California: Provide Bibles for K-12 Kids

[Theophylact]

(Yes, I know -- it's only a petition, and any idiot with $200 to spend can file one.)

[J-Excel]

That might cut into their condom money.

[Atomic Rooster]

OMG! What's next? First condoms, then bibles, then how about the abortion pill?

[originel]

upon further inspection the motives are actually rather interesting. the basic idea is to "integrat[e] the bible into the public school curriculum when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education." i.e. it's a study of christianity from a secular point of view...just as other religions are currently studied in history classes. although i don't think it should be a separate class or anything and should recieve only as much attention as other religions. i also question the use of the NKJV as the "textbook." i find it difficult to believe that using it would provide a "seciular" experience. there are actually true textbooks that cover religion and would be a much better source of information. also of not, however, is this would be for students whose "parents do not opt-out by specific objection, for voluntary reading and study." there is no forcing going on here so it really doesn't violate separation of church and state technically.

but that aside i wonder when california will realize that spending more money on education isn't the answer to better schools (as j-excel hinted at). although i would love to see more high schoolers involved with their faith, i don't think that this is the way to do it. the problem with high schoolers is that they are so easily impressionable, yet so fickle. i just don't think it would work. and it is somewhat questionable as to separation of church and state (although i don't think it technically violates it).

[osprey4]

Not the NKJV but the regular "King James Bible" (AKA, Authorized Version or AV).

I can tell you that anyone pushing the "1611" version of the KJV has a guaranteed hidden agenda (as though it weren't patently obvious).

[originel]

Not the NKJV but the regular "King James Bible" (AKA, Authorized Version or AV).

i stand corrected, you are right. must have gotten lazy. and that is a very good point about someone pushing the 1611 version.

[alexzandra]

They currently sell bibles at my school.
the only problem that i see with that is my school is also very clicquish about your church and faith. It promotes a small problem. If there is a school in cali like mine, this would only push the issue.

[shawshank62]

i would love for there to be a religion class in my school. There is nothing wrong with being informed about other's beliefs, and from what i hear, there is discussion that this may be a possilbilty a few years down the road. I wont get to check it out, but i'm glad that others will.

As someone said up top, they should just use religion textbooks, not an actualy bible, and especially no the king james version.

[Hawkeye]

Primary sources do often tend do be the bst sources of information, I think it'd be better if they used both the bible and textbooks together. Too bad I'm gonna probably miss out on this, being a junior in Chicagoland, that would be a very interesting course although religion is a very VERY sensitive subject. Discussing the cores of beliefs of others is not always a good idea, that sometimes leads to crusades .

-George

[jmebonner]

What's the aversion to the King James, for someone who has no idea. Isn't it the closest to the Greek and Hebrew, without the 'dumbed down' words?