Time Magazine: Neutral Teaching of Bible Literacy should be implemented in schools?

[Archaea]

An interesting argument with which I am in agreement.

How can one be considered educated if one is ignorant of the Bible and its teachings? I would further argue we should become familiar with Jewish Talmudic teachings and even the Qu'ran. It should be done in a secular manner, but it should be done.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by Archaea

An interesting argument with which I am in agreement.

How can one be considered educated if one is ignorant of the Bible and its teachings? I would further argue we should become familiar with Jewish Talmudic teachings and even the Qu'ran. It should be done in a secular manner, but it should be done.

Agree.

[BarbaraGordon]

Ideally these works (OT, NT, Koran, Vedas, etc) would be introduced in the appropriate sections of western and non-western world history courses. In my experience they are not.

I see no reason why an in-depth course should not be offered. I think it would be too easy, though, for American schools to offer Bible-as-literature courses without addressing other sacred texts. I also think it is difficult for all but the best teachers to address the texts "neutral[ly]."

I believe this is the article to which Archaea refers:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...601845,00.html

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

Ideally these works (OT, NT, Koran, Vedas, etc) would be introduced in the appropriate sections of western and non-western world history courses. In my experience they are not.

I see no reason why an in-depth course should not be offered. I think it would be too easy, though, for American schools to offer Bible-as-literature courses without addressing other sacred texts. I also think it is difficult for all but the best teachers to address the texts "neutral[ly]."

I believe this is the article to which Archaea refers:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...601845,00.html

I would demand it be done neutrally, in a sense as to the veracity of its claims. Now whether somebody particularly liked a piece or not, they opine on literature all the time.

And to show it is done secularly, one could use the most recent academic version, New Revised Standard Version, and maybe compare it with the literary counterpart. Textual criticism could be a higher counterpart, as that endeavor is scholarly without a necessity to decide the divinity of the Bible.

I wish we also studied Plato and Aristotle more. I'm having fun reviewing these for my sons and wish his teachers would introduce more of the great foundations of our culture.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Archaea

I wish we also studied Plato and Aristotle more. I'm having fun reviewing these for my sons and wish his teachers would introduce more of the great foundations of our culture.

So you believe the OT and NT should be studied as elements of western civ (a notion with which I do not disagree) ... Do you feel other (i.e., non-western) sacred texts should be introduced?

I agree with your comment on our failure to instruct kids in the ancient origins of western culture. I have been pleased to see a rebirth of classical instruction in private schools, and hope the trend may eventually rub off on public schools as well.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by Archaea

An interesting argument with which I am in agreement.

How can one be considered educated if one is ignorant of the Bible and its teachings? I would further argue we should become familiar with Jewish Talmudic teachings and even the Qu'ran. It should be done in a secular manner, but it should be done.

There was a similar article in Newsweek last week.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

So you believe the OT and NT should be studied as elements of western civ (a notion with which I do not disagree) ... Do you feel other (i.e., non-western) sacred texts should be introduced?

I agree with your comment on our failure to instruct kids in the ancient origins of western culture. I have been pleased to see a rebirth of classical instruction in private schools, and hope the trend may eventually rub off on public schools as well.

Absolutely. I would shy away from no knowledge. Eventually, knowledge frees one for more options. Seek knowledge, apply it wisely and love truth.

I would look to great cultures where knowledge has been refined. Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Persian, Greek, Roman, British, German, French, Italian and so forth.

Knowledge is knowledge regardless of source.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Knowledge is knowledge regardless of source.

Indeed. I believe in the U.S. (or at least in the part I live in), it would be too easy to teach only Judeo-Christian history/literature. For example, it doesn't sound as though this school district has any intention of teaching other texts:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17540958/

[Detroitdad]

While I am all for education from religious texts I think it would be almost impossible to do in a public school setting unless it were in specialized classes. Even then it drips with controversy.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

While I am all for education from religious texts I think it would be almost impossible to do in a public school setting unless it were in specialized classes. Even then it drips with controversy.

Who would think it was controversial, other than those who wouldn't want the Bible studied as a subject?

(Yes, that's my little dig at the left. )