The Rise of the Religious Right in America.Texas H.S.'s add bible study to curriculum

[adajh588]

If they get their way there will be no more evolution taught, that is one of the other things these people are promoting. They say children taught evolution are being taught lies.

Well, in many people's minds evolution is a belief, almost like a religion but without the focus of a god. So some think that if "Christianity" or other religions can't be taught than why can evolution? It's a good point in my opinion but I doubt they will ever get rid of it, evolution really isn't that big of a deal, if you agree with it then you agree with it and if you don't you just remember the facts for the test and forget them after. It's an elective, no big deal, no one will ever be forced to take it even if some believe everyone should have to.

 

[cjh]

Remember, y'all, the Religious Right has been aggressively seeking to take over local school boards and state school boards for the last 10-20 years...and they've been doing a pretty good job in their takeover campaign too. This doesn't have a whole lot to do with President Bush. If someone would look it up, I venture that Phillis Schlafly and her frickin' Eagle Forum ladies have been active longer than he has.

<snip>

Odessa is a very conservative area. Very much "in the box" and "toe the line." I'd be curious to see how a teacher will teach this class without interjecting his or her own philosophy and prejudices into it.

good post.

 

[cuninglinguist61]

Well, in many people's minds evolution is a belief, almost like a religion but without the focus of a god. So some think that if "Christianity" or other religions can't be taught than why can evolution? It's a good point in my opinion but I doubt they will ever get rid of it, evolution really isn't that big of a deal, if you agree with it then you agree with it and if you don't you just remember the facts for the test and forget them after. It's an elective, no big deal, no one will ever be forced to take it even if some believe everyone should have to.

There was a piece on TV not too long ago about a school board in an Atlanta suburb where creationism is being tought in SCIENCE class, and all of the books for that class are required to have a sticker on the cover stating that evolution is ONLY a theory, and can not be proven. This is in PUBLIC schools. If I remember correctly, one science teacher objected to this, and was fired. If you want to teach this in a religion class, that is one thing, but to teach creationism, in science class, is going too far.

 

[Dead Kennedy]

I agree with Someplace's comments, particularly in that this will be the first step in increasing Christianity's profile in schools. It will definitely be something that creeps further and further into cirriculum. Think about it: in five years, who'll be up-in-arms about the presence of a Bible Study class in school? Hell, you'll probably have multiple levels of it. Imagine if they just plain expanded it into an optional Christian cirriculum, like going into French immersion here in Canada.

Another good point is that the classroom environment and individual teachers will make a big difference here. I imagine a non-Christian/agnostic/whatever would be a lot more skeptical in their presentation of the text than a Christian would. Also, how will dissent/questioning be dealt with? In a room full of hardcore Christians, a less passionate Jesus fan may feel rather pressured to stick with the classroom mainstream. I really doubt this course would encourage open discussion/questioning, especially if they took a Biblical literalist approach. Think about it: if you just refer to the bible as the absolute source of textual truth, how far will someone's reasonable questions get in the face of that?

Out of curiosity, how "in-your-face" are Texans/Americans in general with their religious convictions? I'm from Canada (PEI specifically), and around here people rarely get up and at 'em when it comes to their faith. Mostly Cathilocs who just aren't going to confront you/witness about their personal love affair with the J-man. I wear a big old Bad Religion shirt several days a week, and my patch-ridden coat has a big BR patch on the back: both feature a christian cross with a big red circle and line going through them. I'm pretty sure it offends a lot of folks (hurrah), but they generally keep their opinion to themselves. I've only gotten guff from one person in three years, and she was really drunk and polite about it before she stumbled away. Would I even survive a day in a place like Texas?

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Well, in many people's minds evolution is a belief, almost like a religion but without the focus of a god. So some think that if "Christianity" or other religions can't be taught than why can evolution? It's a good point in my opinion but I doubt they will ever get rid of it, evolution really isn't that big of a deal, if you agree with it then you agree with it and if you don't you just remember the facts for the test and forget them after. It's an elective, no big deal, no one will ever be forced to take it even if some believe everyone should have to.

Evolution is a theory that is generally accepted in the scientific community. I'll be the first to say that it is a theory with several holes in it, and has a very, very long way to go before ever proven(if ever). Creationism on the other hand simply states and I'm paraphrasing "We have no facts to back this up, please take it on faith" and the scientific community will never accept that.

I have no trouble with intelligent design or prespermia being taught in class, but to religious folk I would think that more blashmeous(sp) than evolution.

