Handing out Bibles at a high school: Why do we keep doing this in Georgia?
Too many public schools continue to blur the church-state divide in Georgia
The zest with which Georgia schools test the church-state divide never fails to stun me.
I wonder if other states grapple with this issue or is this unique to the Bible Belt?
With the threat of litigation, public schools ought to think very carefully about allowing any religious group access to students and the possible charge of proselytizing on school grounds.
Yet, a north Georgia parent sent me a note that Bibles were handed out at her high school last week. She is a Christian and reveres the Bible, but doesn’t think the high school was the right place to hand it out.
Her concern mirrors my own: Our schools are attended by students of all faiths and traditions. All those faiths and belief deserve respect. We risk making many students feel like outsiders when we elevate one religion above all others.
Consider the 1656 warning by devout Baptist Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, on the consequences of mixing religion and government: “God requireth not an uniformity of religion to be enacted and enforced in any civil state; which enforced uniformity, sooner or later, is the greatest occasion of civil war, ravishing of conscience, persecution of Christ Jesus in his servants and of the hypocrisy and destruction of millions of souls.”
More than a century later, Thomas Jefferson allayed the fears of the Baptist Association that the newly birthed United States of America was planning to designate a national religion. Responding to the worried Baptists, Jefferson wrote, “The First Amendment has erected a wall of separation between Church and State.”
Many of you will argue that America was created as a Christian nation. But the 1797 treaty between the United States and Tripoli, written under President George Washington and signed by his successor, John Adams, says that “the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.”
But what about the phrase “one nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” on our currency? Both grew out of the anti-Communist fervor of the McCarthy era.
In 1954, politicians tacked “under God” onto the pledge; three years later, they engraved “In God We Trust” onto paper money. Concerns were raised even then about blurring the line between church and state, but no lawmakers wanted to risk casting a vote against God.
James Madison believed that the only way to preserve both religion and government is to maintain a safe distance between them. “The tendency to a usurpation on one side or the other, or to a corrupting coalition or alliance between them, will be best guarded against by an entire abstinence of the Government from interference in any way whatever, ” wrote Madison, “beyond the necessity of preserving public order, and protecting each sect against the trespasses on its legal rights by others.”
Madison got it right. Too many of our schools are getting it wrong.
Why?
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183 comments Add your comment
jopar
November 24th, 2009
6:33 am
Whatever it is, it isn’t motivated by any rationale or emotion that Jesus would condone.There’s an underlying meanness to it that is scary.For some of the extremists, it’s literally “agree with me or I’ll kill you.”
I’m certainly not the first to note the similarity in these folks and Islamic extremists.
Larry
November 27th, 2009
5:57 am
This is purely a constitutional issue and making anyone feel good or bad is immaterial.
It wouldn’t surprise me if most of the landmark cases actually originated in the North. The 1963 case over school sponsored prayer (everyone remembers Madalyn Murray O’Hair, but the case was actually Abington v. Schempp), school holiday naming standards and selling Creation as Intelligent Design were Pennsylvania cases.
The South seems to have more local issues, such as the one mentioned above, which require adherence more than standard setting, but one big difference is the media attention attracted by politicians to a given case. Around here, you don’t have to look hard to find politicians willing to declare themselves the sole guardians of Christianity, but this is much less common in the North because of the different voting base.
When half your constituents send their kids to Catholic school, you talk about funding their transportation costs and skip the part about how public schools they don’t attend are threatening the existence of their religion.
George
November 27th, 2009
6:57 am
You all may understand after the rapture occurs. Jesus will be returning to earth to gather His people.
netgnat
November 27th, 2009
7:06 am
Jopar, which Christian said “agree with me or I’ll kill you”? I’d like to see where you get this quote from. Thanks.
Randy Cooper
November 27th, 2009
7:11 am
Maybe if we handed out more Bibles, we’d hand out less condoms…. If you don’t like the way we do it here, Delta is ready when you are.
Jebus
November 27th, 2009
7:14 am
netgnat, how about this:
Exodus 22:20 “He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.”
Suzy
November 27th, 2009
7:14 am
I realize you are writing an opinion piece, but my guess is you have no idea what the real situation was at this school. I seriously doubt it was the school that was handing the Bibles out. It was most likely a group of students wanting to share their faith with whomever wanted to listen with no requirement that anyone listen or take the Bibles at all. If a group of another religious faith wanted to do something similar would you have even written this piece? It seems to me that people who argue “church and state” issues would increasingly rather that christianity be completely stamped out of our society and let government guide our every thought, move and choice. Part of our society’s issue right now is there isn’t enough “church” involved in the state. It’s all about power. I say kudos to those who are not afraid to let their schoolmates know they are proud to be Christians and are willing to share something positive rather than bow to those who would rather give every situation a negative spin to suit their own political leanings.
KIM
November 27th, 2009
7:24 am
Netgnat: well, the guy that killed Dr George Tiller basically said that. Randy Cooper: no, YOU LEAVE. I think Iran has the theocracy you are looking for. George: the rapture? What in the world are you talking about? Weirdo
downsouth
November 27th, 2009
7:25 am
mr. cooper, your analogy just doesn’t work. some of the most hot to trot chicks i knew in high school and college were southern baptists. they didn’t drink, but boy did they like to get in positions where condoms were needed ; ) one guy i knew prided himself on sleeping with all the hotties in the uga baptist student union. unite they did!
fieldofdreams
November 27th, 2009
7:29 am
Shine: make ‘em wonder what you got. Make ‘em wish they were not, on the outside looking bored. Shine: let it shine before all men, let ‘em see good works, and let ‘em glorify the Lord.
Earl V. Ford Jr.
November 27th, 2009
7:29 am
Is there a problem with having those who would like to accept the Bibles do so and, those don’t want one, simply say “no thank you?”
fieldofdreams
November 27th, 2009
7:41 am
And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Luke 19:40
Joy in Teaching
November 27th, 2009
7:46 am
Getting back on subject here….were the students forced to accept the Bibles? If not, what is the problem, exactly? Students (and teachers) are offered things at schools all the time. That doesn’t mean that they have to accept those items. It’s called “personal choice.”
