Reading the "Best Seller" is Attacking Cultural Illiteracy. 
The Bible is still the world's "best seller" book. From a literary standpoint alone, there is no way that students today can function as well-informed and educated people without Biblical knowledge.For example, a public high school English teacher said to her class, "In the short story we just read, there's a reference to one of the characters 'washing his hands' of the situation. Does anyone know where that phrase comes from?" Many students stared blankly, but several sheepishly raised their hands. "The Bible," said one student nervously. ( As silly as it sounds, some people are afraid of uttering the word "Bible" for fear of offending.) "Exactly," said the teacher, who went on to explain how Pontius Pilate washed his hands to symbolize that he was not responsible for Jesus's death and and also explained the meaning of the allusion in the story.
As a CHICAGO TRIBUNE editorial put it, "Trying to understand American literature and history without some knowledge of the Bible is like trying to make sense of the ocean despite a complete ignorance of fish."
Western culture was built on the Bible. Our literature, music, history, and politics are permeated with biblical themes and biblical language. Commenting in the LOS ANGELES TIMES, David Gelernter asked, "Can you understand American culture without knowing the biblical context of 'covenant,' 'promised land,' 'shining city on a hill'?" The answer is a resounding, no. Cultural literature begins with Bible literacy.
THE BIBLE AND ITS INFLUENCE is a great resource for anyone looking for a comprehensive academic understanding of the roots of modern civilization,
Western culture was built on the Bible. Our literature, music, history, and politics are permeated with biblical themes and biblical language. Commenting in the LOS ANGELES TIMES, David Gelernter asked, "Can you understand American culture without knowing the biblical context of 'covenant,' 'promised land,' 'shining city on a hill'?" The answer is a resounding, no. Cultural literature begins with Bible literacy.
THE BIBLE AND ITS INFLUENCE is a great resource for anyone looking for a comprehensive academic understanding of the roots of modern civilization,
We so often hear the term "Separation of Church and State" as a reason to stop reading the Bible in public school events which had been a part of school events from our founding until the 1960's. "Separation of Church and State did not mean that we were not to continue the historic invocation and benediction prayers at public school or "State" events.
The "Separation of Church and State "simply meant the United States is not to have a "State Church" as in England. The Episcopal Church was then and still is "The Church of England." Our forebears chose not to have one demonination to be " The Church of the United States."
7 comments:
Great post! I'm going to reference it and link to it on The Median Sib. EXCELLENT!
Very true. For years I did a "cultural literacy" moment every day in my middle school classes. More than half of the literary references were of the "wash your hands of.." variety and were from the Bible. The kids who were church attenders were much better able to understand references such as these in literature.
Thanks, Mother.
I have been working on a post about some of the ways I agree with conservatives. The first line of that post is:
"One of my genuine pet peeves for many years has been the tendency of public institutions to muddy the water, dumb down the discourse, and bore us all to tears, all to avoid controversy."
We fail our youth when we ignore the teaching of cultural literacy. I think the cause, rather than some grand conspiracy, is usually plain old cowardice, laziness, and stupidity. We can teach about the beliefs of, influences on, language of, our forebears without promoting any faith over another. It is ridiculous, unrealistic, and confusing to our students, to pretend religion, the Bible, the church don't exist.
Thanks Terry...and the so called "conservatives" need to think of ways they agree with those labeled "liberal". Just as Conservatives do not have a monopoly on Christian morals , liberals do not the only people concerned about the underpriviedged. ...etc
Thank you for this wonderfully written post. It is so true and our children are suffering by not receiving a 'full' education. It is such a shame for students to not understand that many phrases we use today came from the Bible.
this is amazing! i have a school report i have to do, i have to write about what it was like to go to school in the 1930's and your blog answered all my questions! its amazing i even read from when you first started posting blogs i read them all!(:
What a reading list folks in here.
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