|
To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
Iowa Public School Students Could Soon be Studying Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament"The Bible has undeniably had an enormous influence on Western Civilization and America, especially in the areas of culture, law, art, and literature. A solid grasp of the Bible, it's major themes and stories, is essential to fully understanding our history and culture, from Shakespeare, to the Declaration of Independence, to the speeches of Martin Luther King Jr., and more." -Drew Zahn
The bill, introduced by Rep. Skyler Wheeler, Rep. Dean Fisher, and 10 other Republicans, would direct the state's Department of Education to prepare material and train teachers on how to teach the elective course. "This bill allows school districts to offer students a course in Bible literacy as long as it is taught in an academic sense, rather than devotional," Rep. Wheeler wrote in nwestiowa.com. "Basically, I want to give students the opportunity to study the Bible from the perspective of its impact on history and culture," Rep. Dean Fisher told the Des Moines Register. Wheeler adds the bill has strong support in both the House and the Senate. The Iowa Family Leader, a conservative Christian organization, is also endorsing the bill. "Schools can use the Bible as a historical, cultural, and literary subject of study, but not as a devotional resource. Or in other words, you can teach it, but you can't preach it," Drew Zahn, Family Leader's director of communications, told CBN News via email. However, opponents of the bill are criticizing it as an "extreme piece of legislation" and believe it violates the Constitution. "Absolutely not," Zhan said when asked if the bill violates the Constitution. "The courts have not ruled that the Bible is off limits in our schools, only the promotion of religion. Schools can use the Bible as a historical, cultural, and literary subject of study, but not as a devotional resource. Or in other words, you can teach it, but you can't preach it." Opponents also argue that the bill is an effort to force Christianity into schools. "We certainly don't need the government to indoctrinate our kids into one particular religion," Connie Ryan of Interfaith Alliance Iowa told WSFA-TV. CBN News reached out to Ryan but has not received a response. Zhan argues the Bible is culturally significant and is essential to America's framework. "The Bible has undeniably had an enormous influence on Western Civilization and America, especially in the areas of culture, law, art, and literature. A solid grasp of the Bible, its major themes and stories, is essential to fully understanding our history and culture, from Shakespeare, to the Declaration of Independence, to the speeches of Martin Luther King Jr., and more," he wrote. "Yet too few of our children are being exposed to the Bible, and schools are often too intimidated by the controversy, leaving a massive gap in our graduates' education," Zahn added. "Encouraging constitutional and religion-neutral elective courses in public high schools aims to rectify that for those who desire to learn more." Similar laws have passed in Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. West Virginia lawmakers have also recently proposed having Bible literacy offered as an elective course in public and private schools. 
To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News Alberta Bill in the Works Protects Healthcare Workers, Hospices from Having to Offer Euthanasia Arizona Ballot Measure Could Impact 2024 Presidential Race: '$100 Million to Promote Abortion' House Passes Bill to Stop White House from Unilaterally Imposing W.H.O. Pandemic Treaty IF This Is True, ABC News Is About to Become Engulfed in a Major Scandal Independent and Undecided Voters Largely Aligning with Trump Post-Debate Haitian Voter Fraud Uncovered in Springfield, Ohio Judge Drops 3 Criminal Counts in Georgia Election Interference Case against Trump President Trump Proposes Ending Taxes on Overtime Pay Rocker Jon Bon Jovi Saves Woman from Jumping Off Nashville Bridge Netanyahu: the World Must Demand the Hostages' Freedom Germany is Rushing to Bring Back Borders Due to Fresh Islamic Terror Concerns Texas Border City Hotel Shut Down After Alleged Tren de Aragua Gang Activity Speaker Johnson Pulls Spending Bill Vote amid GOP Opposition Christian School's Girls Basketball Team Punished for Gender Stand Fights Back: 'Boys Are Boys' 'Operation Homecoming': US Marshals Recover 32 Missing Children Near Akron, Ohio How the CARE Act Would Protect Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers to Continue Their Crucial Work DeSantis Investigating 37,000 Abortion Amendment Petitions after Reports of Fake Signatures ABC Moderators Were Lying: EIGHT 'Aborted' Babies Were Born Alive & Then Left to Die in Minnesota |
    
  |
(Des Moines, IA)—[
All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.
Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.
| Home | Store | Subscribe | Facebook | Article Archive |