Friday, June 30, 2017

Kentucky has passed law allowing public schools to teach course on the Bible.

Courtesy of Salon: 

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed into law a bill that will allow courses on the Bible to be taught in public schools beginning on Friday. Overwhelmingly passed by Kentucky’s Republican-controlled state legislature, HB 128 gives Kentucky school boards the option to add elective courses on Bible literacy to their social studies curriculum. 

“The idea that we would not want this to be an option for people in school, that would be crazy. I don’t know why every state would not embrace this, why we as a nation would not embrace this,” Bevin said during a public bill signing ceremony. 

According to the bill, the courses must discuss all aspects of the Bible — such as characters, poetry, and narratives — because they are “prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture.” 

The bill’s supporters argued that Bible literacy courses as a way to get a better insight on the structure of the country. Republican Senator Stephen West said the bill serves a “secular purpose,” claiming it would “help to educate our kids on the background of how they came up with our founding documents.” 

“It really did set the foundation that our founding fathers used to develop documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights,” Republican Rep. D.J. Johnson said, “all of those came from principles from the Bible.”

“All of those came from principles from the Bible.”

Actually no, no they did not.

In fact Thomas Jefferson even said as much:  

In a January 24, 1814 letter to John Adams, Jefferson went through a detailed lawyer's brief to show that the entire idea that the laws of both England and the United States came from Judaism, Christianity, or the Ten Commandments rests on a single man's mistranslation in 1658, often repeated, and totally false. 

"It is not only the sacred volumes they [the churches] have thus interpolated, gutted, and falsified, but the works of others relating to them, and even the laws of the land," he wrote. "Our judges, too, have lent a ready hand to further these frauds, and have been willing to lay the yoke of their own opinions on the necks of others; to extend the coercions of municipal law to the dogmas of their religion, by declaring that these make a part of the law of the land."

The only people who believe this country was founded on Biblical principles are Fundamentalists  like that phony American history "expert" David Barton who Glenn Beck and Mike Huckabee are constantly promoting.

The teaching of the Bible in public school will no more inform students about the history of this country than reading Harry Potter will teach them about science.

It is yet another sneaky attempt to teach religion in classrooms dedicated to the learning of facts and not primitive superstitious nonsense.

Of course what can you expect from a state which has a "museum" dedicated to teaching children a fable about a giant boat that magically fit two of every animal in the world?

If this Governor Bevin is so keen to have the children of Kentucky learn about the foundations for democracy he would be better served having them read about Greek and Roman history rather than from a book of iron age fairy tales.

62 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:20 AM

    I'm hopeful that the new generation taking buybull classes for realize how much of it is absolute bullshit and should be dismissed out of hand. But I don't think public tax dollars should be used even for a cause such as that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:34 AM

      Buybull. Love it!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:40 AM

      Bur DeVos is all for it. Watch for more GOP states to jump on this bandwagon, and wait for DeVos to try to lessen funding for states that refuse.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous6:37 AM

    And the students in the bible courses can take field trips to the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter, both in Kentucky. You know -- to deepen their understanding of biblical science.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:39 AM

      Ham does need the business, and their parents DID pay a lot for that lie to be built.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous6:40 AM

    Elective today, directive tomorrow

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:29 AM

      Je$U$ FUCKing chri$'T'
      http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/us-denies-visas-to-all-girl-afghan-robotics-team-but-gladly-accepts-their-robot/

      Delete
  4. Anonymous6:40 AM

    @ Anonymous 6:20 It is not forced on anybody to take the class you can shut the fuck up, they have freedom of choice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:30 AM

      Keep telling yourself that.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:37 AM

      So, what do you think about same sex marriage, two gay married people adopting and foster parenting?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous7:43 AM

      Riiiiggghhhttt 6:40. Do you talk like that to your Sunday School teacher?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous8:00 AM

      No 7:43.Religion is not being forced on you, your kids can take the class or not. It is their choice. I did not see where it said this is required curriculum. It did say an elective, which means not required you dense asshole.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous8:39 AM

      Yes, an elective today, but when they don't fill the classes, do you think the schools will have the option to drop it, like say, they drop art and music? And what will be the social stigma to sign up for this crap class? Will counselors be pushing 9th graders into it? I thought all those good Kentucky kids got their indoctrinations on Sundays anyway.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous9:10 AM

      I get it you are not religious, fine your choice. How the fuck didn't you notice it said elective, or are you fucking Nostradamus and you can see the fucking future. Not everybody is close minded I see no harm in having electives that might broaden a person's world view.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous9:13 AM

      people are free to be bigots, why not be free about religion. It is not mandatory.

      Delete
    8. Anonymous9:24 AM

      @7:37 i actually disagree with gay marriage and same sex adoption.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:52 AM

      6:40, 8:00, 9:10, and 9:24

      No shit, Sherlock. Did you not get that 7:37 was being sarcastic? I don't think there was a question in anybody's mind where you came down on those issues.