 

[KidVegas]

Public Schools + Religion = Outstanding Social Engineering (Better then current system)
Now Mix that with the wonderful Media...and "POOF"...mindless cows. They will work and not steal, they will not think for themselves becuase why? Whats the point they have god and die and go to heaven. They would not want to be rich why? money is sin if you have to much. THey will just work, pay my taxes and make the rich more rich..Now from that perspective whats better than a mindless public if you are rich? ..I love it, Please put religion in public schools

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

Public Schools + Religion = Outstanding Social Engineering (Better then current system)
Now Mix that with the wonderful Media...and "POOF"...mindless cows. They will work and not steal, they will not think for themselves becuase why? Whats the point they have god and die and go to heaven. They would not want to be rich why? money is sin if you have to much. THey will just work, pay my taxes and make the rich more rich..Now from that perspective whats better than a mindless public if you are rich? ..I love it, Please put religion in public schools

Hmm...sounds just like the Middle Ages.

 

[~hellbaby~]

Remember, y'all, the Religious Right has been aggressively seeking to take over local school boards and state school boards for the last 10-20 years...and they've been doing a pretty good job in their takeover campaign too. This doesn't have a whole lot to do with President Bush. If someone would look it up, I venture that Phillis Schlafly and her frickin' Eagle Forum ladies have been active longer than he has.

This "council" and their work is an extension to push the Religious Right's agenda. What's funny is that each success for the Religious Right makes them eager to push for more. Usually that is in a further extreme direction.

David Barton would be considered far right of me. He is, however, one of the more brilliant men I've met and someone whom I have a lot of respect. He is reasoned, thoughtful and very very very smart. His passion is history. Because he is pragmatic and not rabib in pushing the extreme position in the Texas Republican Party, the more extreme Religious Right mounted a campaign to oust him last year. Understand that when Barton was installed in his position a few years earlier, he would have been THE Religious Right candidate, but now he's not "right" enough.

What I'm trying to say is that whatever battles they win, it's never enough. They will keep pushing further and further until and unless people stand up collectively and say "enough."

What sounds reasonable in the beginning is the crack in the door to bigger things and pretty soon people are wondering how did we get here? This class is an elective today and making the news. So what? Only the kids who WANT to take the class take it. Then next year perhaps changes are made in the curriculum, but would cares? Who notices? The only people who'll know about it are the school board approving it and the teachers preparing the syllabus. Who's watching all this?

Odessa is a very conservative area. Very much "in the box" and "toe the line." I'd be curious to see how a teacher will teach this class without interjecting his or her own philosophy and prejudices into it.

Here are the facts :
The nat'l council for bible curriculum in public schools has 15 state senators/reps. on its asdisory board including the leader of the conservative caucus.

Reclaim America for Christ's speakers include

Dr. Richard Land is President of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the Southern Baptist Convention's official entity which addresses social, moral, and ethical concerns, with particular attention to their impact on American families and their faith. He holds graduate degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Oxford University in England. President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Land to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in September 2001. In 2003, he became the only commissioner to ever be reappointed for a second term to the Commission by a president.
Some of the descriptions of other speakers included the following..

..A strong believer in Christian cultural and political involvement

..He was recently appointed to the 17th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission.

..the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and for two years thereafter he

..member of the bars of the U.S. Supreme Court (where he argued Edwards v. Aguillard (1986)); U.S. Courts of Appeals for nearly all Circuits (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th. 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th); and various U.S. District Courts.

..he held numerous positions with the U.S. Government, including Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of Criminal Section of the Department of Justice;

..Director of the Attorney General's commission on Pornography; and Associate Solicitor the Department of Interior

...frequent consultant to state and federal legislators, and has written amicus briefs for several Supreme Court cases.

..President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Land to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in September 2001. In 2003, he became the only commissioner to ever be reappointed for a second term to the Commission by a president.

..Rogeberg also serves on several national committees charged with combating attacks on various cultural mandate issues of importance

..Pastor, politician, activist,​

OK, now tell me how bush has little to do with this

 

[phrodeau]

I have a big problem with Intelligent Design theory. There's no accounting for the existence of the designer.

 

[SgtSpiderMan]

I have a big problem with Intelligent Design theory. There's no accounting for the existence of the designer.

I agree, which it is why it will probably never be more than a theory.

