migamoo

An optional elective is always a good way to go in these matters.

sunnykerr

Mind you I think Miller's argument is excellent, too. If you 100% believe in the Bible, why would you ever let a regular teacher teach it in class, and thus allowing the government to shape the cellibus, when clearly the experts would be in a church?

That's why I never understood the argument for teaching the Bible as a manditory and as a religious thing in the classroom. If you don't believe in it, your rights are being screwed. If you do believe in it, isn't it the most supreme form of blashphemy there is?

froggiepopple

I 100% agree. I wouldn't anyone who wasn't qualified and trained to teach any religious texts to my children. I don't think regular teachers are qualified for that. It will be my responsible to provide for that part of my child's education not the school's.

sunnykerr

To be clear, though, I don't object to the Bible being taught otherwise. I had to study parts of it as part of my English Lit program, because of the pervasive use of Biblical imagery in literature at large really.

And I studied Christianity and Jesus and Mohammad and Islam and early Jewish society and laws as part of my European History class. And that was a lot of fun, never mind how instructive it all was, too.

Jacob1983

This isn't surprising. Austin is one of the most liberal cities in Texas. Bible classes shouldn't be required in public schools but I don't see anything wrong with them being electives.

elisheva

Having it as an elective is fine, I suppose IMO, what should be mandatory or offered before putting resources into a Christianity class is a Intro to Religions class that teaches about all religions and so on.

migamoo

Unless it's a Catholic school or some equivalent.

Jacob1983

If a person gets offended by a Bible/religion class that is an elective then that person has some problems. Elective means optional and not required. I tihnk a lot of people who are supposedly offended by religious things especially Christian ones are somewhat party poopers and big time downers. I have said this many times and I will continue to say it. I am never offended by Jewish and Islamic symbols and figures. It just seems that these downers and party poopers always want to pick on Christianity.

migamoo

Jacob, it's not about being offended by a class offering. I don't even understand where you got that from as it's not been mentioned the thread. It's about not pushing one's beliefs on another who might not want them. If a school is going to offer an elective on one religion, they should probably have one on comparative religions instead.

littlepurpleflowers

Religion should never be forced, it's a choice. I like the idea of it being offered though, I would of taken the class.

Jacob1983

I hate to break this to you but Christianity is the predominant religion in America therefore it will receive special treatment and consideration. I know that doesn't sound fair or cool and it goes against your liberal ideology but sometimes life ain't fair.

I definately believe that there are some sick downer people out there that are so hopeless and unhappy about their own life and spirituality that they take it out on others by being super anti-religion and having hissy fits and temper tantrums on stupid trivial matters.

rose parade

Why are you making this a personal attack? It doesn't matter if Christianity is the most predominant religion in America it's a public school. I find no problem with having bible classes, just like I would have no problem with any other religion being taught if it's not forced. But this isn't a majority rules type thing.

migamoo

But it shouldn't matter. Christianity has no right to be in government for federally funded programs. It's part of Separation of Church and State.

Indian Summer

I seriously don't get this argument and you seem to use it every few days. You do understand that this country you love so much was shaped on the ideal that everyone would be welcome to choose their own religion, that the majority religion wouldn't rule and that the government wouldn't support one religion over another? You understand that the Bill of Rights protect against that?

elisheva

That's a rather broad and unfounded generalization, don't you think? Who's having a hissy fit or a temper tantrum? And how do you know what other people's motivations for their political opinions are?