Religious Understanding Must Exist Outside Relgious Practice

Concerning an article published last Saturday in the American Statesman, our friend Jenny Tran wrote strongly against Texas public school districts being required to offer a course on literature and the history of the Bible. The course was created by a law in 2007 and now falls into requirement. I think the main point of confusion for Jenny is that students will not be required take the course in their standard curriculum, and schools will not even be required to teach the course. That is to say, the district must offer the course as a possible elective - if the schools want it - and students may elect to take it.

I find it interesting, personally, that such a class would be created by law. Then again, I'm not completely sure about how a school curriculum is set up.

I can understand the argument made in the Statesman article that world religions are already covered in history and geography courses. In fact, it surprises me that no point is made of having the ability already to tie the Bible into literature in English classes. My own English classes did exactly this.

But I am surprised at the strong opposition. I suppose it may stem from fear of religious fanatics pushing their agenda, but the article refutes that thought:

"I first thought it would be devout kids who just wanted more Bible," Stratton said.

But the students want to take the course because they have an intellectual curiosity and understanding that the Bible is important to grasping literature, history and culture, said Gillory, an English and creative writing teacher at The Woodlands College Park High School.

We see that more often, children are eager to learn ways that their core classes are threaded together, and this class does just that.

As far as not being able to really teach literature and history without the Bible, I must also disagree with Jenny. By selectively deleting motivations and allusions in history and literature, you will lack full understanding of a subject. If you blindly ignore religious influences relevant to these courses, you are failing to consider and understand the concept, and understanding is what we all must strive for, especially when such contentious issues are at hand. Western society is riddled with the influence of Christianity, both in its structure and history; you don't have to be Christian to understand it.

I would say that if there is a demand for the class, why shouldn't it be offered?