Talk:Essay:Importance of Teaching the Bible in Public Schools

Should this be moved to Essay:Importance of Teaching the Bible in Public Schools? FernoKlump^{All the funny lines are banned} 20:57, 16 May 2008 (EDT)

It should, indeed. Sorry; I'm a little bit behind the curve. You can teach an old dog new tricks, but sometimes it takes him a little while to learn them. What do I need to do to move it?--Benp 21:00, 16 May 2008 (EDT)

Phew! Didn't realize I'd get myself banned. How would I remove this topic, now that the essay's been moved to the proper spot? Sorry, I'm pretty new at this. --Benp 21:10, 16 May 2008 (EDT)

That was my doing. I react by reflex sometimes. I apologize for the inconvenience.

You seem to have copied the text instead of moving it. That was the problem. Next time you need something moved, go to the Desk and ask for a sysop to move it. I'll handle the movement from here on out.--TerryH^Talk 21:23, 16 May 2008 (EDT)

Move successful

There, that's what I call a proper movement. Now essay and discussion have the same pagename and are closely associated.

In future, ask a sysop to move something if you think it needs moving. Movement of articles is a special Wiki function that requires special handling and sometimes special skill. Other than that, no one has done anything more serious than trying to do something when one didn't quite know how.--TerryH^Talk 21:29, 16 May 2008 (EDT)

Thank you kindly...much obliged! ----Benp 21:34, 16 May 2008 (EDT)

The issue of context

Ben, I think the issue is not whether the Bible can be referenced in a classroom at all, it's the context in which it's referenced. It would be totally appropriate to reference the Bible in a class on western literature, and show it's influence on other works. It's also totally appropriate to talk about it and have students read it in the context of understanding stories and expressions that are part of western culture.

The issue is when the Bible is presented in a classroom not as an important piece of literature of a collection of influential writings, but in the religious context of it being the literal, unerring truth about our past and our reality. That context is a matter of faith and belief, not fact. That's why the Bible is inappropriate for use in science class to explain creation. In a literature class it would be crossing a line to have an instructor claim the Bible to be not just significant book, but the literal truth when compared to works like the Koran, just as it's inappropriate for a teacher to claim the Koran as the truth and the Bible in error. --DinsdaleP 14:29, 10 June 2008 (EDT)

Why no Bible?

Where do you teach that you aren't allowed to use the Bible? That's an absurd rule. While much of it has no literary value beyond contextual and background, items like the Song of Songs are valuable in and of themselves and quite beautiful, and Ecclesiastes is absolutely essential reading to be an educated individual.--Tom Moore^{fiat justitia ruat coelum} 15:34, 10 June 2008 (EDT)