by Ernest Smartt

Created on: August 07, 2008   Last Updated: September 27, 2008

Who is it that always asks about or mentions the teacher's Bible on the desk? It is usually someone who does not like the Bible, or is ashamed of it. It is most often one person in several hundred who might even notice it, and make any comment at all. Yet, that one in hundreds causes an issue that disrupts the teacher's life, causes conflict in the department, and makes the hundreds look like hateful people. That is just the facts.

This question is bait for debate. It doesn't usually seek an answer, but rather an argument. I doubt that I can do any better with the answer than anyone else. A yes or no will be followed by opinion, even from me. Is my opinion or your opinion worth more than that of the teacher who has a Bible on his or her desk? Do we know, or even consider, the daily diary of that Bible? Does it gather dust, or is it getting worn out? Is it read and underlined and written in? Who is this teacher anyway? Is he or she teaching and/or preaching from that Bible in the class? Is that Bible sitting there offending anyone? Does it, if not used in class by the teacher, bite anyone?

This list of questions could go on for a very long time. Honest answers to this list of questions might help us all come to some small agreement about the posted question above. The question about the teacher having the Bible on the desk is not going to get just a yes or no from me either. Some of the issues this question forces are about separation of church and state, personal rights, and who is offended. I have no intention of responding to those issues.

I am going to address the one issue that seems never to be discussed with the "offender" who has the Bible out on the desk. Why does that teacher have the Bible there in the first place. Yes, the unasked question is about motive. The question is never asked because the answer is always assumed. People assume that the teacher is showing off his Christianity, preaching from that Bible, or having discussions about the Bible or religion in the class. These are assumptions and are not enough reason to disrupt the teacher's life for. What are some reasons for which a teacher may have the Bible on the desk?

TO MAKE A STATEMENT:
It could be there to make a statement. That statement might be that the Teacher is a Christian. Does the teacher need a Bible to make that statement? Are words needed in order to make it clear that a teacher is a Christian? "No" is the answer to both. According to the Bible, true believers are the light of the

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