The state superintendent, Ryan Walters, said the Bible was a “necessary historical document.” The mandate comes as part of a conservative movement to infuse Christian values in public schools.

Oklahoma’s state superintendent on Thursday directed all public schools to teach the Bible, including the Ten Commandments, in the latest conservative push testing the boundaries between religious instruction and public education.

The superintendent, Ryan Walters, who is a Republican, described the Bible as an “indispensable historical and cultural touchstone” and said it must be taught in certain grade levels.

The move comes a week after Louisiana became the first state to mandate that public schools display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, which was quickly challenged in court. The Oklahoma directive could also be challenged and is likely to provoke the latest tangle over the role of religion in public schools, an issue that has increasingly taken on national prominence.

  • chemical_cutthroat@lemmy.world
    34·
    3 days ago

    I just don’t see how this is so blatantly done. It should be a slam dunk in court. Churches don’t pay taxes. Public schools are funded with taxes. Churches don’t get to make the rules for public schools.

    Let’s flip it on it’s head. I don’t tithe to churches, but now all churches must serve pepperoni Eucharist and orange soda at service. Done. That’s the rule, now, since it seems like anyone can just say some shit and it has to happen. Don’t push me, or I’ll make you fill the baptismal with lime jell-o.

    • originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com
      25·
      3 days ago

      its becasue they can enact these polices very fast, but the wheels of the law are as fast as glaciers.

      its also why grifters like the orange turd delay everything, making it even worse… to their advantage

    • inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world
      OP
      11·
      3 days ago

      They’re banking on, and rightfully so, all of these shitty conservative judges that McConnell put in place to rule in their favor.

      • pivot_root@lemmy.world
        1·
        3 days ago

        Next month:

        This court finds that, without any question of interpretation, church and state, including publicly-funded education institutions, must be separated. We also find that, with the evidence considered, the teaching of the Bible does not violate the separation of church and state. Teaching of religious texts may, for educational purposes, be added to school curriculum when said curriculum does not mandate teachings containing subjects contrary to the interests of national security and economic prosperity.

        • skulblaka@sh.itjust.works
          3·
          3 days ago

          Cue 382 additional lawsuits regarding every other religion that has ever existed getting their own representation. I’m going to need a full semester class on Zoroastrianism.

          • pivot_root@lemmy.world
            2·
            3 days ago

            Ah, but you see, that’s where the national security and economic prosperity conditions come in. Can’t be having alternative teachings encouraging terrorism and communism, you know?

    • Fire Witch@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      10·
      3 days ago

      I just don’t see how this is so blatantly done. It should be a slam dunk in court.

      The fact that they’re doing this openly should be a warning sign of where this country is currently, and is heading. They’re doing this because they know the SC is compromised in their favor. All they have to do to get away with it is promise 5-6 judges a small gratuity.

      • NABDad@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        3 days ago

        I’m not Catholic, but can’t you just make regular jello, and then have the priest bless it?

        • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.orgEnglish
          5·
          3 days ago

          Honestly no idea. My only knowledge of Catholicism comes from Dogma. But George Carlin did bless his golf clubs, so if that holds true for jello, then yeah. Lol