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M O N D A Y , A U G U S T 0 1 , 2 0 0 5Teaching The Bible In Public Schools: TexasLeads The Wayby Michael in New York on
8/01/2005 04:30:00 PMThe fight never ends. Here's a story about people trying topush their own, narrow interpretation of the Bible into thepublic school curriculum and trying to pretend it's notreligion...just a non-religious text studying the bible asliterature and as a historical document. Some highlights oftheir foolishness:Elizabeth Ridenour, a commercial real estate broker whosaid she formed the nonprofit organization in 1993 afterdeciding that she had long been "duped" into believing theBible could not be taught in public schools, said the coursehas stayed within legal limits. "Our teachers are not to say,'This is the truth,' or that the Bible is infallible," she said."They are to say, 'This is what the Bible says; draw yourown conclusions.'"Of course, that's teaching the Bible, not teaching ABOUT the Bible,but she doesn't want to understand the difference.But a growing chorus of critics says the course, taught bylocal teachers trained by the council, conceals a religiousagenda. The critics say it ignores evolution in favor ofcreationism and gives credence to dubious assertionsthat the Constitution is based on the Scriptures, andthat "documented research through NASA" backs thebiblical account of the sun standing still....Some of the claims made in the national council'scurriculum are laughable, said Mark A. Chancey, professorof religious studies at Southern Methodist University inDallas, who spent seven weeks studying the syllabus for thefreedom network. Mr. Chancey said he found it "riddled witherrors" of facts, dates, definitions and incorrect spellings. Itcites supposed NASA findings to suggest that the earthstopped twice in its orbit, in support of the literal truth ofthe biblical text that the sun stood still in Joshua and IIKings."When the type of urban legend that normallycirculates by e-mail ends up in a textbook, that's aproblem," Mr. Chancey said.Don't these people even have the courage of their convictions? TheyWANT prayer in the public school. They WANT to teach their ownfundamentalist faith in the public school. They WANT to ban anyscience that conflicts with their religious beliefs -- even if it meansour kids falling farther and farther behind the rest of the world. Whycan't they be honest? At least the good Christians and Jews andMuslims and other people of faith and even the agnostics and atheistsdon't try to lie to the American people. So why do these people lie?Because they know if they were honest about what they really wantthey know that most Americans would say, "No thanks."
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© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Teachi...http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/teaching-bible-in-public-...
5 of 57/24/09 11:08 AM
8/01/2005 04:30:00 PMThe fight never ends. Here's a story about people trying topush their own, narrow interpretation of the Bible into thepublic school curriculum and trying to pretend it's notreligion...just a non-religious text studying the bible asliterature and as a historical document. Some highlights oftheir foolishness:Elizabeth Ridenour, a commercial real estate broker whosaid she formed the nonprofit organization in 1993 afterdeciding that she had long been "duped" into believing theBible could not be taught in public schools, said the coursehas stayed within legal limits. "Our teachers are not to say,'This is the truth,' or that the Bible is infallible," she said."They are to say, 'This is what the Bible says; draw yourown conclusions.'"Of course, that's teaching the Bible, not teaching ABOUT the Bible,but she doesn't want to understand the difference.But a growing chorus of critics says the course, taught bylocal teachers trained by the council, conceals a religiousagenda. The critics say it ignores evolution in favor ofcreationism and gives credence to dubious assertionsthat the Constitution is based on the Scriptures, andthat "documented research through NASA" backs thebiblical account of the sun standing still....Some of the claims made in the national council'scurriculum are laughable, said Mark A. Chancey, professorof religious studies at Southern Methodist University inDallas, who spent seven weeks studying the syllabus for thefreedom network. Mr. Chancey said he found it "riddled witherrors" of facts, dates, definitions and incorrect spellings. Itcites supposed NASA findings to suggest that the earthstopped twice in its orbit, in support of the literal truth ofthe biblical text that the sun stood still in Joshua and IIKings."When the type of urban legend that normallycirculates by e-mail ends up in a textbook, that's aproblem," Mr. Chancey said.Don't these people even have the courage of their convictions? TheyWANT prayer in the public school. They WANT to teach their ownfundamentalist faith in the public school. They WANT to ban anyscience that conflicts with their religious beliefs -- even if it meansour kids falling farther and farther behind the rest of the world. Whycan't they be honest? At least the good Christians and Jews andMuslims and other people of faith and even the agnostics and atheistsdon't try to lie to the American people. So why do these people lie?Because they know if they were honest about what they really wantthey know that most Americans would say, "No thanks."
