ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) — Georgia is poised to introduce two literature classes on the Bible in public schools next year, a move some critics say would make the state the first to take an explicit stance endorsing — and funding — biblical teachings. The Bible already is incorporated into some classes in Georgia and other states, but some critics say the board’s move, which makes the Bible the classes’ main text, treads into dangerous turf.
Why do we pretend they are telling the truth here about their intent? They aren’t. This is a blatant attempt to preach to other people’s kids on the federal dime.The real result of this will he huge classes (due to incredible peer-pressure and no class size limits) and preaching (oc Christianity) by teachers and students. On your tax dollar.
I’m gonna have to agree with DVanWechel. Yes Greek mythology is taught in schools but really nobody takes that seriously. People just can’t relate to it. The bible on the other hand is sadly still seen as fact and anyone who believes in it will take it literally. NOT a good idea
it was the war of northern aggression.yankee hypocrites tried to start slave revolts that would have killed countless innocents black&white.
as for phreedm i can understand his frustration.growing substance abuse,breakdown of family even i as a atheist am disgusted at the direction of our society.
I have never been approached by as many xians seeking to save my soul as on the streets of San Francisco. I think that some regions of the USA are more religious than others but in my experience there are ignorant rednecks in New York City and educated progressives in small town Texas. No place is immune from stupidity in spite of what many Europeans want to believe.
Comment from: DVanWechel
Hey thanks for agreeing…so much for “sin” argument…
Asshole farted: Hey thanks for agreeing…so much for “sin” argument…
touch?, scumbag….
Thanks reason for proving my point. Yankees tried to get the immoral and lazy southerners to do the work and not use blacks. It leads right into my point of illegals doing the slave labor today. Southerners say they don’t want immigrants but they don’t want to do the work themselves.
alexatheist,
I wish you were right but 1.5 years ago we Texans voted on the gay marriage thing. I think 82 percent were against it so don’t give us too much credit
alex,
you’re kidding. In San Francisco? what is this world coming to?
So long as the approach to teaching the Bible as literature is deconstructive, with an empasis on Christian cultural transmission by means of intertextuality (in other words, how Christian ideas came to dominate the Western literary canon), then I’m all for it. Post-structuralist feminists have taken such an approach to literary analysis for decades. It’s high time for atheists to do the same.
Dave,
You don’t seem to have much faith in other people. No offense, but I think you might be a little out of touch with the youth. A lot of kids today are renouncing religion, either as atheists or agnostics. A lot of kids even mock religion. So honestly, I don’t think the peer pressure will be too great, and there are bound to be some kids in the class that if it starts getting too preachy they’ll start arguing with the teachers. Not to mention that a lot of english teachers, in my experience anyways, are not that religious themselves. So if english teachers are teaching these courses it shouldn’t get too out of hand. The only people in the classes to worry about would be the jocks who are trying to show off by arguing for the bible or the religious nuts.
As a military member stationed in GA, I have first hand knowledge of the religious attitudes here. Like many of you, I believe that religion in general, and the bible in particular, could be an optional course in public schools under two conditions;
1) The Christian bible should not be the only text taught
2) It should be taught as the fiction that it is–in a mythology class
Unfortunately, my experience as an open atheist have shown me that those conditions will almost certainly never be met in GA. I work with men whose wives teach in the public schools here, and they are some of the most devout people I’ve ever met. It’s too bad. Many of the people here need to see ALL of the bible.