I have to admit, I’m not really for the teaching of the Bible in public schools. This topic is on the cover of the April 2 edition of Time. While this may be appropriate in private schools (Christian, Catholic, Baptist, Episcopalian, etc), it would heavily favor one religion over others. For non-Christian students, such as atheists, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, it can seem like a hostile environment.
Mentioned in the article is the conservative Christian push for a Biblical education in public schools. One of the more alarming trends of the 1990′s on is the public relations campaigns of fundamentalist Christians – while their message and core beliefs may not be palatable to mainstream America, they have found ways to present them in more secular, easier to swallow forms. This is like the candy coated bitter pill that may not be good for the the public body.
The Bible is a source for some of the greatest works in literature (in English). Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, William Shakespeare‘s body of work, and William Blake‘s art and writing all reference the Bible in some way. If you really want to get hit over the head with it, there’s Pilgrim’s Progress. One section of Toni Morrison‘s Beloved references the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. However, the Bible (and ideas passed down from various church traditions over the centuries) is not the only source. Other sources include Classical sources (Greek and Roman mythology, philosophy, drama [tragedy and comedy]), Gilgamesh, and works in the canon of literature. History, along with current events constantly unfolding, also provides a source and context for many works.
The Bible’s role in Western history should be acknowledged. However, courses in the Bible could easily become religious propaganda. Some teachers, despite their beliefs and opinions, teach the course with a great deal of integrity, such as Jennifer Kendrick mentioned in David van Biema’s article. However, there still is the risk of the courses becoming “weekday Sunday school.” For me, there are a great deal of things Americans should become literate in, and it’s not limited to the Bible. History is one of them, but what about the role of other sources in Western culture (as previously mentioned) or even the non-Western ideas that are now a contributing factor to its development?