      Also, you are a perfect example of why so many of us don't buy your hypocritical religion. You're an angry little man who can't debate - I picture you spewing you hatred towards anybody who doesn't buy into your religion. A religion that is, ironically, named after a man who lived his life (by the teachings of your beloved bible) - showing love to even those who disagreed with him or didn't live their lives according to god's rules.

      P.s. We get that it's an elective, but we're smart enough to see this move for what it really is.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:57 AM

      Wow, we sure do have a foul mouthed little Xtain here, screaming about fucking choices to all the dense assholes here. You're making Babby Jeebus sad!

      Delete
    11. Anonymous3:37 PM

      EXCEPT MY TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING FORCED TO BE SPENT ON SOMEONE'S RELIGION.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous4:44 PM

      The only thing worse than a rabid Trump worshippers is a brain dead bible thumper spewing their nonsense.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous6:55 AM

    Young people in Kentucky could probably benefit more from classes that might teach them some employable skills, including English language classes and history. Of course, they'd have to work hard and do homework but they'd benefit much more from those classes than from more Bible studies.
    Beaglemom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:43 AM

      Very true, Beaglemom.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:37 AM

      I have relatives in KY. They are fundies, but the kids did attend 'small' public schools and colleges. One niece thought it would be swell to go to West Point and get a free medical degree. She lasted a year, when she discovered that only the top 3% of cadets were offered the option of med school. Ms. Valedictorian of a class of 48 didn't make the cut and dropped out. She does have her MD, but also a load of loans to pay back.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9:04 AM

      I thought that all of the kids in Kentucky will have those new coal mining jobs waiting for them when they graduate ;-)

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:16 AM

      All kids, in every state, need to learn to be "lifelong learners", critical thinkers and problem solvers. Those are the only skills that will keep them employed at jobs that don't even exist yet.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous7:05 AM

    ot:
    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/texas-supreme-court-sides-with-republicans-in-attack-on-same-sex-marriage/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous7:22 AM

    Want to bet they teach them to Fuck Sheep?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous7:25 AM

    ot:“White House council for women and girls goes dark under Trump,”

    http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/30/donald-trump-white-house-council-for-women-and-girls-239979

    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/06/30/day-trumps-misogynistic-rant-mika-obamas-wh-council-women-girls-dark.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:44 AM

      Thanks, Ivanka, you worthless, ignorant slut.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous8:35 AM

      Poor dear had no idea people would look into the working conditions of women in Champion of the Female Ivanka in China. Poor dear thought she'd become Princess and be adored and hold parades and keep selling her worthless overpriced junk with no blowback. Daddy promised. Life is hard, sweetums. Who knew?

      Delete
  9. Anonymous7:27 AM

    It's just a book. Though public schools should teach other religious works.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:35 AM

      Never gonna happen. When they say religious freedom, they are only talking about their own very specific brand of christianity. Offer a class on the Qur'an or Buddhist teachings, you'll hear a lot of screeching about things being "rammed down their throats".

      Delete
    2. I strongly recommend "Pasta Tales" by the Flying Spaghetti Monster, the one true God.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9:53 AM

      https://religiousstudies.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/1942-PLATOS-DOCTRINE-OF-TRUTH.pdf

      Delete
    4. Anonymous7:40 AM

      Even within Christian religions are there HUGE differences. If there are to be any elective religious class offered it should be a class on Comparative Religions which would study different Christian religions; Jewish Religion, Muslim beliefs, Buddhism, and should include all the major religions in the world, which are also present in the USA.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous7:45 AM

    OUTSTANDING!
    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/brilliant-new-device-could-save-kids-from-hot-car-deaths-and-it-was-invented-by-this-11-year-old/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous7:48 AM

    Now THAT'S a chin implant.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous7:50 AM

    Early European history would give them a broad view of foundation and law in democracies, theocracies, and monarchies. But then what purpose would that serve in the fight for Dominionism?

    Sounds like a case for the ACLU.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous8:08 AM

    WATCH THIS TRUTH & LEARN:
    http://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/interviews/higher-education-john-b-king-jr-michele-siqueiros-douglas-haynes/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous8:10 AM

      Thank you Jesse!

      Delete
  14. from the internet
    Cracked.com digs into how the U.S. Constitution owes many of its “novel” notions on democractic government to the Iroquois Confederacy. They quote from Senate resolution 331, from the 100th congress in 1988 (with the link to prove it) in which the Senate acknowledges, “the confederation of the original thirteen colonies into one republic was influenced…by the Iroquois Confederacy, as were many of the democratic principles which were incorporated into the constitution itself.”

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous8:32 AM

    Can hardly wait for the first teacher to bring in a Koran and a Torah for "Comparative Religions." Wanna bet Bevins lays an egg?