John
November 27th, 2009
7:59 am
Just a point of clarification about “In God We Trust” on US currency.
The phrase was added to our coins during the Civil War – first appearing on the two-cent coin in 1864. Further details can be found here: http://www.ustreas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.shtml
David
November 27th, 2009
8:17 am
The article’s quote of Roger Williams was taken way out of context. For nearly 200 years in this country the Bible was respected and accepted. Please point out to me any case in which that led to Christianity ever being forced upon our society. It has NEVER happened in this nation. But in the last 50 years, with the Bible and Christianity being under attack in this nation have we seen the moral decline and proliferation of the problems of drugs, violence, teen pregnancy, etc… in our schools. Surely a “concerned parent” can find other issues to be “concerned about” rather than a Bible being offered, not forced upon students in the schools.
Dr. K
November 27th, 2009
8:28 am
Maureen Downey:
I want you to look up all of your teachers and contact them…so they can kick you for making them look like they did not do their jobs. Go back to Jefferson’s and Roger Williams quotes and understand their positions on the matter. Understand the spirit and context in which these statements were made…NOT the word for word quote that you copied and pasted off of wikipedia. I am embarrassed for you.
Who cares?
November 27th, 2009
8:28 am
You made your own argument for it Maureen. Freedom of religion and assembly doesn’t just apply to non Christians, but to Christians too. I doubt that the group forced kids to take the Bibles… simply handed them out to anyone who wanted one. How is that any different than handing out pamphlets on abstinence?
No wonder you have few people read your columns. I’m sure the ACLU will give you a job.
waterstim
November 27th, 2009
8:31 am
Giving out those Bibles has really gotten us close to civil war, hasn’t it? Look at the price this country has paid and is paying for turning its back on the Bible and accepting the Adam Lamberts of the world. It just keeps on getting worse; at some point, there will be a price to pay.
By the way, the 1797 Treaty was re-written, with those words left out, four years later, a fact that this blogger conveniently leaves out. Whether you accept it or not, most of our forefathers were practicing Christians. The Hollywood crowd and the Democratic party are Marxist, Godless perverts.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” How exactly do you get “separation of church and state” from this? OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF. How does this restrict handing out Bibles in schools? You liberals have made a mockery out of the constitution.
Ackshun
November 27th, 2009
8:39 am
I have never understood why the Bible makes even “Christians” so nervous. Would the parent mentioned above have been so concerned if the school handed out copies of “The Secret” or “The Da Vinci Code” probably not. The Bible is a unique work of literature with a very positive message. Considering the garbage that spews from the press to school library bookshelves and is made readily accessible frre of charge to any student wishing to have a go, why would anybody be concerned about a kid getting their hands on the ultimate self-help book? Ghandi read it (he never converted to Christianity by the way), so has just about every President that ever kept watch in the oval office. If a kid can read the words of a madman “Mein Kampf” in school, why not make the Bible available to them. What “never fails to stun me” is that so called liberal and open minded people seem to promote tolerance for everything but God and the Bible. You can be gay, lesbian, sex or drug addicted, anything but a Christian. Amazing in a world of tolerance that only God is rendered intolerable. And if I were him, I would be really disappointed in my kids for that. What are you afraid of?
Kevin P
November 27th, 2009
8:46 am
Does anyone yet realize that by not allowing the free expression of religion, anywhere, is in fact elevating the “religion of state” above all others? Atheism is itself a religion. Humanism is a religion. Believing NOTHING becomes a defacto religion. I recently read a novel which paints a scary, yet quite likely scenario of where we are heading. It’s fictional, but could easily happen. Read Jerry Jenkins’ trilogy Soon, Silenced, and Shadowed.
Get It Right
November 27th, 2009
8:48 am
Wow, Maureen, you leave out just enough critical detail to really screw up the discussion. You memntion “separation of Church and State, cite some various quotes from certain founders, but don’t give the actual Constitutional phrase. It reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . .”. First Amendment – freedom of speech, freedom of the press, etc. You also say that Bibles were handed out at a north GA high school. Who bought the bibles, the school or a private group? Did the school personnel hand them out or did students? Were they given to all students in class or handed to those who accepted them as they walked by?
This is a very good example of why we cannot have a civilized discussion on religion, race, abortion, or any other sensitive subject in this country. A lot of people use what they hear from the press as the major factor when forming their opinions. When the press fails to provide adequate information, then it is no better that the propaganda machines in Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia.
Note to jopar and KIM regarding the, “agree with me or I’ll kill you”, viewpoint. Yes, there are some terrorists hiding behind Christianity, but they are shunned by the Christian community as a whole. When caught, they are punished for their criminal transgressions against society. Islamic Facism is based on text in the Koran and is endorsed and supported by the Islamic states and religious hierarchy. Big difference.
We all should care.
November 27th, 2009
8:50 am
I sent my children to a private christian school for all of the reasons mentioned in your blog. It was the best money I ever spent, and in the overall scheme of things, the costs were about the same is what many people pay for their car or truck. A good private christian school will provide a loving, caring environment with high academic standards, but will not allow the nonsense or bad behavior found in public schools. For those that would like a private school education for their children but don’t think they can afford it, there are scholarships available. You only get once chance to raise your children.
JohnD
November 27th, 2009
8:55 am
All you need to know about this state can be summed up in the lyrics to Randy Newman’s “I’m a Redneck.” Google those lyrics and Randy will explain it to you in stark detail.
That’s all that need be said on this topic.
Soo
November 27th, 2009
9:03 am
Maybe we should have copies of the Quaran handed out and see how well that goes over. If you allow one religion’s holy book to be passed out, then any other religion should have the same opportunity.
scott
November 27th, 2009
9:11 am
I know we are on vacation but this is shoddy reporting at it’s best. First were the Bibles handed out BY THE HIGH SCHOOL? I grew up in Virginia and the Gideons use to pass out the small New Testament Bibles every year across from the school. As you were walking home they would OFFER you a Bible.
