Bill would add 'Bible literacy' class to Iowa public schools

A bill introduced at the Iowa Statehouse this week would establish a public school course centered on the Bible — sparking outcry from opponents who call it an "extreme piece of legislation."

If passed, Iowa would join a small but growing number of states with "Bible literacy" laws that allow or require public schools to offer such courses.

Supporters say that studying the Bible for its historical and cultural influence is instrumental to understanding western civilization and the values on which America was built.

"Beyond its literary and cultural significance, which is significant, the Bible is also an essential thread of the American consciousness, and without it, American unity is unraveling," said Drew Zahn, spokesman for the Christian conservative organization The Family Leader, which is endorsing the legislation.

House File 2031 would direct the state Department of Education to prepare material and teacher training for a high school elective course that focuses on the Hebrew Scriptures and the Bible's New Testament. It would be a social studies class.

"Basically, I want to give students the opportunity to study the Bible from the perspective of its impact on history and culture," said state Rep. Dean Fisher, R- Montour, who introduced the bill along with 11 other Republicans.

Iowa's current law does not prevent schools from teaching an elective class that studies the literature, history, or art of a particular religion, Iowa Department of Education spokeswoman Staci Hupp said.

Laws creating Bible study courses have passed in Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. In addition, West Virginia lawmakers recently proposed Bible literacy be offered as an elective in all public and private schools.

Implementation has proven contentious. In Kentucky, for example, the ACLU is contesting courses created after a Bible literacy law passed last year.

There, the ACLU says that some classes are going too far in teaching the Bible as a devotional study instead of an academic one. It found examples of students assigned to memorize Bible verses and the use of videos promoting Christianity such as "God is Not Dead 2."

What remains unclear is how much support such a bill will garner here in Iowa.

RELATED:

How a persistent atheist persuaded an Iowa city council to drop public prayer

Dowling Catholic president Dan Ryan prioritizes faith, academics

Does Iowa need a law protecting religious freedom?

Some Iowa high schools already offer world religion courses, or teach aspects of Judaism or Christianity as part of their social studies courses, said Connie Ryan, executive director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, which is opposing the bill.

"In that way, the legislation is unnecessary," she said. "It's an extreme piece of legislation, and I would hope that it would not move any further."

Ryan believes that lawmakers sponsoring the bill "want to ensure that Christianity is taught in public schools."

"Religion is certainly a part of the human experience and our history, and it’s also part of our current times so it’s important for that to be included, but it has to be done in an academic basis and it has to be done in a neutral manner," she said.

Federal and state guidelines require religious neutrality and diverse religious views. The legislation says the course would not endorse, favor or promote any religion, faith or nonreligious perspective.

Instead, the class would focus on the Bible's influence, and teach students about "biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives" that would help students better understand culture and society through "literature, art, music, mores, oratory and public policy," the bill says.

"Today, we are raising generations of children ignorant of the origin of core American values that should unite us, such as the historically radical, but biblically inspired ideal that all people have inherent worth and equality and are 'endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights,'" Zahn said.

He added: "These foundational and historical American values did not spring from the cornucopia of 'world religions,' but specifically from the Judeo-Christian scriptures."

Iowa's proposal would not require students to use a specific translation of the Bible. It would allow them to use a translation other than the one chosen by the teacher, school district or state.

Schools would not be required to offer the course, but the state would be required to provide material and training to schools that chose to include it.

Under current law, religious texts may not be excluded from any public school. The law also prevents schools from requiring the reading of religious texts that parents don't want them to read.