Quote :

" Maybe I am missing something here. The course is offered as a voluntary elective in every sense. And for whom? Well, logic tells me -- if I'm permitted to use it -- that the most devout students would be most interested. The ones who, you know, spend a lot of time outside of school studying the Bible? "

i took both Old and New Testament Lit at NC State. (and other REL classes)

i wasnt religious then, im not religious now. I am an agnostic and will probably die an agnostic. I fully intend to raise my child to be an agnostic.

but the biblical literature classes were both extremely interesting and important in the larger context of understanding the religious evolution and intellectual foundations of western civilization. If more people objectively studied the texts and their historical context, there'd probably be a lot less fundamentalist moonbats out there.

So, I'd be more inclined to say these courses should be *required*

Quote :

" At any rate, this legislation is fundamentally unconstitutional. Clearly if Georgia offers classes on the Bible, they must also offer them on other major world religions. To do otherwise is itself wholly exclusionary and preferential. The Christian kids get their favorite class; the Jewish, Islamic, etc. kids are left out. Separate but Unequal is not usually a great principal of governance. "

actually the Jews get their Old Testament lit.

but there should be other traditions available. as i said earlier, if demand doesn't allow for separate Islamic, Buddhist, etc. courses, they should at least have a Survey course that traces developments of all major world religions.

The last thing I'd want is Xians taking over the public school curriculae. But the fact is, Western Civilization was largely descended from Greek and Roman law and philosophical traditions. Greece and Rome were not especially influenced by Hindu, Islamic or Buddhist schools of thought. Like it or not, Judeo-Christian religion and philosophy had the greatest effect.







[Edited on March 11, 2007 at 8:23 PM. Reason : ]

3/11/2007 8:08:14 PM