In your opinion it is both. There’s a difference between opinion and objective fact. When ancient Greeks and neo-Pagans take over my legislature and insist that their religious book be taught while excluding all others and Rick Perry endorses it, then I’ll speak out against that, too.
Ecclesiastes. 
Teaching the Bible as history IS religious preaching. In point of fact, the Bible is NOT history and teaching it as such is no more permissable than teaching it as science.
From the federal law, and yes I know it is talking about Congress, but here it is anyway:
That “philosophy” filtered down to the state level. If this is taught and required, even at the state level, it means the government is giving one religion their seal of approval over others.
Would this class be taught by the Catholics? Or the Lutherans? Or the Southern Baptists? Or the Jews? Or the Seven Day Adventists? Or the Mormons? How about Church of England? No matter which group it is, it would mean the others are being to compelled to learn “brand X”. And after all that, what about the Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists etc who each have their own teachings and holy writings? Why force them into this?Government has no business pushing religion and needs to stay out of it. If government, through the schools, starts teaching a religion, no matter how carefully packaged or disguised, they have effectively established a state religion. It also violates the flip side of the coin, the freedom from religion.
It means also that the Bible is put in Historical perspective. Plus the Kingdom of Israel and Judah did exist with the kings as mentioned in the Bible to give an example.
Let’s get back to the idea of a “state religion”. What right does government have, to effectively dictate religious indoctrination?
Except these Bible classes do not argue for the truth of any religion or denomination-for instance would it be promoting Greco-Roman paganism to say that there is some Historical truth to the Iliad?
That’s not the same as teaching the Bible as history, and that wasn’t the stated goal. I guarntee they had no inetntion of applying any historical critical method to what they were teaching.
Sumeria and Troy existed too. That doesn’t mean that The Iliad and the Epic of Gilgamesh are history.
I don’t have a problem with a world religions class in public schools. In fact, I think it would be a good idea. I’d even be willing to teach it. But it has to be done objectively, accurately and free from any stated opinion about what’s true or not true.
I disagree with your assertion that the Bible is “the most influential book in history,” by the way. I can name several books, both scientific and literary, that have had more real influence on the world than the Bible. The Bible’s historical significance has been more talismanic than practical. It had zero influence on the development of modern science, physics, mathematics, medicine, the invention of the autombile, the airplane or the personal computer, the founding of the United States, or space exploration, for instance.
Then why not compare the Bible to other holy books for literary context? Many, especially the Talmud and the Qu’ran, have similar themes. Why only the bible? If viewed that way, it’s comparative literature.
Religious and non-religious ranting about teaching the Bible aside, all I know is:
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I don’t care about Governor. It’s more of a figurehead position in the Texas government than you’d think, despite Rick Perry’s attempts to make it into Governor-Emperor.
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There’s something sketchy about Bill White that I can’t put my finger on. If my father, an otherwise rational man and a 20+ year civil servant in Houston hates him like the Devil, something’s up. He didn’t hate Lee Brown or Bob Lanier nearly so intensely as White, who was only mayor for his last year or two before he retired.
I have to wonder what would anger Dad so. He votes Republican, which wouldn’t let Brown or Lanier off the hook, but he reserves a special place for White, which baffles me somewhat.
- I’m reallly irritated in general with Texas state politics. I didn’t want to vote for any of Perry, Hutchinson, Shami, White or Medina. They all sucked from what I can tell.
Oh please. If it is the ONLY book being taught, and it’s right smack dab in the Bible Belt, what do you expect to happen? The Bible is a religious book, plain an simple. It is not a history book, and was not written to be one. Let’s require that the schools teach the Koran,.purely for its historical value. Imagine the shit storm that would start. I wonder why - because it’s not the “right” one.
Also, remember, Texas has a lot of young earth, creationist types who have on occasion, been able to get their stuff included in science classes as “alternative something or others” too.
Government needs to stay out of religion. I don’t care if they call it science, history, or home economics. They need to leave it alone.
The Texas Freedom Network reported on Bible classes in Texas schools, back in 2006. Findings summarized here:
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(And I think Bill White would make a fine governor. Heck, I’d have welcomed Kay Bailey Hutchison instead of Creationist, Secessionist Governor Good Hair–who brought Sarah Palin in to campaign for him. Briefly–for money, of course.)
Thank you for those cites. You saved me the effort of searching for them 
Are you sure Governor Perry is a YECer? Because even George W. Bush is a theistic evolutionist.
Did I say he was a Young Earth Creationist? I do know that his pal, Don McElroy, is one. From an NCSE report:
Oh, the National Center for Science Education must be part of the “Texas evolution-lobby” feared by the worthiesat The Discovery Institute. (Along with the Texas Freedom Network.)
Go Texas evolution-lobby! Next time, we need to get some Democrats to run for the School Board…
So what?
Yeah, it’s not like he’s a real Texan.
Even if he was (and he isn’t), my retort would be “so what”. I lived in Texas for a number of years and some people would be shocked to know
- not all of them are young earthers, creationists, “rapturerers”, “end of dayers”, creationist evolutionists, “intelligent designers”, or flat earthers
- not all of them want somone else’s version of the Bible taught in school
- not all of them want any version taught in school (they believe it is a private matter and a family matter)
- some of them actively despise G W Bush, each for their own reasons.
Oh, yah, I was just pointin out the obvious.
Or even a real Christian! :eek: http://amazinggracebaptistchurchkjv.com/subpage233.html
And Dubya isn’t a real American either-Connecticut is about as American as San Francisco or Boston is full of evul libruls and commies and godless atheists!
[COLOR=“White”](NOTE: This was SARCASM, thank you)[/COLOR]