Georgia May OK Bible as Textbook

When I was in High School (granted, some 17 years ago), we had to read parts of Genesis for Senior English. I don't think anyone even raised an eyebrow. We knew it was a literature assignment, not an exercise in religion.

What's next, using the book of Numbers to teach mathematics? What happened to the separation of church and state that was written into the Constitution? We still have a Constitution, right? Don't we? Anyone??????

Years ago, I studied the Bible at a private junior college. I paid to study it.

I don't understand... aren't there enough private religious schools?

Actually, I have no problem with it... assuming that if a student requests an elective on Shintoism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Polytheism, Buddhism, etc. the elective is created and funded at the same level as the Christian elective class.

As anti-religion as I am, I try to be rational about it. We have freedom of religion, but not necessarily freedom from religion. But as soon as one religion is not treated as an equal, hammer 'em. But hell, denying religion's influence certainly isn't helping... its grip is too strong.

Okay, so why in our multi-cultural society do we focus so heavily on only Western literature?

In Maryland, I had grammar in 9th and 10th grades, American literature in 11th, and British in 12th. That just totally ignores the shear amount of African, Asian, Eastern European, and South American (even Native American) literature that is important in our culture.

As an American, if you want to require a whole year on American literature, that's fine... although my American lit teacher was a Transcendentalist, so that's all we studied... which was just awful.

But we haven't been British for 200+ years. Does reading McBeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Caesar really do more for a student than reading one Shakespeare play and also some of the great Japanese literature to come out of its unification, or Gilgamesh?

I've been living in Georgia for about three years. I am Christian and I think this is a very bad idea. While various religious groups, churches and individuals are sure to tout this as a huge victory (if it passes), they seem to have no idea the possible and probable consequences. Where I live there is absolutely no imaginable way to teach the Bible objectively if there is any classroom discussion.

This really isn't the issue, though. It's political and partisan because this bill is a preemptive measure by the Republicans in response to similar legislation proposed by Democrats who were hoping to compete for conservative Christian votes. Pass or fail, it gives them something to campaign on without really accomplishing anything.

If it weren't our children at risk I'd be inclined to let them have their way, let it run its course, and let them deal with the can of worms which would surely be opened.

Georgia's schools already rank near the lowest in the nation in several areas. Seems like this should be the focus instead of political posturing.

Jason,

Just a pseudonym, but not selected without a connection. I identified, sympathized and empathized quite a bit with the character in the movie. My bond with the character wasn't so much in the search for extraterrestrial life, but in the dealings with people who I believe misuse religion, science and other branches of thought for the sake of greed, power, etc. - and those that I believe misrepresent religion, science, etc. through ignorance or by being misguided. My deepest empathy with the character is in believing something yet being unable to prove it to the satisfaction of skeptics. I am intrigued by patterns, systems, groupings, sub-groupings, etc., however I'm equally fascinated when there's apparent absence of patterns, groups, relationships, etc.
--bye for now.

America might be a better place today if it weren't shoving it's Christian agenda down people's throats and allowed a sharing of all beliefs. In any event, spirituality is private choice and should not be pubicly mandated or paid for.