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PHOENIX - The state House voted 42-15 Tuesday to allow high schools to teach elective courses on the influence of the Bible on Western culture and civilization.
Tuesday's vote came over the objections of House Minority Leader Chad Campbell. The Phoenix Democrat said limiting schools to using the Old and New Testaments "is going to run into a constitutional challenge."
But Rep. Terri Proud, R-Tucson, who wrote HB 2563, said she does not see a problem. She said the language allowing the use of the texts for non-religious purposes has been approved by others.
Allowing the Bible to be studied as part of a Western civ. class (or literature, etc.) is one thing. Having just a Bible-related class crosses the constitutional line, imo.
I don't see how teaching about the influence of the Bible equates to teaching a particualr religion. There is no dispute that it has had an influence on culture.
A course like this in public high schools sounds like a recipe for disaster. All's fine and dandy if it can be taught objectively. But some people get heated about any sort of Bible criticism, and this class will certainly raise points about the Bible's negative influences on society, both past and present.
Also it is not a christianity class. Its a bible class. Multiple religions have based religion teachings on the Bible. Christianity obviously, Judaism and Islam.
It is not in violation of any constitutional ideals, the separation of church and state pertains to the state not regulating the free practice of religion and as it is offered as an elective, children who dont agree with anything being taught do not have to participate. I like it, as long as it is being taught appropriately and the students know what they are getting when they sign up
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