by Loyd Rawls

Created on: April 06, 2009

The Bible is everywhere! One of the most popular series of children's books over the past century has been The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis. It features a lion in a story distinctly reminiscent of Jesus' recruitment of disciples, His teaching, His death, and His resurrection. As a matter of fact, there are overt references to Biblical stories and events in the works of Twain, Dickens, Bunyan, and most of the major English language writers read today.

At one time, American society stigmatized those who did not identify themselves with one of the major denominations. Further, "Blue Laws", and official and unofficial practices put pressure on people, particularly in the Southeastern part of the US, to attend and become involved with a church.

In the wake of this societal pressure, many children attended public schools already knowing and understanding references to the Garden of Eden, Noah's ark, David and Goliath, Cain slaying Abel, the fiery furnace, David and Solomon, Daniel in the lions' den, slavery in Egypt, Christmas, Damascus Road, The Good Samaritan, Peter's denial of Christ, Judas' betrayal, Armageddon. They had a profound advantage in reading and understanding English and American stories, novels, and poems.

How can a student today understand the modern Civil Rights Movement without understanding Martin Luther King in the context of his Christian ministry? Ghandi, whose concepts of non-violent protest so greatly influenced King, was influenced not only by aspects of his native Hinduism, but also by the Biblical teachings of Jesus. Shouldn't students know these things?

The idea of teaching the Bible in school is made difficult by the many ways the Bible is viewed in our society. For many, the document itself is sacred and must be revered and interpreted only under the guidance of people with special training and the validation of the church. At the other end of the spectrum are people who blame every problem in modern society on specific applications of the words of the Bible. Neither group would (or should) trust the schools to support their perspective.

If a teacher in a public school holds the Bible up as a Holy document (not simply saying that "Some consider it a holy document."), parents are likely to protest the intrusion across the "wall of separation between church and state." If the teacher makes a more arms length reference to the Bible, literalist parents may complain that the teacher is exposing their children to a disrespectful attitude.

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