Required readings would include passages from Old and New Testament for students in middle school
The conservative-majority Texas State Board of Education is considering adding at least 15 passages from the Bible to a required reading list as part of English lessons in public schools – the latest push from conservatives to implement Christianity into school curriculums.
Beginning in middle school, Texas students could be forced to read stories from the Bible including Jonah and the Whale, David and Goliath, and Lamentations 3 in addition to passages such as The Definition of Love from the New Testament, according to the list reported by the New York Times.
The new proposed changes have raised concerns from advocacy groups and academics who believe the changes will teach children a one-sided history lesson and “indoctrinate” students.
I’ve read the Bible through many times. Both in times of belief and in times of doubt. I wound up becoming an Episcopal priest. I’d argue that the more someone reads the Bible and truly studies it the less likely they are to remain “literalists” when it comes to the Bible. Which also has the effect of broadening one’s view of God.
Even through all the lengthy ‘begat’ sections?
[sighs heavily] Yes
That’s quite a feat. Have you had the time to read any other books?
I once was told that Jesus didn’t actually multiply fish and bread, but that being in his presence inspired others to share their own bread and fish. And then went on to tell me I didn’t actually understood the bible.
A man doesn’t need to be of divine origin to be inspirational. If the bible isn’t literal, then there are no miracles, and the parables in the bible are no more than fables to teach values. If that’s the case, you get the same, or better, lessons from reading Aesop’s Fables or Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. God optional.
I tend to maintain belief in the miraculous aspects of the stories. But this is one where I can accept the “non-miraculous” telling (because, as the saying goes, “it’ll preach”). Whether or not Jesus actually multiplied fish and bread through miraculous means, the thrust of the story is still true: Jesus can take what seems meager and make it into something that benefits multitudes.
Have you read the Quran? How about the Tripitaka? The Torah?
Have you perchance read any texts regarding the The Satanic Temple?
I don’t know how common it is, but I’d be concerned if any high religious figure hasn’t done some at the very least surface level study of world religions, past and present