Bible literacy crew takes cue from ID.Thank you for your article, "The Bible Literacy Project: Chuck Stetson's Trojan Horse See Trojan. Trojan Horse hollow horse concealed soldiers, enabling them to enter and capture Troy. [Gk. Myth.: Iliad] See : Deceit (application, security) Trojan horse ?" (January Church & State). The Bible and Its Influence is like Of Pandas and People Of Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins is a controversial 1989 (2nd edition 1993) school-level textbook written by Percival Davis and Dean H. Kenyon and published by the Texas-based Foundation for Thought and Ethics (FTE). . That is, it'll serve as a wedge, a way to insert Christian proselytizing into the humanities much as Of Pandas and People was designed to insert intelligent-design creationism creationism or creation science, belief in the biblical account of the creation of the world as described in Genesis, a characteristic especially of fundamentalist Protestantism (see fundamentalism). into public school science classes. If The Bible and Its Influence actually were an "Academic study of the Bible," as the editors claim, they would note what biblical stories were borrowed from other cultures (such as the Epic of Gilgamish as a forerunner of the biblical flood story). They would discuss compositional methods that biblical authors used, including the use of hyperbole. They would distinguish between biblical saga and academic history--as opposed to relaying improbably miracle stories in the same "The Bible says..." manner as the historical events that are being described. Instead of this kind of analysis, Bible Literacy Project leaders say that "Since 1999 we have stated that academic teaching about the Bible should not undermine the beliefs of those who accept the Bible as sacred scripture" (bibleliteracy.com). This goal is fine for Sunday School Sunday school, institution for instruction in religion and morals, usually conducted in churches as part of the church organization but sometimes maintained by other religious or philanthropic bodies. In England during the 18th cent. classes in places of worship. It is not acceptable in public schools where there is supposed to be a separation between church and state. 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. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion