by M Newberg
The hot topic lately is a new mandate, by our state superintendent, that requires each classroom 5th grade through 12th to keep and teach the bible and Ten Commandments. Should this be a requirement in public schools?
Personally, I’m very conservative and rely heavily on my faith in The God of the bible to get through each day. Of course, I wish everyone felt this way, but that’s my perspective and opinion. The bible even says that won’t happen. Do I wish there were bibles all over the public schools, yes! Let’s break this down a little bit more with more information to make a rational decision about the subject.
Now, from what I understand our state superintendent is requiring that a bible will be in each classroom, grades 5-12, and that teachers will teach from it, and the Ten Commandments. Mind you that he has very conservative ideas and hopes for our state public schools. He’s not blinded by the liberal media and politicians that drive their agendas very hard, not only outside of the classroom but in our public schools as well.
Those that oppose him seem to be shouting, “you can’t teach or push one religion in public school”! “We won’t do it”, some schools are relaying. “Separation of church and state”, they whine. One gentleman on television exclaimed, “what version of the bible are you requiring, what makes your version right”? I haven’t heard or seen the superintendent require any one version or translation yet.
In a local newspaper letter to the editor, one person suggested that if required to use bibles, that the schools should use “The Jefferson Bible”. I’m not sure if it was with sarcasm she wrote this, since she ended her opinion with the mention of Jefferson owning over 600 slaves. This bible, she referenced, is a cut and paste bible that Thomas Jefferson, a founding father, assembled which ultimately cut out the divinity of Jesus. I say, unacceptable!
They’re not even listening! What the superintendent is requiring is that the bible be taught as a part of history, not as any religion or church organization. He’s not requiring that it be taught to convert anyone or to bring people to church. The opposition doesn’t seem to understand this.
So, we should ask, is the bible historical fact? I would beg to say it is. Archeology, geology, written history, and biology, have all proven the historicity of the bible. Along with other non-biblical writings and historical accounts such as Flavius Josephus the Jewish historian. These writings line up with events written in the bible.
Just a little sidestep to the issue of separation of church and state. This is not in our constitution. In short, it is to help us understand that we should not have a government with a state-run church or religion. Which, check me if I’m wrong, some other countries have a state-run church that in order to fund, requires a portion of taxpayer’s money. The founding fathers wanted to protect the new country from government control of religion.
If we had a government-controlled religion or church, then it could be a concern if a citizen were to oppose it in any way, they would be criminalized and prosecuted harshly for doing so; an enemy of the state. This I would be opposed to. The liberals have fed the separation of church and state lie to us so long and hard that people have become afraid to discuss religion in public places, especially where they work. I don’t think that is the real purpose of separation of church and state. But I digress.
Let’s look at some other thoughts about the subject that might continue to help us make an informed decision.
Are there already beliefs, religion, and faiths being taught in our public schools? Well, yes as a matter of fact there is. One example is evolution, which is taught as fact in our public schools. Evolution has never been proven as fact scientifically; it is a very old, outdated theory. It is not repeatable nor observable, which makes it deniable according to real science. Since it is not a proven scientific fact, and only a theory and a belief of many scientists, should it be mandatorily taught in public schools? I conclude that it is merely a form of religion; a belief.
What about mythology? Is it being taught and read in our public schools? I remember learning some about it when I attended public schools (I wasn’t interested in their myths). There’s no fact behind mythology except the history of societies and cultures that believed in it, and some people still believe in. Mythological characters are not real people; merely a myth. Again, they’re teaching a belief system even if it’s taught historically. Could mythology be considered a religion?
Parents and teachers, you have no problem with the above-mentioned fictional theories being taught in public school, yet you have a problem with the bible being taught as history. The events, places, and people in the bible have in many ways been proven as historical fact. There are numerous archeological finds, and historical writings found, in addition to the bible, that support the historical soundness of biblical text.
Another suspiciously religious subject being taught in our public schools is Yoga. Hmm, and let’s see, did I say religious? Yes, Yoga has Hindu roots. According to Dictionary.com:
yoga
or Yo·ga
[ yoh-guh ]
Phonetic (Standard)
IPA
noun
a school of Hindu philosophy advocating and prescribing a course of physical and mental disciplines for attaining liberation from the material world and union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle.
any or all of the methods or disciplines prescribed in the Hindu philosophical school of yoga, especially a series of postures and breathing exercises practiced to achieve tranquility, control of the body and mind, etc.
union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle.
No date found. Yoga. Retrieved from YOGA Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
And, yet another religious practice taught even in elementary school classrooms, Tai Chi, (which I know because my son was taught this without our knowledge). According to Wikipedia:
In Chinese philosophy, taiji (Chinese: 太極; pinyin: tàijí; Wade–Giles: tʻai chi; trans. “supreme ultimate”) is a cosmological state of the universe and its affairs on all levels, including the mutually reinforcing interactions between the two opposing forces of yin and yang, (a dualistic monism),[1][2] as well as that among the Three Treasures, the four cardinal directions, and the Five Elements—which together ultimately bring about the myriad things, each with their own nature. The taiji concept has reappeared throughout the technological, religious, and philosophical history of the Sinosphere, finding concrete application in techniques developed in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This page was last edited on 17 July 2024. Taiji (philosophy). Retrieved from Taiji (philosophy) – Wikipedia
The above-mentioned forms of meditation and exercise are taught or guided by teachers nationwide to calm and refocus their selves and their students. Yet, they have a problem with biblical concepts that can do both and have a positive impact on society. You’re hypocritical, teachers and educational decision makers, you want peace and order in the classroom without Christian religion, yet you do the very thing you oppose by teaching from other religions.
There you go, check it out for yourself, don’t take my word for it. The evidence is overwhelming and too much for me to list in this article. It really is a spiritual matter. The world opposes the Creator and embraces anything outside of the proven Word of God. They’re inclusive and tolerant except towards the Word of God, the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, and those that follow the God of the bible. So, don’t be fooled by their liberal propaganda and evil brainwashing. Remember, we’ll always have opposition to the bible especially in public schools. The truth is that we need it there.
I personally support the bible being kept and taught in schools as history, science, and reading. But if you teach it as a religion then lawfully, and worldly you must allow teaching of all religions, which I would oppose.
Have you considered what you believe regarding bibles in the classroom?
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
(New American Standard Bible, NASB 1995, Colossians 2:8)
Have You Considered...? 