bible

I'm Parson Pat, and I'm new here. I have nothing to say now. In fact, I'm not even certain if I'll use this blog, or how I'll use it.

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The Georgia Legislature has now made it optional for public schools to teach the Bible. It remains to be seen how many local school districts will take up this option; or how many students will choose such an "elective" course.  What is clear is that Georgia's action is highly problemmatic, and opens pandora's box again.  

On the one hand, there is nothing to prohibit teaching about the Bible's history and literature, for instance, just as long as this does not involve evangelization or the promotion of a sectarian interpretation.  Former Supreme Court Justice Tom Clark spoke of this in the 1960's: "It might well be said that one's education is not complete without a study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization....Nothing we have said here (in the Schempp ruling) indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment."