I am all for some Bible history if it actually teaches history. Perhaps they can teach Comparative Religion instead- what a great way to bring meaningful debate to our already religiously diverse public schools. I have said that I do not align myself with any religion, but I think that religious texts bring understanding about man and his current events. These books are great tools, not to mention great reading, when they are read for puposes other than teaching division and hatred.

This said, to avoid reference to the Bible is to rewrite history, which is intellectually dishonest. If this bill passes (I’m sure it will) it will be our responsibility to monitor the classes and ensure that the Bible is being taught in the proper academic context.

You can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you choose to deny the existance of God, that is your right.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

If Jake is disallowed to practice his religion or even study about it in school, then you cannot be allowed to preach the nonexistance of God. You want to shove your belief system on others. What gives you that right?

I challenge you and other athiests to write in this forum coherent arguments in favor of banning religions or the mention of God anywhere, anytime in the public forum as you advocate.

I agree with you. I doubt if you rounded up other students, held them against their will, and then forced them ro read or listen to the Bible.

You are protected under the Constitution as much as an athiest or wicca is protected.

What has happened to reason? What has happened to “equal protection”? Bible toters, just like gun toters are protected under the Constitution.

And are you saying that it is ok to teach a religion such as Islam or Hinduism? And would it be ok if a teacher was teaching about religion and wanted the students to learn about the Branch Davidians, could he teach about that?

Things have gotten so out of control, the Declaration of Independence was removed from a school because it was unconstitutional because it mentioned God.

I don’t get angry when someone in my school brings in a book of wicca but when I brought in the Bible the “American Taliban” (other students) told me what I was doing was unconstituional and I brought in my copy of the Constituion to prove them wrong. I didn’t force my views on anyone. Another student and I studied the Bible before school started.

We need to make sure everyone knows that everyone no matter how popular or unpopular their views they can say any damn thing they want any damn time they want because this is a free speech zone.

How would one explain what a major motivation was for settling the “New World”. Sometimes we are ridiculous in trying to purge all references to God, Allah, or any other name given a monothiestic Higher Power.

Have we gone insane in our educational system? Are we to allow the absurd to rule? Protect minority rights but why allow them to dictate all policy?

I am all for teaching history and philosophy in its proper context even referencing God when appropriate. I can see no offense to nonbelievers. If they are so sensitive they cannot handle the mentioning of the word God, then they can crank up their own private schools and teach whatever they choose.

Teaching biblical history wouldn’t have to include anything about faith for example how the early Christians used the new Roman road system to preach or the crusades.

It is my opinion that each individual school and local community should decide what is taught. I am not against the teaching of evolution as long as it is being taugh as a theory and I think intelligent design could also be taught with little or no problem without even mentioning Christianity.

As long as the class is not required I see no problem offering it.

On the homosexual books, in high schools students should be able to make their own decisions about what they read and if someone finds something offensive to damn bad and they don’t have to read it. I hope students don’t believe everything they read.