It amazes me how Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, and any other religion is openly discussed and debated in publich schools all the time. However, Christianity is frowned upon as a topic to even be “touched”. Yes, I am a Christian, however if some of the basic day to day principles of Christianity were discussed (maybe compared and contrasted) as much as the other major faiths maybe we will see more positive stories other than the weekly “I can’t believe this is happening” stories we see out of Clayton County. Yes other districts have issues to, I am just using Clayton as an example due to the number of events involving teachers, students, and community members over the past few weeks.
Just because you do not agree with something does not mean it can not be a helpful guide. You may not agree with the Constitution but it still provides a legal framework for people to live by.
Ms Dorothy
November 27th, 2009
9:18 am
I think that is a blessing to hand out bibles you can acknowledge all other religions and you can teach about evolution but when The Truth is Being orchestrated then it’s a Problem it’s a choice, not all have to take that bible but it may be one person that may need that bible so We as a Christians Shouldn’t dispute this This is what got prayer taking out of School because Christians were Silence So I appauld the Schools that are doing this Praise God for that we need this all other things are taught in School but we are so Bold to take Christ out of it and You wonder why School shootings, Gangs, Teachers sleeping with Students, Children having sex in bathrooms and Drugs We need to check ourselves and see if we really want to mess with The all knowing Mighty Powerful God. Although God doesn’t come to destroy US Sin does but we embrace Sin when we PUsh GOd out; We invite Satan to come in and Have a Field day So May God of ALL True and Living God Have Mercy on Us as a Country and Nation…. Be Bless May we Repent and Get It right….
Pete
November 27th, 2009
9:20 am
If I was handed a Bible at my school, I’d rip the pages out of it and throw it away right in front of the givers.
Krebs
November 27th, 2009
9:21 am
Never thought I would say this but it is probably time to take a serious look at vouchers. Parents who think schools are corrupting their children would now be free to place their children in christian schools. They would have access to the bible for the full school day. Contract the public schools, hire the best teachers, solve the problems without all of the distractions of folks who are going to be constantly talking about how education has been going downhill ever since prayer was taken out of the schools. Give those folks schools where they can pray every minute of the school day. To keep forcing these individuals into public schools is a mistake. Let them go. Let the public schools move forward. They may find in several years down the road that the public schools have moved on and progressed while some of the these private schools are still stuck in the past and left behind.
Sluggo
November 27th, 2009
9:25 am
Jebus…Are you really making a case that Christians in the United States, as a matter of doctrine, would kill those who don’t believe in Jesus? No rational thinking a person in the universe could buy off on that case. The fact of your suggestion reveals both deep hatred and basic ignorance.
Donnie
November 27th, 2009
9:26 am
I will be visiting as many public school websites over the next few days posting this website:
http://www.freequran.com/html/front.htm
I think that the students might like to learn about the Quran, and this website is giving them away for free. Each of you should get a copy too.
Atl Resident
November 27th, 2009
9:26 am
More and more issues like these arise on news and everywhere to keep reminding us we are in the last days. When are we going to pay attention? And by the way whoever mention that the Quaran should be handed out, that basically is the Holy Bible just with a different name and rewording of the original stories in the Holy Bible.
Mateo
November 27th, 2009
9:27 am
Wow, Pete. You’re a tough guy. You show ‘em! Do you show the same respect for those “Sweet Valley High” books you’re still struggling to finish?
Bubba
November 27th, 2009
9:28 am
The problem, as I see it, are the circumstances under which the Bible is handed out to students. Students are required to attend school. If Bibles are distributed during school hours, a minor student could easily be “persuaded” to understand that his school is requiring him to accept the Bible as part of the curriculum. There are no parents or guardians of the student present when the Bibles are distributed to tell the student that he/she is not required to accept the gift. It is the distributor of the Bible who use these circumstances to unduly persuade the student that, because they’re handed out during school hours, he/she is required to accept it.
The student can read “Mein Kampf” in school, yes. But “Mein Kampf” isn’t distributed during school hours to each student during school hours. I encouraged my child to read “Mein Kampf,” but only so that I could do my job as a parent to discuss the book with my child, explain the context of the book with him and help him discern his own feelings.
Knowledge and ideas are dangerous only when they are either forced upon the student, or are offered as persuasion in an environment the context of which suggests that the have no choice but to accept the teachings of the “lesson” lest they be ostracized or ridiculed for “bucking the norm,” be those lessons from “Mein Kampf” or the Bible. It is my job as a parent to teach my child a system of values, attitudes and beliefs, in order that my child, when he becomes an adult, has the unfettered environment in which he may ultimately choose for himself. That, in my opinion, is what America is all about: the freedom to choose for himself.
What am I afraid of? That Christians are so worried that the message of their teachings are so weak that they use all circumstances available to them to force their beliefs, either through intimidation or coercion, into the empty vessel of a child’s mind. Respectfully, that’s not your job. That’s my job as a parent. If you want to make “Mein Kampf,” the Bible, or any other piece of literature available to anyone by placing it in a library for a student to check out, I’m all for that. But until math books are made available to any student attending church during services, I oppose. I object not so much to passing out the Bible during school hours, but rather the usurpation of my rights as a parent to control the environment in which my child gains knowledge. “Free will” also means the freedom to say “no.” Passing out Bibles during school hours creates an environment in which the freedom to say “no” is removed, either by enforcement of rule or by using “peer pressure” to remove the perception of freedom.
Kevin P
November 27th, 2009
9:34 am
Pete, I’d defend your right to do that. It’s their choice to offer it. It’s your choice to accept it. And it’s your choice to do with it what you want. I’m praying you’ll get curious as to what you’re throwing away, though. For 24 years I felt the same way as you and wouldn’t open a Bible. Now, it’s so much more than simply a book to me. I know it is God’s Word. Hope you’ll take a look someday soon too.
soulfinger
November 27th, 2009
9:40 am
I say “why not?” Even though I myself am not a Christian..nor do I consider myself of any one particular religion. But what harm could it possibly do? Maybe people will start treating each other better!
JTex
November 27th, 2009
9:41 am
“What “never fails to stun me” is that so called liberal and open minded people seem to promote tolerance for everything but God and the Bible. You can be gay, lesbian, sex or drug addicted, anything but a Christian. Amazing in a world of tolerance that only God is rendered intolerable.”
