Religion Out of Contexts

            There are many reasons to be suspicious of charter schools, but the Idaho Public Charter School Commission has set upon the most insignificant of them to question the efficacy of Nampa Classical Academy.

The school wanted to use the Bible, Book of Mormon and the Quran in its secular history and English literature classes. In its questionable wisdom the commission dictated that using such “primary religious texts” in public schools violates the constitution.

 Just how this is accomplished is not specified in newspaper reports of the incident, but it is safe to assume that the ban has is based on the amendment requiring the separation of church and state. My first reaction was disbelief mixed with satisfaction and hope. When a state where students are forced to proudly pledge allegiance “under God” to their flag and country every day bans the Bible from its schools, that’s a sign of  rational thought lurking somewhere in the deep recesses of the body politic.

My second reaction was disappointment. Clearly, these people do not understand the meaning of the separation of church and state clause in the constitution. Worse, they likely believe that the Bible actually contains the words and dictates of God and that’s why the godless liberals don’t want religion in the schools. What’s needed is a new Supreme Court or a constitutional amendment that puts daily Bible reading and prayer back into the schools where they belong.

So why should these religious texts be used in schools? Simple. Because they contain the stories, myths and history that form the basis of Western civilization. Northrup Fry, the 20^th Century’s foremost literary critic and analyst, said all Western literature is based on concepts, themes and philosophies contained in the Bible. You cannot fully understand English literature without a solid foundation in the Bible. Similarly, all Western history is based on the Bible.

The Quran holds the same position in the Muslim world. To understand the history and culture of the Middle East, it is necessary to have at least a limited understanding of the Quran, which, incidentally, also contains some of the best poetry ever written.

We live in Idaho and the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints played a significant role in our state’s history. At one point in history, Mormons were not allowed to vote in Idaho. Why was that? In part because of polygamy and partly due to pure, hard prejudice, something that has not disappeared. Knowing what the Book of Mormon says is integral to knowing Idaho history and why it is the way it is today.

The only one of these religious texts that I have read is the Bible, but I think they are enough alike that each of them is virtually impossible to understand if you read them like a text book or a novel with a beginning, middle and end from which you can draw conclusions. They are a record of human relationships with each other and with God, or the unknown and unknowable, if you prefer. 

Each one is a vital part of knowing our literature, our history and who we are. That may be something the State of Idaho and its Idaho Public Charter School Commission don’t want you to know.

Comments

[David Trigueiro]

Just like old times getting a comment from my editor from days of old at The Calgary Herald when it was an actual newspaper. Send me an email Lanie if you see this at [email protected].

[Melanie Collison]

This well thought out column makes excellent points.