Bible classes: what's objectionable?Thank you for your continued focus on the problems associated with public school Bible study Bible study may refer to:
Is it possible to teach about the Bible in a nonsectarian way? David Van Biema, author of the April 2 Time magazine cover article entitled "Why We Should Teach The Bible in Public School (But very, very carefully)," thinks he has found an example in New Braunfels, Texas New Braunfels (pronounced "Brawnfells") is a city in Texas in the United States. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. In 2000, its population was 36,494, while in 2005 the U.S. . He says "I could find little to object to here and much to admire." However, the New Braunfels New Braunfels (broun`fəlz), city (1990 pop. 22,334), seat of Comal co., S central Tex., on the Guadalupe River; inc. 1847. Portland cement, consumer goods, crushed limestone, furniture, and leather goods are produced. teacher, Jennifer Kendrick, is a "conservative Protestant," and her text is The Bible and Its Influence, a text that even she says is "... written as if I am a Protestant Christian teaching Protestant Christians." Moreover, The Bible and Its Influence includes almost nothing of what academic historians, archaeologists and linguists (among other scholars) have found out about how the Bible became a book. Students are kept ignorant of the research of Israel Finkelstein, William Dever, Richard Elliott Friedman Richard Elliott Friedman is a biblical scholar and the Ann and Jay Davis Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of Georgia. He joined the faculty of the UGA Religion Department in 2006. , Bart Ehrman, William Schniedewind, John Dominic Crossan John Dominic Crossan (b. Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, 1934) is an Irish-American religious scholar known for co-founding the controversial Jesus Seminar. Crossan is a major figure in the fields of biblical archaeology, anthropology and New Testament textual and higher criticism. and multiple other scholars. There is no indication that Kendrick herself is aware of such research. She may go beyond the text, but in what directions? In your editorial you say that The Bible and Its Influence "has serious flaws." This rather mild phrase understates the case. It may not be as bad as the courses offered by the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools The National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools (NCBCPS) is a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of its 300-page Bible curriculum, The Bible in History and Literature, in schools throughout the United States. , but it is sectarian teaching nonetheless, and it is unsuitable for use in public schools. As Michael Jinkins says (Viewpoint, May Church & State), public schools should be a "neutral public space belonging to all of us ..." Brant brant or brant goose, common name for a species of wild sea goose. The American brant, Branta bernicla, breeds in the Arctic and winters along the Atlantic coast. Abrahamson Brookfield, Ill. |
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