Schools Requiring The Bible as Text in Public Schools

By: Nathan Lambert

---

    The Bible and religion, in general, have been talked about a lot in politics in Tennessee. State Rep. Gino Bulso from R-Brentwood is sponsoring a bill that will make the Bible required reading material for schools, but a student can be exempt from the work with a signature from a parent or guardian, or if the student is 18 years old. The bill does, in fact, prohibit teachers from forcing the religious aspect on students or coercing them into the beliefs of Christianity. This is due to the fact that, as a government, it will not favor or establish a specific religion. It will be taught as literature and the history of Israel, Jesus, and the early church, and how the Bible has affected Western culture. However, by bringing the Bible into schools, schools will be allowed designated time for prayer and a time for reading religious texts. The bill also states that if the school fails to meet the requirements of the bill, they are liable for a lawsuit.

    My thoughts as a Christian: I do believe the Bible as a whole has many aspects that can be good for teaching literature. An example would be teaching the Book of Revelation primarily for its abundance of imagery. But as a whole, I don't think it should be required. I believe it should be more of an elective, primarily for religious purposes. I do believe a time for prayer would be beneficial for the school community as a whole, allowing kids to focus and clear their heads from all the stress that school can bring, and possibly create a more peaceful environment overall.