I see that this particular bit of illogic persists…For one, given the predominance of Christianity in this country it is ludicrous to suggest that Christians are persecuted or forced to hide. For another, this “liberals are intolerant of Christians” thing is utterly ridiculous. What “liberals” are intolerant of is proselytizing by ANY religious group in schools or other government-funded organizations. We are intolerant of ANY religious group attempting to use religious prejudice or taboo as the justification for laws that limit individual freedoms – Blue Laws, for example. We are not “intolerant” of Christians, in fact you’ll find that most of us ARE Christians. And seriously – the constant equating of gays and lesbians to drug addicts, child molesters or what-have-you by so-called loving Christians is offensive and ignorant.
Similarly the “atheism is religion” argument is pure sophistry. By definition, “religion” involves a systematized collection of beliefs shared by its members that refers to a higher power. The fundamentalist factions of Christianity have attempted to make this logically fallacious claim for years now, in order to make it seem as if the absence of religion is a religion in and of itself, but it is absolutely false.
“And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Luke 19:40″
Yes…Islamic fundamentalists claim that they have a mandate from God that requires them to convert others, too. You’re in such…good company. If you were a decent human being, you would respect the rights of others instead of attempting to force your own on them.
Fundamentalists of whatever religion are the lowest form of human being. The world would be so much better off without the rigidity of thought and the inherent hatred against those who are different that fundamentalists live for.
Bill
November 27th, 2009
9:46 am
If we aren’t a Christian nation, then why do we observe the federal holiday of Christmas? Thanksgiving is also a holiday for thanking God, as declared by President Lincoln. So much for a wall between church and state.
Crazy World
November 27th, 2009
9:54 am
Sooo:
I hate to say it but the Quaran IS already being handed out at schools along with groups that wants to destroy all Christians for their beliefs. Please look at the overall picture. If you think that Christians are the only one’s passing out Bible’s or other coorespondence, you need to look again.
I do feel sorry for the non-believers and pray for them. Hey, this IS apart of God’s plan. Read Revelations! It’s only going to get worse. Why do you think this country is going down quickly? Just keep taking God out of everything and see how low this country will go. Look at the great nations of past history. They became great on putting God 1st! They fell when they ignored God and brought in other FALSE religions & FALSE prophets.
Jesus is the truth, they only true living God that beat death. Mohamed????? never understood that one. They say that he defeated death………. Oh, by the way, they found his bones. False prophet. Of course they never found Jesus bones and never will. He conquered the grave!
Echo
November 27th, 2009
9:56 am
Ms. Dorothy, that was the longest sentence I have ever read. I’m not sure why you capitalized a bunch of those words either.
On topic, schools shoudn’t allow ANY religion access to students on the school property. They are a “captive audience” and shouldn’t have religion thrust upon them. They are free to read the bible, bring it to school, go to the church of their church and even PRAY in school. I love when people say we “took prayer out of school”…we didn’t! Students are allowed to pray on their own, we simply do not force them to like we used to (we now have a “moment of silence and self reflection” in Georgia schools, lol). I see many students close their eyes and murmur a little prayer every time I hand out a test. I believe if they had actually studied and prepared it would be more beneficial but whatever.
Devildog
November 27th, 2009
9:57 am
Jebus: Exodus was written long before Christ. It’s in the Old Testament. Duh! If you’re going to be clever, at least know what you’re writing about.
Rightwing Troll
November 27th, 2009
9:57 am
Why do you always take more than one southern baptist fishing with you?
Answer: Because if you only take one, he’ll drink all your beer!
JohnD
November 27th, 2009
9:57 am
Everything you need to know about the State of Georgia can be summed up in the lyrics to Randy Newman’s “I’m a Redneck.”
Google that and you will understand.
By the way, I’m a native Georgian and call ‘em like I see ‘em.
Devildog
November 27th, 2009
10:02 am
Too bad we can’t get Jefferson and Roger Williams on Oprah or The View so that they could straighten out Maureen’s out of context quotes.
Social Studies Teacher
November 27th, 2009
10:02 am
Want to see something interesting…
Go to Georgia Standards .org
Look up World History Standards 9-12
Look at how many standards cover Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism…
Then go look at how many cover Christianity.
Christianity is only mentioned with the Fall of Rome and the comparison between Judaism and Islam. There is not even 1 full standard devoted to Christianity when Islam gets at least 5 and Buddhism/Hinduism get at least two.
Great parity there…
mom to four
November 27th, 2009
10:06 am
Why do you all continue to follow Maureen? She is just trying desperately to goad people into responding to her blog. She can’t or won’t follow real news about education issues, so she posts sensationalized stories that she knows will get a response. If parents or students offered the Bibles, then what is the problem? The Bibles were not forced on anyone.
The Wall Street Journal (a real newspaper) has had two news articles within the past few days about President Obama’s education initiative Race to the Top. Has Maureen even mentioned this?
Notallagree
November 27th, 2009
10:10 am
People hear this type of info and just accept it as history. It is just as easy to argue the other side. Here are a couple of resources to start with:
http://www.christianheritagemins.org/articles/The%20Myth%20of%20Article%2011.pdf
or read a book:
America’s Providential History (Including Biblical Principles of Education, Government, Politics, Economics, and Family Life) (Paperback)
~ Mark A. Beliles (Author), Stephen K. McDowell (Author)
Ole Guy
November 27th, 2009
10:17 am
People like this Cooper fella just piss me off no end! If one dares disagree with a belief, one way or another, well, “Delta’s ready…”. Who in the hell do you think you are, Cooper…some sort of smaller-than-life demi-god? You can take your “Delta’s ready…” nonesense and, together with your pea brain, GO TO HELL!
As for the insistence of the education elite in allowing an excess of tax-supported public ed energies to be directed toward non-academic end…perhaps this is why we have such a woeful state of education. Weather or not one chooses to pursue ecclesiastical studies should be a personal choice, not one mandated, and most-certainly not publically-funded, by “big brother”.
And by the way, Cooper…what’s wrong with condoms? You’re not only a moron, but a stupid moron.
