Texas proves it's a religious shithole again.

[Skylon]

I will consider it an innocent attempt at teaching it as literature when they also teach the Qur'an, the Tora, or The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (among others).

The Spaghetti Monster reference is a little silly, don't you think? After all, if there is to be a literature course, then the FSM hasn't exactly had a large influence in the shaping of English (as in the language, not the country) literature. For that matter, neither has the Qur'an, and as the Torah is also part of the bible, your reference is redundant.

For good or bad, the bible is a source of important mythology, and understanding it is essential for the understanding of other important literature. I have absolutely no problem with a literature course with the bible as its main subject. I also have very little faith that this attempt to shoe-horn the bible into the curriculum will be anything other than proselytizing.

I work in a public high school in NY where "The Bible as Literature" is offered as a half-year english elective. However, it isn't state mandated that every damn public school offer this. I can also say that the teacher is far from a raving fundie (though I've meant to ask her if she designed the course, or was assigned it by her chair).

[Darth Holbytlan]

They gave it away when they spoke of teaching its enormous influence on government. The Bible is not supposed to influence government.

More to the point, it didn't influence government in the way that they will no doubt argue. Namely, that the Ten Commandments are the basis of modern jurisprudence and that the Constitution was founded on Christianity.

[Elfdart]

This is what happens when you have an anemic state goverment that is forced to rely on corporate and religious special interests groups to stay in power.

Is anybody honestly surprised at anything Texas does anymore?

I live in Texas and sometimes I'm surprised by the levels of dementia afflicting the state. Texas once elected a governor, M.A. "Ma" Ferguson (whose husband, "Pa" Ferguson had been impeached and removed), who once said that there was no need to teach foreign languages in public schools because the Bible was written in English, and if English was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for Texas.

That's why Texas always has been and always will be the biggest freak show on earth.

[Death from the Sea]

I am somewhat surprised by this actually... I do think that all it will take is one good lawsuit and this will end quickly. After all the end of prayers at football games started at my Alma mater, Santa Fe, TX. That was back in 1995, when one of the students filed a lawsuit claiming it was a violation of church and state to pray before the football games over the loudspeakers.

I think that this bible stuff in the classroom won't last long.