HuffPost PoliticsMichael Shaw: Reading the Pictures: As If This PutsBirthers To Bedt - click for full size Seeing isbelieving? via RJ Eskow. Stewart escalates....20 minutes ago
FiredoglakeLate Late Night FDL: Holiday Road - LindsayBuckingham - Holiday Road. I'm not headed toWallyworld but I am on the road tonight, headeddown to the San Francisco Bay Area for themeetup this...57 minutes ago
Daily KosOpen Thread and Diary Rescue - *Tonight's RescueRangers are noddem, Elise, jlms qkw, taylormattd,Shayera, and joyful with vcmvo2 editing.* Thediaries up for rescue are: - *Vikin...1 hour ago
Crooks and LiarsOpen Thread - Just a little something re the birtherthing. Open thread below...2 hours ago
EschatonLate Night - Go Electric.2 hours agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S
Show AllA M E R I C A B L O G T V
Next 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Teachi...http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/teaching-bible-in-public-...
1 of 57/24/09 11:08 AM
Visit our AMERICAblog TV site.see all 326 videos >I collect with
vodpod
Massive brawl in SouthKorean parliament
Mormons may havesecretly baptized
Medieval helpdesk withEnglish subtitles
The Taco Bell dog hasdied
In honor of SenatorDeMintAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Teachi...http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/teaching-bible-in-public-...
2 of 57/24/09 11:08 AM
Walker ReportSimple Test ToDetermine If Conrad'sCo-ops Are Worthless2 hours agoEzra KleinTab Dump6 hours agoWonk RoomNewt Gingrich’s ‘JobsFirst’ Plan Puts TheWealthy AndCorporations First9 hours agoHealth BeatIf We’re Able to StopObama On This . . . . ItWill Break Him9 hours agoDaily DoseObama Talks HealthCare With Post's Hiatt9 hours agoG AY P O L I T I C S
Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S
Blog RSS
AMERICAblog TV RSS
Twitter RSSTwitter Feed
Get the blog by email:
Subscribe me!
Study The Bible OnlineEarn an Online AA, BA,Masters, or PhD. RequestFree Information!www.eLearners.com/BibleChildren's BibleLessonsDisciple Your 2-12 YearOlds Our 2500 Churchesare Satisfied!www.PioneerClubs.orgTeacher CertificationEarn your teacher'scertification or licenseonline. Fast & flexible.www.Online-Education.netDallas RelocationSchools, Homes,Realtors, Jobs FREE272-Page RelocationGuidewww.DestinationDFW.comFree Study BibleGet a Bible you canunderstand with 9,000footnotes, maps,cross-ref..www.BiblesforAmerica.org
Top AdAdvertise in this spot.H E A LT H C A R ER E F O R MAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Teachi...http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/teaching-bible-in-public-...
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S E A R C H
AMERICAblog
Web
SearchS E N D U S T I P S &C O M M E N T Samericablog@starpower.netB L O G A R C H I V E
Blog ArchiveS I T E S W E L I K EAir America RadioAlan Colmes' blogAri Melber (The Nation)Ben SmithBicycleMark's blog &podcastBilericoBradBlogBring It OnCarrie FisherCrooks and LiarsDailyKosDan Savage's "Slog"Daou ReportDemocratic UndergroundEschatonEzra KleinFire Dog LakeFiveThirtyEight.comFreeway BloggerThe Gavel (SpeakerPelosi's blog)Good As YouGlenn GreenwaldHoly Bullies and HeadlessMonstersHuffington PostHullabaloo (Digby)Jack and Jill PoliticsJed ReportJesus' GeneralKenneth in the 212Margaret and HelenMatthew GrossMedia MattersMike Signorile's "The Gist"MudflatsMyDDOpen LeftPlum LinePolitical Punch (JakeTapper)Political WirePolitics 1Pop SurfingProgressive Blog DigestQueers UnitedRawStoryRex WocknerRude PunditSmirking ChimpTalk LeftTappedTaylor MarshThink ProgressTowleRoadVetVoice.comWashington NoteWayneBesen.comWonketteWorth Repeating
N E W S L I N K SUSWashington PostNYTAP PoliticsReuters PoliticsRasmussen PollsTimeNewsweekRoll CallThe HillABCNews
P L E A S E S U P P O RTA M E R I C A B L O GOne-time donation$
Recurring monthlydonation$
Donations are nottax-deductible.L A B E L S
Select a labelL A S T 1 0 0 V I S I T O R SRecent Visitors
A B O U TA M E R I C A B L O GWhy AMERICAblog?Because a great nationdeserves the truth.What issues do youcover?US politics overall with aparticular focus on theObama Administration, theradical right, and civilrights.Who are you?John AravosisEditorWashington, DCJoe SudbayDeputy EditorWashington, DCChris RyanAssociate EditorParis, FranceRobert ArenaContributing EditorBaltimore, MarylandJacki SchechnerContributing EditorWashington, DCAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Teachi...http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/teaching-bible-in-public-...
4 of 57/24/09 11:08 AM
© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Teachi...http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/teaching-bible-in-public-...
5 of 57/24/09 11:08 AM