Devildog
November 27th, 2009
10:20 am
Thanks for mentioning and agreeing with James Madison. He also wrote the Second Amendment, which allows us rednecks to carry firearms and hamper thugs from doing their business.
JANE
November 27th, 2009
10:24 am
Ms. Downey’s essay didn’t include the proximity to school, the quantity of bibles distributed, or whether the distribution was solicited. I revere the Bible as Yahweh’s inerrant Word, as I am a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Christian. As such, I actually read and study it. Jesus says at Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” I believe the primary concept in this commission is the “witness”. Christians witness with their lives (i.e. words, actions-Elohim knows and judges our thoughts); in fact, the Greek word for “witness” is martyr. Since Christians are simultaneously saints and sinners, the seduction of extremes is a real danger, requiring constant vigilance, repentance and restitution.
Luke 3:7-16, Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 give some insight into what kind of Christian witness we should give. Christians should be the best scientists, thinkers, workers and citizens. Oftentimes we’re not, and although God forgives we must still acknowledge and correct ourselves with our neighbors.
Friday
November 27th, 2009
10:27 am
A few thoughts…
The wall of separation was intended to protect the church from the state. The historical context shouldn’t be ignored. Our country was founded by people who were forced into one form of Christianity or another by their European nations/kings. The American formula was to inhibit the state from imposing itself upon the Christian church. At that point, Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, ect… were all prevalent and accepted in America. The intent of separating church and state was merely to allow these groups to co-exist rather than repeating the bloody history after the Reformation in Europe.
Today, we have a completely different society. Rather than protecting different forms of Christianity, our government tries to protect every religion equally. As noted above by others, this is really an impossibility. Atheism is the new state religion of the US. Good thing our hope is in Christ alone!
Bob
November 27th, 2009
10:29 am
What are the bible-toters worrying about?
They certainly are by far the majority in Georgia and the South. With churches on every corner, a large majority in the state-house, and state laws that represent their wishes (read liquor laws), they still find a need to offer bibles to students at schools.
I am old enough to remember when Pastor Louie D. Newton of the Druid Hills Baptist church fought against mixing church with the state.
The controversy at the time was over President Truman’s decision to send an ambassador to the Vatican. Truman, by the way, was a Baptist himself.
Missionary zeal is offensive to many of us. This type of thinking fits in with our problems today. Witness our attempts to convert the world to “Democracy” through what amounts to a crusade. Of course we have no problems in this country to worry about and some people never saw a war they did not like.
Bubba
November 27th, 2009
10:34 am
Whether the United States was founded as a Christian nation or not is irrelevant to this issue. The Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of a religion nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” How exactly does that sentence prohibit the handing out of religious material in schools?
Ignatius
November 27th, 2009
10:42 am
You hypocrites! You swear on the Bible in a court of law and put the Ten Commandments on top of your Supreme Court Building. You put “In God We Trust” on your money and “Endowed by Our Creator” on the Declaration of Independence. Your favorite TV shows all deal with law and justice. Oh, heavens no we cannot hand out Bibles. We don’t want our children to actually learn what morality is. We can’t have that! but we can indoctrinate them with the evolution theory. What a joke!
Jebus
November 27th, 2009
10:46 am
To devildog: someone asked for a Christian quote that said “agree with me or I’ll kill you”?I gave them one from Exodus. Don’t Christians quote the Old Testament? Isn’t that where the Ten Commandments come from that Christians are always trying to ram down our throats?
fieldofdreams
November 27th, 2009
10:50 am
Perhaps a movie allusion will help: In “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, some folks in Indiana are (unmistakeably) visited by a UFO. Nobody else knows about it, but the encounter changes them in ways they do not fully understand, and leads them to a Wyoming mountaintop, where they are transported off to another world. Meeting and following Christ is not unlike their experience. Is it any wonder that we feel so compelled to shout it from the rooftops?
Christians are Lemmurs
November 27th, 2009
10:55 am
The Bible was written by men, not by “God”. If the men who wrote the Bible were alive today they would look an awful lot like…L. Ron Hubbard. Please explain how humans who claimed to be divinely inspired 2 millenia ago have any more credibility than a man who claimed in the 1970’s to be divinely inspired? Christians are no less retarded than Scientologists. The only difference is that Scientology has not had enough time. Organized religion is a plague on society. It’s all a huge scheme to separate morons from their money.
fieldofdreams
November 27th, 2009
10:56 am
The real plague on society is sin.
I1this
November 27th, 2009
10:56 am
As a Roman Catholic I am a little concerned as to which one of the “christian” bibles was passed out? Remember “Christians”, there are multiple editions, none are exactly the same and none are accepted by each “christian” faith as cannon. Rather than bore you with the details, the “bible” is in its 9th edition from the time it was constructed (with numerous books not making it into one or the other). Translated into Greek by a bunch of egyptians. We don’t have editions 1-8 but based on the information we do have we know there are a sick number of errors (read the story of noah in each book and contrast), parts contradict each other (see the trinity, jesus at the temple, etc.) and parts where added or removed (idea of trinity was added to the bible to address the nature of god). In short any idiot who believes this book verbatum is a moron. If my child was handed a half complete math book, full of half truths and down right deception I wouldn’t stand for it. So I can’t say I would stand for it in any other subject. Either talk about all of it or none of it. And since the christians can’t handle the full truth, then we can talk about none of it.
KLB 129
November 27th, 2009
11:03 am
Here’s something – if a student doesn’t want the Bible, they have the freedom of choice to reject it.
fieldofdreams
November 27th, 2009
11:07 am
Jesus said His followers are salt and light, not morons and idiots; the day may come, however, when my freedom of religion is sacrficed on the altar of political correctness to appease those who can’t stand the light. When and if this day comes America will crumble before our eyes.
ScienceTeacher671
November 27th, 2009
11:07 am
IIRC, the reason the Catholic church formed schools in the United States is so that their children wouldn’t be taught the Protestant Bible and religion in public schools.
Maybe these groups should hand out Bibles at the local shopping center….
Really Now
November 27th, 2009
11:07 am
They give out condoms at school, why not the bible? Whats wrong with it? Did they preach to the child before they handed the book? Get over yourself and just accept that its the Bible and it was a gift over the Chrismas season. Deal with it and stop complaining.
