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The best reasons for not accepting the premise that the Bible should be considered a "valid book for real educational purposes" are not to be found in this essay. Even the most cursory reading of the so-called "Biblical truths" advanced by the "pro-Bible" faction provides sufficient reasons to justify banishing such an idea to the dustbin of history.

The mindset typical of those that would force their religious belief onto others can be found in many articles published in this section. Since the literal accuracy of the Bible as an "all or nothing" proposition is to be taken at face value, allow me the pleasure of razing that theological pseudo-castle in the sky.

According to the Biblical book of Joshua the city of Jericho was destroyed by the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land after their 40-year long exodus from Egypt. This would have occurred sometime around 1250 - 1200 BCE. Unfortunately for the Biblical literalists, there is clear archaeological evidence that the city was destroyed no later than 1400 BCE. This means that the destruction of Jericho must have occurred some 150 - 200 years earlier, while the Israelites were still enslaved in Egypt. Since we have been assured that "... every story in the Bible is either true, or every one is completely false. It cannot be both ways ..." we may now safely disregard the Bible without fear of divine retribution.

Those who loudly proclaim the Bible to be the ultimate authority in all matters must also believe that India, Australia, and China don't exist, because no one has been able to find them mentioned in a Biblical text. The Special Theory of Relativity? Sorry, Herr Einstein, you're wrong. The same for you too Mr. Newton, you tool of Satan, and your silly ideas about "gravity" and planets that orbit the sun. And if any of you godless secular humanists or non-fundamentalist Christians happens to get Swine Flu or meningitis, you can forget all that nonsense about a "germ theory of disease" and that "antibiotic" blasphemy because the Bible says that disease comes from demons that God allows to run loose so they can punish sinners and unbelievers!

Of course, these "true believers" must also think that slavery is all well and good because the Bible reminds all good Christian slaves to "... be obedient unto your masters ..." (No citation is necessary. The Biblical scholars among us should know where to find that particular verse).

Would those who are more than willing to force their "interpretations" of the Christian Bible onto the children of their less-enlightened neighbors be as anxious to also allow the use of the Mahabharata in another classroom? Most adults who have read both works will tell you that, as far as plot, readability, and literary merit are concerned, the Bible isn't in the same league as this epic. On top of that, since Hinduism and the Mahabharata have been around far longer than Christianity and its Bible, should we assume that the former are more "divinely inspired" than the latter?

On the other hand, I would wholeheartedly support the use of the Bible (as well as the Qur'an and the Epic if Gilgamesh) as textbooks if equal time were given to the shameful history of how books have be cited by some "Messiah," "Prophet of God," or 'Fuehrer" as the "divine authority" to mindlessly slaughter or enslave other human beings. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't recall a war that was fought to force belief in the Analects of Confucius onto another nation or justifying genocide by citing the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.

To summarize, the opinion that the Bible should be considered as a definitive textbook for use in the school system is so absurd that it defies the ability of the English language to subject it to the ridicule it deserves.

Learn more about this author, Robert W. McDonald.
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