.
hey dummy, mythology is already taught in schools as is that bogus evolution religion
Wally, please stop calling everyone "dummy." You're the one who seems to be a bit ignorant about Science. So, coming from you, "dummy" must be some kind of compliment.
One of the best courses I ever took in college was a literary analysis of the New Testament. Before I took it, I thought that the bible was one of the oldest books on the planet. I also never knew that there were other writings of the time that had been considered for inclusion in the bible, but were rejected. A through look at the bible can help one sort out between religion and spirituality. This could wind up being a really good thing for the students and help stop the nonsense of religions.
If it worked like that, I would totally agree. Unfortunately, I doubt that well informed, unbiased individuals would be teaching this class.
I don't have any problem with teaching the bible if they are willing to teach the Koran, the Torah, and other major religions of interest.
What kind of class would this be? World travesties? How the Middle East will destroy humankind? Myths from Arab Lands, Semitic Tribes and Pagan Warlords? How about simply including the "scriptures" with Ancient Mythology where they belong?
I agree, it's mythology. We study Greek mythology as well, don't we? We study cultural history through to understand where we are and where we came from. Does it mean we take the information in the texts as literal truth? No, and I'm not saying we should do that. In fact, if you teach people about religion in a matter-of-fact way, you might find that people begin to realize that there are fewer differences between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity than previously thought- in this sense education could be used as a bridge towards tolerance. I took Religion class in private school and it actually unburdened my mind from the catholic Dogma that was pounded into my head from my early youth- I was able to recognize it for what it was and put my religion and other religions into a clearer perspective. If I didn't have this course I'd probably still be a Catholic and I'd still believe that I will go to hell if I don't repent for my sins and all of that BS- education was a liberating factor, not a limiting one. But it all depends on how it's taught. Unfortunately the context in which Kentucky will teach religion will likely cover only one religion, and it will be about as educational as reciting the Rosary a hundred times.
In Germany, where I was born and raised, they taught religion in schools. But you had a choice. It was divided in 3 groups: Protestants, Catholics, and non-religious people/other religions had that time off to do homework, or whatever they wanted. I did not mind learning about the bible, it turned me into an Atheist.
But I do feel if they want to teach about the bible, they should also teach about the Qu'ran and other holy texts. Seems only fair.
It's probably not recommended to look to Germany as a model for education, or ideology of any kind. With all due respect...
Have you ever attended a German School? If not, you should not make assumptions 😉
If you feel that your Children needs to hear about the Bible, then Sunday School and Church is the place for it; not School.
School Curriculum, is already full enough already. Lets keep matters of education and faith separate.
The only thing that schools should teach about religion is that many people have different faiths, or no faiths and they should be treated without prejustice and with the upmost respect.
then remove the evolution religion too dummy
Actually nothing about believing in a fantasy world, when we live in the real world, needs to be respected. The lesson should be "there's a world full of child-minded-adults out there who still believe in a Santa Claus style super being. These people should be viewed as the retarded people they are"
Bravo, Drexxel. And to you Wally, Science is not religion. It's the closest we have to truth at the moment. And it remains true whether you choose to believe in it or not.
@Wally : I really hope you are a troll.
@Lord Soth: well put.
@Drexxell: more than 90% of the humans on this planet believe in a supreme being in one form or another. Logic has nothing to do with it. I'm not a believer myself, but I do understand that I'm in the minority there, so Lord Soth has a good point IMO about treating all with the utmost respect.
@wally: enough name-calling. If that's the best you can do, please stop posting comments.
Can then add a Koran class too?
I get your point, but let's not make matters worse than they already are.
I would imagine that one third of the global population would disagree with the statement that this book is the "most important book ever written."
Where's the "like" button when I need it?
you're a dummy
Perhaps it's the most important book if you need to justify and sanction prejudice, slavery, torture and war. Let's ask the Hillbillie Baptist Church what they think. I am sure that they are picketing a funeral somewhere nearby.
You mean 2/3rd's of the world would disagree...only 1/3rd is Christian
Yes, here is more proof we live in a state where self righteous, biased country hicks run state government. The reason I attend my church is so I can recieve religious instruction. All Kentuckians are NOT Christians and neither should they be to feel included and respected. All I can say is, it is a shame to focus major attention on such a minor, partisan supposed solution that is really NO solution at all...
I think this could be an interesting class if it is taught from a historical/literary viewpoint, rather than a religious one. The bible is one of the most well known and well read books in history. It'd be interesting for them to also look at other religious works also, such as the Quran. If the class is taught correctly and isn't like going to church and praying, I would take this class. Many colleges offer classes on the Bible from a historical standpoint. There is more to the Bible than Jesus.
The Bible is not good history. It's mostly allegory, including the gospels. That is the the style of ancient religious literature, and if it is taught at all to children, that is how it should be explained. So, I disagree. (1) It is religious literature, so it must be presented as such. (2) It is not historical or true, so it must be explained as stories told to teach a lesson or convey a message. This is a very bad idea. But, what do we expect from a trashy backwater like KY?
Did you read this story? This is a BIBLE class...not a COMPARATIVE RELIGION class.
Why am I not surprised that the inbred state of Kentucky passed this? God damn, we have some embarrassments in this country.
History? NO Now it can be taught as "The Bible as Literature" like it is in many universities.
Actually the topic of Jesus is literally the Bible. From Genesis to Revelations Christ is the central theme. Yes, history, morality, and literature can all be taught using the Bible, but to say that there is more to the Bible than Jesus is, in my opinion, simply not true.
Agreed. But you need to have instructors that understand this. It should be a literary course, not Sunday school. Many religious scholars agree that Jesus was in fact a person that lived and died on earth. There is nothing wrong with talking about that from a historical perspective, and looking at how the original authors of the bible interpreted his life and deeds. That said, it will probably be hard to find a teacher that can walk that fine line. It's probably a course better suited for the college level. But if they can make it work, more power to them.
Probably a dead argument already though, a law like this would be the subject of endless lawsuits and I doubt it would ever make it into practice.
I took an elective English Literature class in college – "The Bible as a work of Literature." Many schools have comparative or world religions classes. Nothing wrong with that. This is the first step to Dominionist Christian Reconstructionism and is no different than the Koran being taught in Islamic countries.
As long as its not a "Required" course, I don't see anything wrong with it. Offer the class, if students choose to take it, they can.
@YBP: The slur against the people and state of Kentucky is un-called for. I have hope that the majority of Kentuckians would prefer religion to remain a topic for home and church, and think their tax dollars better spent on math, science, history, and literature.
@seriously 226: the bible is not literature. There have been far too many editions and rewrites over the centuries. If it is "taught" at all, study should include the Council of Nicea and the development of the Christian canon that occurred over the course of some few hundred years beginning in the 1st century a.d.