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous9:33 AM

      https://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Religions-Plus-Huston-Smith/dp/0061660183

      the text?

      Delete
  16. Anonymous8:36 AM

    https://www.facebook.com/RichardDawkinsFoundation/photos/a.496176595154.294030.8798180154/10155274375660155/?type=3&theater

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:11 AM

      https://www.facebook.com/shutupdick/photos/a.92584855177.96317.88683275177/10154514330215178/?type=3&theater

      Delete
  17. Anonymous9:01 AM

    Fundy evangelicals are the primary cause of the current dumbing down of America. Thanks a lot, Jesus freaks! Best story I heard all week was when some brave soul rammed his vehicle into the OK 10-commandments monument.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:36 AM

      http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-ten-commandments-arkansas-20170628-story.html

      repube

      Delete
  18. Anonymous9:12 AM

    Looking forward to lawsuits knocking the stuffing out of this religious bigot.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous10:25 AM

    All ya'll "bern it down" peeps happy yet?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:41 PM

      No Mia, FUCK YOU! You are part of this because you had a hissy fut when Bernie didn't get the Democratic nod. So, once again, FUCK YOU< you are personally responsible for this social climate.
      You don't get top walk off scott free for what you supported this is it Mia, embrace your decisions.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:51 PM

      3:45pm

      So, what is this "medicaide" that you speak of? Does your ignorant self not know how to spell? Seems like it, how about you come on back when you can afford an operating system with spell check, since I kind of think you are really too dumb to actually learn how to spell and use grammar on your own.

      Damn, your comment is a morass of stupidity, bad spelling and poor grammar. Leave it at Fox, or another far right site that really doesn't care if you are ignorant, because, face it you are.

      Delete
  20. Anonymous11:13 AM

    What ever happen to Sunday School?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous11:57 AM

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTCen9-RELM

    aka 16 tons of credit card plague

    ReplyDelete
  22. The Bible has been taught in school before.

    It is a matter of context.

    The Bible as Literature, has been taught, along with identifying all of the anonymous authors and plagiarists.

    The Bible has also been taught in Social Studies, identifying the cultural biases and agenda of the times and the politics behind the choices.

    It can also be part of a comparative religions class.

    I suspect if these Fundies attended some of those classes, they would rather the Bible NOT be included.

    Where it doesn't belong is in History or Science. Because it isn't history and it certainly isn't science.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous3:46 PM

      It was never tught in the state where I was raised. But you voted for this so I am sure you will jump threw multiple hoolahoops to defend it.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:17 PM

      You show your ignorance 3:46. AL religious texts (Koran, Talmud and Bible, not to mention the Bhagavad Ghita) can be read as literature/history, metaphysics. etc. They can also be taught as Comparative Religion. I don't have much faith (/s/ that this will be the case in Kinfucky, however.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous4:24 PM

      Jurgen Habermas has an excellent series of lectures on religious belief.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous6:01 PM

      I took quite a few comparative religion classes in college as part of my undergraduate degree, just because I wanted to find out what made the believers be "believers".

      It was astounding on so many levels to see the harm and damage that religion has done to society and to many innocent and ignorant minds, not to mention all of the death and destruction brought about by religious wars, which are still going on.

      It's just a crutch for the disenfranchised, and a crutch for those that are afraid of dying, and a crutch for those that are unable to be morally decent of their own accord.

      It's for stupid, weak-minded people that need guidance and are willing to go through a lot of superstitious, repetitive OCD behavior to try to find a way to be decent humans, and then find their place in "heaven".

      Bless them all, they are stupid and don't realize it, and no matter how many "hail mary's while touching a rosary" and how many tithing dollars they give they are all, after death, just worm food like all humans and all living creatures are and will be.

      Think of it this way, when you die you are exactly where you were before you were born; you didn't exist, and you won't exist after death. Living a life that depends on a "heaven" or "afterlife" is an exercise in futility and it actually takes away from the awesomeness of this consciousness that we have on a planet that seems to be a rarity in this galaxy and others.

      Why isn't that enough for people?

      Delete
  23. Anonymous12:51 PM

    also, too:

    'Kentucky’s evangelical governor Matt Bevin recently proposed to eradicate violence in Louisville’s poorer, largely African-American west side by calling for faithful Christians to volunteer and assemble in “small groups of three to 10 people to begin a ritual of quietly walking one block, in one troubled neighborhood, at 7 p.m., several days a week for one year, praying as they walk.”'

    http://www.rawstory.com/2017/06/kentucky-fried-christianity-gop-governor-matt-bevin-wants-to-pray-away-violence-in-louisville/

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous6:58 PM

    I'm all for teaching the bible in public school -- but for what it is, fiction.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I think that if any religion (as a selective course) should include the most popular Comparative Religions in the world, like Buddhism, Muslim,Hindu, and even the difference with the Christian religions. Compare how they are the same and how they differ in today's world.

    ReplyDelete

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