2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Republicans in Idaho have passed a resolution that would allow the Bible to be used in schools as a reference material.
David Johnston of the Republican Party told KBOI-TV Boise the Bible would be used in multiple subjects just like any textbook.
“I don’t see it as a forcing upon anybody or interfering with it,” said Johnston. “Whether it be geography, history, literature or frankly just the study of the world religions; if there is a school district that thinks having the Bible as part of the curriculum would be useful, this resolution is basically saying, ‘we support the idea of allowing them to have that tool in their tool box.'”
The resolution notes that the Supreme Court has ruled the Bible can be used for historical purposes in schools.
“[T]he use of the Bible for literary and historic value is consistent with the 1st amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1963 case of Abington School District v. Schempp declared that the Bible is worth studying for its literary qualities and its influence on history,” it states. “[I]n 1980, the Supreme Court ruling of Stone v. Braham stated that ‘the Bible can constitutionally be used in an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like.’”
No schools would be required to use the Bible, but it would be available as a resource.
Party leaders hope that one of their legislators will turn the resolution into a bill for next year’s legislative session.
