AP via CBS News
May 12, 2006
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/12/politics/printable1613868.shtml
May 12, 2006(AP) The long-dormant idea of teaching public school
students about the literary and historic importance of the Bible is
getting a fresh look this year from state legislatures and local
school boards - though with political bickering and questions about
what should be included.
The buzz results mostly from "The Bible and Its Influence," a glossy
high school textbook with substantial interfaith and academic
endorsements. It's available for the coming school year, and some 800
high schools are currently considering the course.
The publisher, the Bible Literacy Project of Front Royal, Va., will
issue a teacher's edition next month and is providing online teacher
training through Oregon's Concordia University. The group expects no
legal problems, but is promising school districts worried about
lawsuits that Washington's Becket Fund for Religious Liberty will
supply attorneys without charge.
Bible Literacy isn't alone in the field. Its older rival, the National
Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools of Greensboro, N.C., is
backed by numerous conservative Protestant activists and says 36 new
clients have adopted its program this year, compared with just a
couple per month in 2005. Overall, the group says school districts in
37 states with 1,250 high schools use its curriculum.
The National Council believes the Bible should be students' only
textbook. It offers teachers a course outline, "The Bible in History
and Literature," and a CD-ROM of "The Bible Reader," a 1969 anthology
of texts and commentary. The outline follows the King James Version
and recommends the conservative Protestant Ryrie Study Bible for
further background.
Both efforts pursue an opening created by the U.S. Supreme Court. In a
notable 1963 ruling, the court banned ceremonial Bible readings in
public schools but allowed "objective" study of the text in a manner
divorced from belief.
"The Bible is worthy of study for its literary and historic
qualities," the court said.
Last month, Georgia's Gov. Sonny Perdue signed a law that sanctions
but doesn't require Bible courses, and directs the state education
department to pick a curriculum by February. Legislators are mulling
similar proposals in Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama.
In Alabama, Republicans have killed a Democratic proposal specifying
use of Bible Literacy's textbook after conservatives complained to
Republicans about its pluralistic approach.
"To some extent, this is about Democrats trying to get religion, and
certain Republicans trying to spread religion," says Mark Chancey of
Southern Methodist University.
Representing the Campaign to Defend the Constitution, Duke University
law professor Erwin Chemerinsky charges that Georgia is "clearly
violating" the First Amendment with "state-sponsored religious
promotion" both through Bible classes and another law allowing Ten
Commandments displays.
At Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a spokesman
finds it "deeply worrisome" that a "religious pressure group" like
Bible Literacy is promoting coursework.
Americans United cites religious activities of Bible Literacy Chairman
Chuck Stetson, an Episcopalian and New York entrepreneur, who
co-edited the textbook. The National Council's course outline is
anonymous, and President Elizabeth Ridenour declines to state her
religious affiliation.
The National Council's Web site features attacks on Bible Literacy
from conservatives, including megachurch pastors John Hagee of San
Antonio and D. James Kennedy of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Hagee calls the new textbook "a masterful work of deception,
distortion and outright falsehoods" that would leave pupils "greatly
damaged." Kennedy says it would be "a tremendous mistake to impose
such very anti-biblical material."
Other conservatives disagree. Bible Literacy won endorsements from a
lineup of evangelical scholars and leaders including Charles Colson,
who says, "I do not see how any of its content would work to undermine
one's faith."
The National Council also faces attacks, particularly a scathing
32-page report last year by SMU's Chancey that was sponsored by the
liberal Texas Freedom Network and endorsed by 187 religion professors.
Chancey branded the National Council version he examined "a sectarian
document" that promoted primarily conservative Protestant views,
lacked input from scholars in other faith traditions and is
inappropriate for public schools. The class outline has since been
revised somewhat.
The National Council notes in response that its "Bible Reader" was
compiled by two Protestants, a Roman Catholic priest and a rabbi, and
cites support from several Catholics and an Orthodox rabbi.
Bible Literacy's textbook tries to sidestep sectarian disputes.
Its textbook is designed to fit with a 1999 agreement it helped broker
on coursework and other issues regarding the Bible in schools. That
pact was endorsed by, among others, seven major public school
organizations, four Jewish and three evangelical groups and the
National Council of Churches.
Asked to answer the barbs from the National Council, Bible Literacy
spokeswoman Sheila Weber said: "With 8 percent of the nation's schools
offering coverage of the Bible, there's plenty of room for different
kinds of projects."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/12/politics/printable1613868.shtml
***************************************************************************
{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all." [Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recommended:
http://www.islamonline.net
http://www.islam-guide.com
http://www.prophetmuhammadforall.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of IslamCity unless sanctioned or approved otherwise.
If your mailbox clogged with mails from IslamCity, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest".
SPONSORED LINKS
| Holy quran |
YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
- Visit your group "islamcity" on the web.
- To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
