Bible textbook could circumvent culture war (to be used in public schools)

[truthpusher]

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/politics/12706340.htm

Posted on Wed, Sep. 21, 2005
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Bible textbook could circumvent culture war
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BY STEVEN THOMMA
Knight Ridder Newspapers
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WASHINGTON - (KRT) - Seeking to defuse a central controversy of the culture wars, a Bible advocacy group will unveil a new textbook Thursday that could open the door to widespread Bible courses in public high schools.

The textbook, titled "The Bible and Its Influence," was written to thread a constitutional and legal needle by teaching, not preaching, about the Bible, its editors told Knight Ridder in an exclusive preview.

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Scholars have been looking for a way to teach about the Bible in public schools for years, said Sheila Weber, a vice president of the Bible Literacy Project, a Virginia group that's publishing the 40-chapter book.

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The book, being published in time for school districts to consider for next year's curricula, was designed to follow a set of guidelines on how to teach about the Bible in public schools while not endorsing one religion's view and not offending people of faith.

The guidelines were approved by such groups as the American Federation of Teachers, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Council on Islamic Education and the People for the American Way Foundation, as well as the First Amendment Center.

"We think it reflects the standards we agreed to," Haynes said. The other groups haven't yet seen the textbook and couldn't comment on it Wednesday.

(snip)

complete story: http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/politics/12706340.htm