i went to a a big ol’ family-style buffet place for lunch once a few years ago in Bradley County, just outside of the town of Cleveland, TN. as i had been working in that county for a job, i happened to be wearing a blue button-down shirt and a nice tie.

this older gent standing outside the restaurant said to me as i went in “now there’s a nice looking young republican man!”

only time anyone has ever said THAT to me. and i was kinda worried he might have been hitting on me. still, i simply replied “why thank you, sir” and went in to eat a lot of not very good food. all i know is, in Bradley County, i made the cut.

elsewhere, not so much.

I am not opposed to the class. Religion is often the single most compelling factor for political movements and considering politicians routinely use Bible verses to support their ideology or actions, I think it would be wise for everyone to study the book in an academic manner.

I also think secondary school level is the appropriate age to do this – so discussion can remain rational, open, no name-calling or spittle flying. (This is something adults cannot seem to manage.)

But I don’t think this is what lawmakers or parents had in mind.

In discussing the influence of the Bible, particularly in American History and World Civilization or even literature, there is a strong possibility you’re going to touch upon other religious/holy text in the process. And what if studying the Bible in relation to how it influenced history, politics or literature challenges students to think beyond whatever presuppositions they’ve been given.

Parents will go bonkers. School boards would still be bombarded by complaints from both ends of the spectrum. Yep, no matter how we go about it – the reality of this is going to be a disaster. I’m talking tent revivals, email campaigns, protests, steep rise in the number of Republican voters… (I tossed that last bit in for you, Joe.)

creating a statewide public school curriculum including the textbook (or textbooks) used and the criteria for a teacher for the class seems most thorny indeed.

why not just add lesson plans in Literature classes which would include excerpts from and influences of …

school boards have enough woes without lumping this one on them. and c’mon, it’s Tennessee – churches every mile, plenty of instruction available.

signed,
another Heathen