Texas School District Initiates Bible Class

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Texas School District Initiates Bible Class
Thursday, January 19, 2006
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By A. Urti

The Bible and It’s Influence, a textbook which examines the Bible’s impact on art, culture, literature, and history, will be the focal educational tool used in a new elective course at New Braunfels (Texas) High School. The Bible course, approved by six of seven New Braunfels Independent School District trustees, will be open only to juniors and seniors.

The textbook is a result of the efforts of the Bible Literacy Project (BLP), a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to research and public education on the academic study of the Bible in public and private schools. Many notable Biblical scholars are associated with BLP, including Os Guinness of the Trinity Forum, Leland Ryken of Wheaton College, Robert Alter of the University of California, and Tremper Longman of Westmont College, among others.

In a review of the textbook, Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship Ministries said, “This text provides an extraordinarily helpful background—the Bible’s impact on literature, the arts, and life. If anyone is looking for a comprehensive academic understanding of the roots of modern civilization, this book is an indispensable resource.”

Some Supportive, Some Not

While some residents are supportive of the new course, others remain skeptical about the aim of bringing a Bible course to public schools.

Trustee Paul Fisher, who cast the lone vote against the course, thinks that teaching the Bible is too exclusive. “I view this as a subject that, if we address it in public schools, should be in the form of comparative religion,” said Fisher. Others, however, think that sentiments such as Fisher’s are overly sensitive.

“The support behind this doesn't have any agenda,” said Barry Williams, New Braunfels resident. “Students will be challenged and better educated because of it [the textbook].”

Take Action!

Pray that more school districts would understand how vital teaching the Bible is to much of the rest of a student’s education.