I1this
November 27th, 2009
11:16 am
condoms are correct and true 99%. The bible is correct maybe 50% of the time. Condoms win.
“Oh god why have you forsaken me”……who exactly is he yelling to if he is god? What day was the last supper, and did jesus go to the temple in the morning or the afternoon? How was he able to get into jeruselum, eat the last supper, get picked up in the garden and then the next day he was in the temple?
Who discovers the cave is empty after reserrection? Who is in the cave waiting?
These are the problems with the bible folks both old and new testaments. Pick a book, each one is completely different at the key points.
Condoms are necessary..
Echo
November 27th, 2009
11:20 am
A few people keep mentioning this on here, so I have to ask…name one school in Georgia that is “giving out condoms”. I already know the answer to this. BTW, it isn’t against the constitution for schools to educate about birth control, so stupid to use that in an argument against school’s (government’s) promotion of a religious viewpoint.
montanadawg30
November 27th, 2009
11:44 am
At least in my state where I live now this isn’t going on.I left Ga. because this kind of crap goes on,the church is so involved in state functions and politics its not even funny. I was born and raised in Ga. and I can send my kids to school with the peace of mind knowing they arent going to have the Bible,Koran or any other religious texts crammed down their throats. Keep ‘em seperate hypocritical Christians,it’s why our great nation is here. Drink like fish on saturday worship on Sunday,what a load of baloney. You know who you are.
Bubba
November 27th, 2009
12:03 pm
Dear Echo: Please site the exact language in the Constitution that prohibits Bibles being offered at a school. And since you take issue (correctly) at the language that schools are “handing out” condoms, please be more careful in your own language that the “schools (government) promotion of a religious viewpoint.” Nothing of the sort is true.
Philosopher
November 27th, 2009
1:08 pm
Matthew 22:20-22(King James Version)
And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
They say unto Him, Caesar’s. Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him, and went their way.
Please…MARVEL AND BE ON YOUR WAY!
Even Jesus, my hero, understood separation of faith and state.
sanborn121
November 27th, 2009
1:09 pm
it’s not rocket science, take God out of the schools and you’ve got the big mess we have today! Dysfunctional families galore!
Philosopher
November 27th, 2009
1:33 pm
Maureen- do you have a Philosopher filter?
Philosopher
November 27th, 2009
2:12 pm
sanborn121: When did schools become churches? And what are you going to do about the Jewish teacher? Or the agnostic teacher, or the atheist teacher, or the Moslem teacher? How will you knowwhat the teacher believes or will teach? SO how about we leave the religion thing to the God and the parents, OK?
As a Christian, the number one reason, I don’t want these people handing out Bibles and taking it upon themselves to “witness” to kids is because even among Christians, interpretations about right and wrong, how we should behave, how we should worship, and even what a Christian is, varies. While Jesus was on earth, he was a rabble rouser. He befriended crooks and prostitutes, lived among them, and loved them all. And he frequently chastised the self-serving, self-righteous religious rulers. He didn’t stand at the pulpit of a megachurch and rave and rant. He walked among the people. He entreated us to love EVERY man. He taught us not to judge until we are perfect. He said it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. He was the ultimate Liberal. Now, do you think THAT”S what the right wing conservative Chrisitians are out there to teach the kids…HECK, NO!!
6th Grade Teacher
November 27th, 2009
2:16 pm
Just ask about the local GCPS school that asked Islamic Leaders to come into the school to teach, yet “couldn’t find” a Chirstian Leader to do that same!
JTex
November 27th, 2009
3:10 pm
“I hate to say it but the Quaran IS already being handed out at schools along with groups that wants to destroy all Christians for their beliefs. Please look at the overall picture. If you think that Christians are the only one’s passing out Bible’s or other coorespondence, you need to look again.”
Really? Can you cite a source giving verifiable examples of this, or are you just being paranoid?
“You hypocrites! You swear on the Bible in a court of law and put the Ten Commandments on top of your Supreme Court Building. You put “In God We Trust” on your money and “Endowed by Our Creator” on the Declaration of Independence. Your favorite TV shows all deal with law and justice. Oh, heavens no we cannot hand out Bibles. We don’t want our children to actually learn what morality is. We can’t have that! but we can indoctrinate them with the evolution theory. What a joke!”
Let’s talk about jokes…One, you don’t swear on Bibles anymore if you choose not to. Try and keep up with the actual world and not what you see while watching Matlock and gumming your food. Two – as has already been pointed out, In God We Trust was added during the Cold War as a reaction to the “godlessness” of theh Communists. The reference to “our Creator” is a Deist statement – the Enlightment saw the rise of reason over superstition, and Deism, which posits a “natural” and rational God was very popular. Please look up “Ceremonial Deism” if you need to, for further explanations of various Deistic references in our traditions. Three – What exactly does “law and justice” have to do with Christianity? Are you implying that there is no law or justice without religion, or that morality does not exist without religion? You understand that the moral and ethical underpinnings of Western society originated with the GREEKS and are pre-Christian, right? Last – sigh…indoctrination with evolution theory…I can’t even begin to address the ignorance here…the words I would have to use would be too big for you to understand. In brief – many, if not most, Christians around the world have no problem reconciling the tenets of their faith with the SCIENTIFIC THEORY (please check the difference between your vernacular definition of theory and the definition that applies to scientific theories) of Evolution. And, in fact, science makes no attempt to claim that they SHOULDN’T coexist. Humean skepticism, which informs the positivist/realist hegemonic paradigm in the natural sciences today, demands that science ignore questions of the metaphysical (such as causality) and concentrate only on understanding better the processes by which the universe operates.
The world would be such a better place if people kept their religion in their private lives, and concentrated on their own behavior, rather than being so bloody concerned with forcing their religion on other people.
JTex
November 27th, 2009
3:25 pm
To Social Studies Teacher, who claimed the disparity between Christian and non-Christian topics in the 9-12 standards…you really should assume that people are going to check these things when you say them, so you should verify your facts.
