Texas schools required to teach Bible - Polidicks

[quote]Books are a common sight in classrooms around the nation, but the Bible is one book that is not. Come this fall, a Texas law says all public schools must offer information relating to the Bible in their curriculum. "By the end of the year, what they begin to realize is that it is pervasive. You can't get away from it. The kids came back and were like 'It's everywhere,'" said John Keeling, the social studies chair at Whitehouse High School. Whitehouse already offers a Bible elective. [b]"The purpose of a course like this isn't even really to get kids to believe it, per se, it is just to appreciate the profound impact that it has had on our history and on our government."[/b] The law actually passed in 2007, but this will be the first school year it is enforced because the bill says, "The provisions of this act pertaining to a school district do not take effect until the 2009-2010 school year." This has gained mixed reactions from East Texans. "I think it is a good thing because a lot of kids don't have that experience, and they already want to take prayer out of school as it is, and you see where our kids are ending up!" said Tyler resident Laura Tucker. Tyler resident, Havis Tatum, disagrees with Tucker. "I don't want anybody teaching their religious beliefs to my child unless they want to send their child to my house and let me teach them my religious views," said Tatum. "There is no difference."[/quote] [url=http://www.kltv.com/global/story.asp?s=10933571]Source[/url] I think that people are taking this way out of context. The purpose of the classes is to teach how the Bible, as a work of literature, affected the world. It's not supposed to be a brainwashing activity.

Yes, but then I suppose they should be doing to the same for quite a few other things.

Well for non-Christians, they'll find it entertaining anyways since it had violence, blood and all that shit.

The bible has effected our laws a lot. Thou shall not kill could not have been thought of without the help of our trusty bible. :v:

Out of context? Pushing religious texts on people is bullshit. If they want to show impact, how about they teach the Qur'an and Torah as well?

"How it affected laws" is just an excuse to teach bible in the classroom. Honestly. [editline]07:20AM[/editline] If they are going to teach bible, they should also tell how Santa Clause effects the economy around Christmas and how other fiction has effected the world.

[QUOTE=Kybaltalt;16772235]The bible has effected our laws a lot. Thou shall not kill could not have been thought of without the help of our trusty bible. :v:[/QUOTE] It was a necessary evil to create order, but the time for faith has passed.

[QUOTE=Smirnoff Joe;16772264]It was a necessary evil to create order, but the time for faith has passed.[/QUOTE] stone the nonbeliever! thou shall not kill does not apply to infiedels!

This is terrible :/.

Eh, it's alright if they teach how it's influenced things in history, as long as they don't teach crap like splitting seas as truth. Also they should also teach that not everything caused by the bible has been positive.

[QUOTE=Enishi;16772239]Out of context? Pushing religious texts on people is bullshit. If they want to show impact, how about they teach the Qur'an and Torah as well?[/QUOTE] The majority of american's are christian, so an understanding of the bible and all the jazz it brought with it is more relevant than studiying budisum or other religions. It's most likely that they will be covered in the class aswell though, as my Religious Education class covers alot of different religions and stff.

[QUOTE=Enishi;16772239]Out of context? Pushing religious texts on people is bullshit. If they want to show impact, how about they teach the Qur'an and Torah as well?[/QUOTE] Because the bible has better morals than both of those combined.

[QUOTE=Komato General Tor;16772289]Eh, it's alright if they teach how it's influenced things in history, as long as they don't teach crap [B]like splitting seas as truth[/B]. Also they should also teach that [B]not everything caused by the bible has been positive[/B].[/QUOTE] this is blasphemy. get the noose. [editline]07:26AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Uber|nooB;16772306]Because the bible has better morals than both of those combined.[/QUOTE] Morals are such a vague term. Also, be that as it may, I dunno if the Bible would really be the lesser of 3 evils, but it certainly isn't much better then either of those.

[QUOTE=Uber|nooB;16772306]Because the bible has better morals than both of those combined.[/QUOTE] Yeah, that's what they did, there was a PTA meeting discussing whether to teach the Quran or the Bible based off of how moral they were. Nothing to do with the state religious demographics.

[img]http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/exhibits/darwin/originb.jpg[/img] How bout this book?

[QUOTE=Swebonny;16772435][img]http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/exhibits/darwin/originb.jpg[/img] How bout this book?[/QUOTE] I don't think this much effected American government. Sorry.

So it's just like teaching Shakespeare or something. Except for the fact state and religion are separate.

[QUOTE=Jacklus;16772676]So it's just like teaching Shakespeare or something. Except for the fact state and religion are separate.[/QUOTE] A lot of shit has been effected by the bible(ie a shit ton of books).

[QUOTE=Kybaltalt;16772447]I don't think this much effected American government. Sorry.[/QUOTE] I mean, yes indeed. Evolution haven't affected the American government.

Does anyone even care about this in the US anyway? I thought they all were christians :clint:

I don't care as long as they're not forcing the religion on people.

[quote]"The purpose of a course like this isn't even really to get kids to believe it, per se, it is just to appreciate the profound impact that it has had on our history and on our government."[/quote] "Look at all these good things the bible has done like teach us not to kill or steal, ain't you glad you're a Christian."

[QUOTE=Pleather;16772772]Does anyone even care about this in the US anyway? I thought they all were christians :clint:[/QUOTE] Noooo....... one of the main things about America is that we can choose our individual religions, and that's why everyone's getting worked up. The people believe that the school is trying to MAKE their children become Christians, therefore taking away their religious rights. Or something like that.

[QUOTE=Enishi;16772239]Out of context? Pushing religious texts on people is bullshit. If they want to show impact, how about they teach the Qur'an and Torah as well?[/QUOTE] I go to a catholic school and believe it or not; there are several sections of the religious studies course teaching all about Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, etc. From what I can tell here, they have a good mind set on what they want to teach students and I think people here are taking things a little out of context themselves. But that's just me.

death to america and such

[QUOTE=Kybaltalt;16772245]"How it affected laws" is just an excuse to teach bible in the classroom. Honestly. [editline]07:20AM[/editline] If they are going to teach bible, they should also tell how Santa Clause effects the economy around Christmas and how other fiction has effected the world.[/QUOTE] Haha yeah, just like how somthing exploded out of nothing and life somehow began.

It should be an optional course. [editline]08:31AM[/editline] [QUOTE=bigdan;16772911]Haha yeah, just like how somthing exploded out of nothing and life somehow began.[/QUOTE] Feed him. Go ahead. We're watching. [editline]08:32AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Swebonny;16772435][img]http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/exhibits/darwin/originb.jpg[/img] How bout this book?[/QUOTE] They already do, at least in my school. Also, I am Christian, but I think that they should teach all types of religions in schools from a totally neutral perspective (AS AN OPTIONAL COURSE, Like Latin or Spanish or French), because some people like to know more about these things, just like how some of you might like to know about Roman mythology. Be it real or not, some people like learning about it. However, I don't understand why it is being taught in public schools as a mandate, because when I was public school, discussing religion at all would net you a day's suspension.

[QUOTE=Robbazking;16773015][img]http://stillfootball.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/flying_spaghetti_monster_2.jpg[/img] When will the kids learn about FSM?[/QUOTE] They are not ready brother.

I hear an atheist shitstorm coming...

[quote]Out of context? Pushing religious texts on people is bullshit. If they want to show impact, how about they teach the Qur'an and Torah as well? [/quote] [quote]Because the bible has better morals than both of those combined. [/quote] The Torah is PART of the Christian Bible. Teaching one is teaching the other. But yes, if they teach one, I believe they should teach the other religious texts.