Should the government be mandating Bible reading in schools?

From the Magic Valley Times-News Editorial Board

HB162, which would require Bible reading in public schools, is now being considered by the Idaho Legislature. “Selections from the King James version, the new King James version, or the revised standard version of the Bible shall be read each morning of each instructional day in each occupied classroom in all public school districts,” the bill states. It specifies that the entire Bible must be read sequentially and that “such reading will be without comment or interpretation.”

Dear Idaho Senators and Representatives, from an average Idaho voter:

First, I want you to know that the pages of my King James Bible are worn, marked and cross referenced. Jesus Christ is the center of my life. I try to learn more about Him every day. I strive to follow His example in everything I do and all the decisions I make.

In the Magic Valley there are more than 300 church congregations. All teach about Jesus. All revere the Bible, though their interpretations vary. For hundreds of years, Christians have been splintering over doctrinal differences, to the point that there are now thousands of Christian denominations.

Then there’s the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For a variety of reasons, many people don’t even categorize them as Christians. But they also revere the Bible; they also love Jesus.

In other words, even though you and I both love Jesus, it’s almost certain that our beliefs are different in very significant ways.

With that background, I would sincerely like to understand your perspective about HB162. Here are my questions:

The GOP claims to value individual freedom and local control. For example:

Clint Hostetler’s HB01, which seeks to explain why taxpayer money should fund private schools states: “parents and legal guardians in this state [should] be able to choose educational opportunities, services, and experiences that meet the unique and varied needs of their individual children. The Legislature affirms that parents and legal guardians are best suited to make decisions to help children in this state reach their full potential and achieve a brighter future.”

The Idaho GOP Platform proclaims: “We believe the most effective, responsible, responsive government is government closest to the people…government is best that governs least.”

How do you explain this contradiction? Why is the Idaho GOP talking about individual freedom but embracing this sweeping government mandate? How would you respond to those alarmed by the image of students in “occupied classrooms,” forced by the government to read scriptures? Why is this not heavy-handed government control?

Why stop at requiring Bible reading only in public schools? Why not private schools? After all, the GOP is insistent that taxpayer money should fund private schools. Both public and private schools in Pakistan, for example, are mandated by law to conduct daily Quran readings. Pakistan also has a Freedom House index of 35. I would like to hear your reflections on that comparison.

How do you feel about Christian students in Pakistan?

How do you feel about Muslim, Jewish, and other non-Christian students in Idaho?

Blaine Conzatti of the Idaho Family Policy Center called this “our” School-Sponsored Bible Reading Act, saying he was “excited to partner” with its sponsor. What was Conzatti’s role in drafting or promoting this legislation?

I would love to hear your perspective about this scenario. Imagine my grandson is a first grader in Idaho. Soon, presumably, he will be sitting in his class listening to his teacher read Judges 19.

22 As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, base fellows, beset the house round about, beating on the door; and they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may [rape] him.”

23 And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brethren, do not act so wickedly; seeing that this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing.

24 Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine; let me bring them out now. Ravish them and do with them what seems good to you; but against this man do not do so vile a thing.”

25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine, and put her out to them; and they [raped] her, and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go.

26 And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, till it was light.

27 And her master rose up in the morning, and when he opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, behold, there was his concubine lying at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.

28 He said to her, “Get up, let us be going.” But there was no answer. Then he put her upon the ass; and the man rose up and went away to his home.

29 And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and laying hold of his concubine he divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel. (Revised Standard Version with two clarifications from NIV).

Do you agree that my grandson’s first grade teacher should be required by the government to read this to him? Why or why not? Would it be any different if he were in, say, seventh grade?

One more question.

Some of you proudly fought to keep obscene materials out of schools and libraries. HB710, which Governor Little signed into law last year, forbids “any book … that contains any … explicit and detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of … sexual conduct,” including “any act of … homosexuality, [or] sexual intercourse….”

The law stipulates that school officials who allow such “obscene” materials can be sued. Would a school teacher required to read Judges 19 in the classroom – or other Bible passages which describe prostitution, rape, and incest – be at risk of a lawsuit?

The law, by the way, is silent regarding stories about murder or dismembering a human body.

Thank you sincerely for considering these questions. I really want to understand your perspective. I look forward to your reply.

Published with permission from the Magic Valley Times News. The original was addressed to Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld, R, Twin Falls.