Should the Bible be taught in US public schools.

Were you taught the Bible in your public school?

Should the Bible be allowed to be taught in public schools?
If so, how should the Bible be taught in public schools?

No I wasn't.

It should be presented as an elective, not mandatory.

And it should be presented in such a way as to allow for individual interpretations.

Never taught in my school.

Out constitution has a law that seperates the Church and the State.
The Bible also says to "Give Caesar what is his and God what is his".

Basicly as far as I'm concerned my religion and the laws that I live under both call for religious education and schooling to be seperated.

No.

If someone wishes to learn about the bible, there are lots of privet schools at there that will teach the bible.

I don't want to pay for it with my tax money.

An understanding of the Bible, like an understanding of other ancient mythologies, will help students better understand literature, art, and history.

However, when abused as a forum for Christian proselytization, no.

The bible shouldn't be taught in any school. EVER. Period.

Religion has no place being taught in public schools. I went to private catholic school, so I had to endure it. (Which was actually the best thing. It gave me the chance to see it for what it was, a bunch of fairy tales that had been blown way out of proportion.) But as soon as the bible is taught, then you'd have to teach Islam and Hinduism, etc. So, religion is best left to the parents and family, outside of school.

I was taught the Bible both in High School and repeatedly in college, never in a religious studies class.

Teaching the Bible in Public schools is perfectly legal, as long as it is taught, not preached.

In many ways, I think having the Bible taught in public schools is and could be beneficial. Keep in mind, this is not teaching the bible is fact, its teaching it as the literary, cultural, and historical text that it is.

As an elective though, that allows for people to have the "option" of taking it. Not "having" to take it.

And in that sense, I don't see why it be a problem.

Although, I just remembered, they do offer a Bible class at my school and I'll be taking it.

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Never taught in my school.

Out constitution has a law that seperates the Church and the State.
The Bible also says to "Give Caesar what is his and God what is his".

Basicly as far as I'm concerned my religion and the laws that I live under both call for religious education and schooling to be seperated.

Co-signed...religion should be kept to churches, mosque's, synagoges etc...

Originally posted by jasonk3
Co-signed...religion should be kept to churches, mosque's, synagoges etc...

Originally posted by Alliance
Because the Bible is a religous text, does that mean teaching it teaches religion?

Teaching the message of the Bible teaches religion.

Teaching about religion as a subject is fine as far as I'm concerned. However it makes people uncomfortable and imay do better if its optional.

Originally posted by Alliance
Because the Bible is a religous text, does that mean teaching it teaches religion?

I dont mind teaching religion...hmmm...you raised an interesting point ...I have to think this over

Originally posted by Alliance
Because the Bible is a religous text, does that mean teaching it teaches religion?

Yes.

Originally posted by Alliance
I was taught the Bible both in High School and repeatedly in college, never in a religious studies class.

Teaching the Bible in Public schools is perfectly legal, as long as it is taught, not preached.

In many ways, I think having the Bible taught in public schools is and could be beneficial. Keep in mind, this is not teaching the bible is fact, its teaching it as the literary, cultural, and historical text that it is.

But, don't you think that would all depend on who was teaching it? Can that teacher remain totally objective and impartial to what they're teaching, rather than preaching about? Which I totally don't understand. What's the difference between teaching and preaching, at least in this case?

Originally posted by Alliance
Were you taught the Bible in your public school?

Should the Bible be allowed to be taught in public schools?
If so, how should the Bible be taught in public schools?

I was taught religion and it was mandatory, in Peru. If you didnt take it, you fail.

No,not until high school where they take an elective called religion where you study everything,certainly not to little ones

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
But, don't you think that would all depend on who was teaching it? Can that teacher remain totally objective and impartial to what they're teaching, rather than preaching about?

Isn't that the position any teacher should take?

Originally posted by Capt_Fantastic
Which I totally don't understand. What's the difference between teaching and preaching, at least in this case?

I guess it depends on how you define it. I've been taught the Bible both as literature, as history, and as philosophy. I don't mean to teach the mythological aspects of the bible as fact. Literatrure is the easiest, philosophy is the hardest because you get into morality.

Certainly it would be beneficial to get people who actually think they follow the bible to critically examine it and to do so from an outside perspective.

Hmm, that would not be fair to other religions

Here in Trinidad , in public schools, they have Religious Education, and what it is, is classes sorted by religion. SO catholics have one( or 3 depending on amount of students) class, muslims, hindus( have 2), 7day adventist, pentecostal, Jehovah Witness etc.

How would it not be fair? We are not teaching religion, we are teaching a text.

Originally posted by Alliance
Isn't that the position any teacher should take?

I don't think so. I don't think it would be applicable.

Originally posted by Alliance
I guess it depends on how you define it. I've been taught the Bible both as literature, as history, and as philosophy. I don't mean to teach the mythological aspects of the bible as fact. Literatrure is the easiest, philosophy is the hardest because you get into morality.

Certainly it would be beneficial to get people who actually think they follow the bible to critically examine it and to do so from an outside perspective.

Sure, I can understand how the bible can be used as a tool to define morality. It's a long stretch and you can pretty much eliminate the old testament as any sort of morality guide, but it is possible.

As a philospohy, the bible can be stretched after it's been edited.

As liturature it's not really important for the same reason other books have been considered important. If it hadn't been about god, it wouldn't have been flying off the shelves the way it has for teh last thousand years.

As history, it's totally wrong and misleading on top of unsubstantiated.

If the bible were to be taught, the Jefferson bible should be used. Thomas Jefferson basically edited the bible, well the new testament, by removing all divine aspects to the character of Jesus and making it a true morality guide. (But, people will still argue this nation was established as a christian nation...despite people like Jefferson saying that Christianity would eventually go the way of the ancient religions)