From the Georgiastandards.org 9-12 World History standards:
Describe polytheism in the Greek and Roman world and the origins and diffusion of Christianity in the Roman world.
Explain the Great Schism of 1054 CE.
Describe the impact of the Crusades on both the Islamic World and Europe
Analyze the relationship between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Analyze the process of religious syncretism as a blending of traditional African beliefs with new ideas from Islam and Christianity.
Describe the political impact of Christianity; include Pope Gregory VII and King Henry IV of Germany (Holy Roman Emperor).
Explain the role of the church in medieval society
Analyze the impact of the Protestant Reformation; include the ideas of Martin Luther and John Calvin.
Describe the Counter Reformation at the Council of Trent and the role of the Jesuits
Describe the English Reformation and the role of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
Sooo…basically, you are wrong. There are a number of other areas in which discussion of religion and Christianity would be inherently involved, such as the Renaissance. Let’s be honest as to what you REALLY want…you DON’T want other religions discussed at all. You DO want Christianity to be treated as if it is correct and other religions are wrong. You DO want to underplay the role of other religions in the development of the world – which is fairly arrogant, ignorant and short-sighted, particularly for a “Social Studies Teacher”. I know…how about we just teach history AS IT IS instead of attempting to turn it into a revisionist pile of nonsense.
sanborn121
November 27th, 2009
3:40 pm
Philosopher, how about teaching your children right and wrong so that when they are at school, they can say ‘NO THANK YOU” to the bibles. Oh yes, that just wouldn’t be politically correct.
sanborn121
November 27th, 2009
3:45 pm
to the agnostic, athiest and muslim teachers…deal with it! If you don’t like it, go to a country that supports only that belief. China:atheist, Pakistan:muslim. Most born in this country are tired of how we have pacified others for too long! We are a Christian nation. We were founded on Christian ideals.
Reality
November 27th, 2009
3:52 pm
I1this, to further illustrate your point I suggest they Google The Synod of Carthage.
Philosopher
November 27th, 2009
3:53 pm
sanborn121- What an arrogant, out-of line assumption…just the sort of thing I am talking about! My having a different opinion from you does not mean my children do not know right from wrong! My kids should not have to say “no” to someone handing out Bibles at school…THAT”S THE POINT!
Philosopher
November 27th, 2009
3:59 pm
sanborn121: Yes, by all means…let’s purge America of all non-whatever version of Chrisitans of the variety only YOU think is the correct one. And do we all have to be white, AngloSaxon, and blue-eyed? Hmmm, Ideas like that birthed the death machine that killed over six million Jews…How lovely!
Rachelle
November 27th, 2009
4:45 pm
We wonder why the world is in the shape that it is in. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light.
Linda
November 27th, 2009
4:48 pm
Dear George,
After the rapture, I usually have a cigarette.
Cletus
November 27th, 2009
5:39 pm
I don’t see a problem with letting religious groups hand out their religious tracts as long as all denominations are allowed to do so without discrimination. I do draw the line at letting the majority force teachers to lead state-sponsored incantations to their mythological entity.
Echo
November 27th, 2009
6:07 pm
Bubba, it’s the first amendment, read it or have it read to you. Sorry you aren’t familiar with the document. In a nut shell it basically says the government can’t promote any particular religious beliefs…that includes handing out chrisitian bibles at schools.
I don’t have a problem with schools providing condoms. I really wish they would have them available at the high schools, maybe then I wouldn’t have so many pregnant girls in my classes. I don’t filter what I say because I fear some may be offended, I pretty much tell it how I see it.
And btw, it’s CITE not “site”.
RC35
November 27th, 2009
6:22 pm
How ironic that, just a few weeks ago, libraries across America promoted “Banned Books Week” inviting people to read “banned books.” Of all the books in America, the Bible seems to be the one most banned these days.
Remember two things: First, this is a VOLUNTARY Bible distribution. Nobody has to take one.
Second, the same First Amendment that prohibits establishing a religion also forbids “prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” For four decades plus, the Supreme Court seems to have remembered only the establishment clause and forgotten the free exercise one. The two can coexist, and did, until the Warren Court kicked off the suppression of Christian expression.
Philosopher
November 27th, 2009
6:30 pm
Oh, PLEASE! Bibles are not “banned books”. You just have to hand them out somewhere besides public schools. A group so determined as to side-step the law and go after children is really scary…and I bet YOU would have been screaming bloody murder if a group had taken a bunch of Harry Petter books or “Twilight” books and handed them out for free at school. Stay away from impressionable kids- hand out Bibles to adults…all over the place. But leave the task of teaching religious faith to God and the parents. ONLY!!!
Philosopher
November 27th, 2009
6:32 pm
Potter, that is
Aquagirl
November 27th, 2009
6:50 pm
Maureen, after reading some of these responses, you should understand…yep, it’s a bible belt thing. Religious wackos here are forever ready to trample anyone if you don’t leave “their” country.
Sam
November 27th, 2009
6:53 pm
We Christians believe Bibles make wonderful gifts for everybody. So what is wrong with offering gifts to people?
JTex
November 27th, 2009
6:58 pm
Fascinating…while applying for grad schools I recently spent a year working at Barnes and Noble…we had three shelf sections that were nothing but Bibles…that’s pretty good for a “banned” book…a “banned” book that is among a small number of books that are excluded from all Bestsellers Lists because they habitually top sales figures. Do you feel silly now, or are you just…incapable of rational thought?
I don’t know how many ways it can be said. NO one is attacking religion in this country. Well, there are fundamentalist Christian types who are attacking other religions, but other than that…I just don’t understand how anyone can rationally argue that limiting the role of religion within public-funded institutions like the school system equates to “suppressing” Christian expression. It must be occurring in some tiny little part of the country, because, besides Georgia, I’ve lived in North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Texas…and there is certainly no shortage of “Christian expression” in any of those places. I’m a doctoral student at a University of Texas school, and not only is there an on-campus chapel that is decidedly NOT non-denominational, but there are dozens of Christian student associations that advertise on campus, hold their events on campus, etc. It’s absolutely ridiculous to suggest that Christianity is being persecuted…anyone who says so needs to climb down off the bloody cross…someone needs the wood.
