Georgia OKs Bible Classes, Commandments

[deadparrot]

ATLANTA - Georgia became what is believed to be the first state to offer government-sanctioned elective classes on the Bible, with Gov. Sonny Perdue signing a bill into law Thursday.

The governor also signed a bill permitting the display of the Ten Commandments at courthouses, an issue that has raised thorny constitutional questions.

Critics say the measures blur the line between church and state. National civil rights groups said they want to see how the laws are implemented before deciding whether to challenge them in court.

The Bible is already incorporated into classes in Georgia and other states, and some local school districts have passed measures permitting classes devoted solely to the Bible. But education analysts say the law in Georgia is the first time a state government has endorsed such courses.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060420/ap_on_re_us/bible_bills

[Erika]

1. That's fine for Georgia

At one time I thought it would be nice to tour the South, but no more.

[countmyvote4real]

2. How ironic.

The colony of criminals becomes the state of holier than thou. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.

Bless their ignorant, pseudo Christian hearts.

[DBoon]

3. Georgia to Jews: Drop dead!

nt

[Technowitch]

10. And Deists, Atheists, Agnostics, Hindus, Shinto, Buddhists...

...Animists, Druids, Native Americans (all tribes), Innuit, etc., etc...

[bigjohn16]

4. I can't believe they're wasting educational resources on this crap.

I am the LORD thy God, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

There's nothing religious about that. :sarcasm:

[PurityOfEssence]

16. Those with fear-based fantasies need to get others to go along

Yeah, fine, there are plenty of believers who keep to themselves and have their hearts in the right place, but the soul of this religion is selfishness and one of the dictates is to intrude upon everyone possible to spread the word.

People who believe in bizarre and supernatural things often need to get everyone else to go along with the concept just so they don't seem silly to themselves or slip into questioning tenets of the faith that just don't stand up to any rational scrutiny. It's like alcoholics who want you to have a drink with them: if everyone's with it, it can't be wrong...

As for the "no other gods" bit, that's just tyrannical control of the most basic kind; it's no different than joining the crips.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

5. The measure does not blur the line between church and state

It blatantly ignores it.

On Edit: But hey since we aren't paying much attention to that dusty old constitution anyway, what's one more little infraction going to hurt.

[Rocknrule]

8. Ignores it?

It takes a steaming shit on it

[anotherdrew]

6. so brand the kids with Joshua(6) 6:6 now too, make it complete!

So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant of the LORD and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it."

that's right they're using a weapon of mass destruction to destory the city of Jericho. Which in this case might as well represent modern western civilization.

[BadgerKid]

7. Is the tax rate reduced to a tithe? n/t

[Bush_MUST_Go]

9. If the classes are electives they pave the way for all sorts of electives.

[Breeze54]

11. jeebus........

Under the proposal, schools would be allowed to offer two elective high-school courses:
the History and Literature of the Old Testament Era and the History and Literature of the New Testament Era.
At least one of the textbooks must be the Bible.

Teachers would not be allowed to either promote or disparage Christianity
or any other religion during the courses,
which could be offered any time after July 1, 2007.

The measure, Senate Bill 79, sailed through the lower chamber on a 151-7 vote.

The bill would not require any school to teach the course.

http://forums.augustachronicle.com/cgi-bin/bb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000819

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.bibleinschools.net/sdm.asp?pg=nud

---------------------
great quote! :thumbsup:

"When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullshit,
you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises
and exaggerated claims, religion..
Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told."
George Carlin

[onehandle]

12. Where are the lawsuits? nt

[GeorgiaDem69]

20. Article says that civil liberty groups

are closely watching the situation. Frankly, the problem isn't offering elective bible study classes -- lots of school systems do that -- the (if any) is enacting a law regarding these classes.

[RubyDuby in GA]

13. Please only one thing at a time - they're trying to get Harry Potter banne

You know the small minds that be are trying to get Harry Potter banned again. Ya know...cause it's only been out for how many years now????

I hang my head in shame. Can I change my username now? I don't want people to know I'm from here.



http://www.ajc.com/gwinnett/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/0421gwxpotter.html


Hearing draws Potter foes, fans
Battle lines are drawn as mom fights to ban books

By LAURA DIAMOND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 04/21/06

Boy wizard Harry Potter faced a different kind of challenge Thursday — a fight about whether he belongs in Gwinnett County public school libraries.

Seven Potter foes told a hearing officer the Gwinnett school board should ban the books because the tales are dark, violent and inappropriate for young children. Eleven fans defended the stories as modern literature.

"Harry Potter teaches children and adults that witchcraft is OK for children," said Laura Mallory, a Loganville mother whose complaint led to the hearing.

But Lisa Eickholdt, a reading specialist at Freeman's Mill Elementary, said the books encouraged many children — especially those who struggle in school — to read. Children enjoy the books' central themes of friendship, courage and good fighting evil, she said.

[Virginia Dare]

14. Why go to church....

If you can get free Bible classes at school? No more dropping precious dollars into the collection plate!

[sarcasmo]

15. Let's face facts here folks. The Church and State concept is over.

We have been living in a Theocracy since the Decider and his followers stole the election.

[robbibaba]

17. It's no coincidence, IMHO, that Georgia was the first state

to go with paperless electronic voting machines statewide. As I recall they had a number of "surprise" outcomes. The criminals who stole that election (and subsequent ones, no doubt) need to keep the smokescreen going strong. Especially with so many 'revelations' coming out of next door Florida's testing of the machines.

[GeorgiaDem69]

18. Election conspiracy theories aside

if you read the article you'll see that other states offer similar classes. School systems don't have to offer these classes and kids don't have to take them. So, this law doesn't necessarily violate church/state separation. It all depends on how the class is taught.

Also wanted to "preemptively" defend myself from inevitable accusations that religion is never acceptable in any form in the public arena. That is simply not the case -- the Constitution doesn't state that and courts have never ruled that.

"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."

[Roland99]

19. And I guarantee no discussion of Egyptian, Babylonian, etc. influences on

the creation and editing of the books of the Bible will ever be considered for discussion.