Troll Chisum is at it again with HB1287 requiring all public high schools to offer an elective course on the Holy Bible. First of all, don't get me wrong here..I love Jesus, y'all. However, I do not believe there are this many qualified individuals to teach a class on the Bible as an elective in the public schools system. The Holy Bible has influenced literature, art, culture, societal mores, laws and even hate and bigotry. It's very important to know its influence. But, from what I see most people can talk about how the Bible has influenced all that but have no idea exactly how, so they get frustrated and say if you don't accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior you're going to Hell.
Mmmm, you cannot do that shit in public schools.
This issue conflicts me. On the one hand, the Bible is such an important source of ideas, literary allusions, and historical references that I cannot imagine trying to understand Western civilization without it...and I have plenty of friends who grew up in secular houses that are ignorant of even the big things (like "who is Abraham").
On the other hand...we all know why this course is being proposed...and it isn't so that you can catch a reference to Jezebel at a cocktail party.
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The class is a good idea. But like Time said on it's cover 2 weeks ago: We should teach the Bible (but VERY VERY carefully).
I don't think there would be much nuance with these courses in places like, oh, let's say, Abilene.