 

[~hellbaby~]

This is downright scary,...more sponsered affiliations

The Mission of the Foundation for American Christian Education is to publish and teach America's Christian history and method of education by Biblical principles to restore Christian self-government and character to the individual, to families, to churches, and to the nation

Seven Principles of America's Christian History and Government:

God's Principle of Individuality:
Everything in God's universe reveals His infinity and diversity. Each person is a unique creation of God, designed to express the nature of Christ individually in society. Parents and teachers should cultivate the full potential of Christ in every child.


The Christian Principle of Self-Government:
In order to have true liberty, man must be governed internally by the Spirit of God rather than by external forces. Government is first individual, then extends to the home, church, and the community. This principle of self-government is God ruling internally from the heart of the individual.


America's Heritage of Christian Character:
The image of God engraved upon the individual within brings dominion and change to his external environment. The model of Christian character is the Pilgrim character. Becoming accountable for one's learning and productivity is the fruit of Christian character.


"Conscience Is the Most Sacred of All Property" (James Madison):
God requires faithful stewardship of all His gifts, especially the internal property of conscience. This is a tool for self-government as each child learns the revelation of consent. Each individual governs his life through the voluntary consent to do right or wrong.


The Christian Form of Our Government:
The divine flow of spiritual power and force in a Christian Constitutional Republic begins with self-governing individuals, whose God-given rights are protected by laws established by their elected representatives. Proper government requires a balance of internal power and its external form as seen in the separation of powers and its dual form with checks and balances. The Christian form of our government finds its source in the Holy Bible, "the American political textbook."


How the Seed of Local Self-Government Is Planted:
Christian self-government begins with salvation and education in God's Law and Love, and flows in governing oneself, one's home, church, and community. "Liberty is an individual responsibility..." (Sam Adams)


The Christian Principle of American Political Union:
Internal agreement or unity, which is invisible, produces a voluntary external union, which is visible in the spheres of government, economics, and home and community life. Before two or more individuals can act effectively together, they must first be united in spirit, in their purposes, and in their convictions.

 

[Xelebes]

if they are gonna do it, they should use the Interlinear Bible so it is only one step from the Hebrew & Greek.

Y'see, that just doesn't work.

 

[~hellbaby~]

Perhaps as Literature. My daughter took gifted English last year as a sophomore in high school, and had to do for her required summer reading an analysis of the book of Exodus when considered as a narrative.

I was impressed with the curriculum, I don't think taught as such it violated any church/state tenets. I was especially pleased when two...and I hate to use this term but cannot think of any other..."Jesus Freaks" attempted to use the class for religious proselytizing were quickly reined in by the teacher.

But what happens when the goal is to make the bible the sole source for teaching literature?They push switching to a different dictionary from centuries ago, redefining modern meanings and basing every word in existance on god.How can America claim to be 'land of the free', where you can come to avoid religious persecution while teaching christianity as the basis for everything. what happens to the Jews,Arabs,Buddists,athiests everyone else who is not a christian or keeps it for sunday?
More excerpts from the groups the bible curriculum in school folks support and link to...
The first step to the reconversion of a country is books produced by Christians."
"We must attack the enemy's line of communication. What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects --- with their Christianity latent. You can see this most easily if you look at it the other way round. Our faith is not likely to be shaken by any book on Hinduism. But, if whenever we read an elementary book on geology, botany, politics, or astronomy, we found that its implications were Hindu, that would shake us. It is not the books written in direct defense of materialism that make the modern man a materialist; it is the materialistic assumptions in all the other books. In the same way, it is not books on Christianity that will really trouble him. But he would be troubled if, whenever he wanted a cheap popular introduction to some science, the best work on the market was always by a Christian. The first step to the reconversion of a country is books produced by Christian

No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people um, how can people be free when they are forced to live under a christianity based society and government?

 

[GeorgeWBush]

It is starting here where i live they just changed winter break back to christmas break some are happy and some are mad.

Just like a lot of people want all religious items of city and state property i could care less i just walk past them and if the bible class is just an elective i could care less but they had better put other religions in the class because other religions will want there own.

 

[Morwen]

Well, in many people's minds evolution is a belief, almost like a religion but without the focus of a god. So some think that if "Christianity" or other religions can't be taught than why can evolution? It's a good point in my opinion but I doubt they will ever get rid of it, evolution really isn't that big of a deal, if you agree with it then you agree with it and if you don't you just remember the facts for the test and forget them after. It's an elective, no big deal, no one will ever be forced to take it even if some believe everyone should have to.

This is why people in Europe make fun of us.

Of course, those in the Islamic world also take this stuff serious. But I for one am not going to align with unscientific garbage that lines up with terrorism, murder, and stupidity.