No – the only people who claim this “persecution” are the fundamentalist bigots…those who believe that Christianity should be the state religion, and that everyone should either bow to their will or be relegated to second-class status. It’s the same people who see the phrase “Happy Holidays” as being offensive, or who aren’t satisfied with Nativity scenes at the hundreds of local churches, but demand that they appear at the County Courthouse as well, or those who don’t understand why a sanctioned prayer of ANY religion at a public school is inappropriate.
It isn’t about persecution – it’s about an ignorant and uneducated belief that says that if Christianity is not elevated to a position of superiority within the society, if it is not given hegemony over all of the citizens of the United States, then there is some conspiracy to destroy it. It’s ludicrous in the face of the number of Christians in this country, but then…the people who advance this nonsense aren’t interested in logic, or reason, or anything other than their beloved persecution complex.
And I say this, by the way, as a life-long Episcopalian. Contrary to the assertions of the back-water Baptists and barely literate Evangelical types, there are MANY Christians in this country who don’t demand that everyone bow to their rule. It’s only the idiots.
JTex
November 27th, 2009
6:59 pm
“We Christians believe Bibles make wonderful gifts for everybody. So what is wrong with offering gifts to people?
The same thing that is wrong with banging on someone’s door and demanding to know if they have a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ” – a phrase which makes me want to vomit. It’s rude, it’s intrusive, and it’s NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS.
Echo
November 27th, 2009
7:19 pm
JTex pretty much said all that needs to be said.
willie
November 27th, 2009
8:09 pm
I made a comment and it is not showing so please excuse me if I posted the same remarks more than once
willie
November 27th, 2009
8:12 pm
JTex:
You have lost all credibility with the word DEMANDING. Surely you have been turned over to a reprobate mind and discussion with you is absolutely impossible.
What is a REPROBATE MIND? Print Page
Smaller Text | Larger Text
Q. What does the Bible mean when it speaks of someone having a reprobate mind?
(Submitted by: S. W.)
A. The King James Version of the Bible (KJV) shows three verses in the New Testament which use the word reprobate:
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:28)
“Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” (2Timothy 3:8)
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:16)
Even if we don’t know what the definition of the word is, we can see from the context clues that it doesn’t mean anything of a complimentary nature! Someone didn’t like to retain God in their knowledge, so they became reprobate; men of corrupt minds are reprobate concerning the faith; someone denies God and is reprobate regarding good works. It sounds as if these people are not living the right way. They don’t seem to have a desire to please God. The result of their approach to life is this state of being reprobate.
willie
November 27th, 2009
8:17 pm
JTex:
What is a REPROBATE MIND?
Q. What does the Bible mean when it speaks of someone having a reprobate mind?
(Submitted by: S. W.)
A. The King James Version of the Bible (KJV) shows three verses in the New Testament which use the word reprobate:
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:28)
“Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” (2Timothy 3:8)
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:16)
Even if we don’t know what the definition of the word is, we can see from the context clues that it doesn’t mean anything of a complimentary nature! Someone didn’t like to retain God in their knowledge, so they became reprobate; men of corrupt minds are reprobate concerning the faith; someone denies God and is reprobate regarding good works. It sounds as if these people are not living the right way. They don’t seem to have a desire to please God. The result of their approach to life is this state of being reprobate.
Steve
November 27th, 2009
8:37 pm
Each student should be able to receive a Bible and read it if they want. Maybe they would understand God better and the science teacher may get some interesting questions about how the world was created!
Old School
November 27th, 2009
8:55 pm
What is the big deal with giving Georgia school kids a Bible? According to most folks, they can’t read ‘em any way.
td
November 27th, 2009
9:09 pm
lol Christians
Rational Universalist
November 27th, 2009
9:28 pm
I’ve always wondered at the quirk of intellect that would lead modern people to believe that a collection of works that were assembled largely based upon the strength of various factions at the time that the collection occurred was somehow the immutable word of God. Even after that particular codification, the Bible that is claimed to be a literal representation of an omnipotent and omniscient being continued to change over the centuries. Even today, there are many different versions and translations.
It’s a problem with definition – the phrase “literal word of God” leaves zero room for variation. Either it IS or it ISN’T. Given the vast number of Bibles that exist today, with differences in language, interpretation, and even in the books that are and aren’t included, there is no rational way to conclude that the Bible is the literal anything. This position is a reflection of the ignorance and stupidity of those who believe it.
I’ve no doubt that the high-school graduates, high-school dropouts, trade school repairmen and other sundry members of the intellectual lower class will continue to cling to their belief that the “Bible”, which is demonstrably NOT a monolithic and singular creation, and can therefore not be the immutable word of ANYTHING, is, in fact, more reliable than the scientific and philosophical explorations of two thousand years…
Nothing we can do but pray that the gene pool squeezes this sludge out. Please – do the human race a favor and die off.
TomT
November 27th, 2009
9:45 pm
Do you have God in your life? If not you may burn in hell
Yanamom
November 27th, 2009
9:58 pm
ScienceTeacher671 – You need to look at the history of public schools, they were created as a response to Catholic schools, Catholic schools were not created in response to public schools. When the first Catholic schools were being opened in this country, only the rich could aford to get an education, Catholic schools changed that. Before that, being educated was only for rich kids, whose parents could afford tutors or private schools. Public schools were a response to the percieved threat of Catholic schools educating the poor. Non-Catholics were afraid that Catholic schools would not only educate the poor, but also be used to convert the children to the Catholic faith.
extremerightwing
November 27th, 2009
10:05 pm
I am not sure what all of the fuss is about. These Bibles are usually handed out for free without any coercion by the Gideon’s International. This organization is the one who places Bibles in hotels, hospitals, doctor offices, military bases, etc. Again this is a purely voluntary effort and not attempt is made to make anyone take a Bible. Usually the Bibles this organization distributes contain the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs.
Libs are always screaming about choice. Why not let groups like the Gideons establish a time they will be at the schools to hand out these Bibles if anyone wants one. If the students don’t want one, don’t take one.
If a school can allow condoms to be passed out, why not Bibles?