Newly Passed Bill Could Bring More Bibles Into Classrooms
By: Tyler Thomason
Updated: February 18, 2013
"I think Rep. (Denny) Altes has done a very good job of finding a bill that does navigate relatively difficult waters."
It's not quite 'walking on water', but it does put the Bible one step closer to being taught in state classrooms.
"It is not a religious endorsement," says UA law professor Steve Sheppard.
Sheppard has studied the bill and says it abides by any separation of church and state constitutional limits.
"By saying that the state allows the study of religious text without endorsing a religion, or without entangling the state or it's teachers in the indoctrination of one religion as opposed to others," Sheppard says.
He adds that the language in the bill also points to the fact that text from any religious book, not just the bible, would be allowed.
"In order to ensure that the students of this state are well educated and are appropriately prepared to deal with the world in which religious texts are a part, a very important part, of our culture," Sheppard says.
Currently bibles, or any other holy scriptures for that matter, are perfectly legal to be on school grounds.
Sheppard says educators 'cross the line' only if they endorse an environment where students are pressured toward a certain religion.
"I think this does balance appropriately the needs of the state to educate it's students on sensitive and controversial matters."
Walking a fine line between teaching...and preaching.
"It's hard to talk about God, and not have a controversy these days," Sheppard says.
The bill would have to pass in the Senate, as well as get approval from the governor before it became law.
The bill would have to pass in the Senate, as well as get approval from the governor before it became law.
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