LOTD: AN ODD VIEW OF NEUTRALITY
Just another citizen who can’t see that there’s a difference between school and Sunday school.
Students could benefit from Bible study
Let’s consider teaching the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible) in our public schools. Allow parents to select it for their children. Schools can teach it from a neutral theme. Study of the Pentateuch allows the examination of successes and failures of individuals, families and nations.
We learn how one man received a covenant from a sovereign God yet suffered personal hardship when he stepped out on his own understanding. Although he returns to follow the leading of God, his indiscretions are believed to have worldwide implications today.
The Pentateuch provides us with examples of how envy and strife within families can lead to pain, suffering and dysfunction. After suffering through the most troublesome times, it teaches us that love of family and forgiveness can endure the most grievous pain. One family member persevered through jealousy and personal hardship only to rise to enormous power.
Finally, it concludes with a nation receiving divine laws and regulation from a sovereign God. Their obedience would allow them to enjoy the favor of an all-sufficient God.
God’s favor would include an inheritance, long life, prosperity and good health. Disobedience would lead to defeat, living in fear and indebtedness.
Each of our lives has a designed purpose. Whether we realize or when we reach our destiny often depends on whether we obey civil, military and ethical rules derived from Biblical laws. Let’s provide our children with Biblical standards to develop future rules of law.
Roy Ellis
Fayetteville
I could actually go for this if the schools can teach Judaic mythology like they do the Greek. Keep it very lighthearted. Kind of laugh at how all of the stories are attempts by ancient peoples to impose order on a chaotic world. And then point out how we’ve all outgrown that kind of myth-making.
But, somehow, I doubt my idea of “neutral” would line up with Mr. Ellis’.
5 Responses to “LOTD: AN ODD VIEW OF NEUTRALITY”
![]() Comment by JJ Ross April 22nd, 2009 at 9:25 am |
I could even go for comparative religion in the science curriculum — if the curriculum was built around all we’re now learning about cognitive neuroscience and how powerful chemicals drive everything we think and feel including our very perceptions of reality ( so how about we teach it in high school chemistry then? Think Mr. Ellis would go for that?) |
![]() Comment by Nance Confer April 22nd, 2009 at 4:17 pm |
Yes, but in FL we just have the kids sing about Jesus. That’s not a problem, is it? JJ has the link. 🙂 Nance |
![]() Comment by Rob April 23rd, 2009 at 8:44 am |
Speaking of neutrality, I couldn’t pass this one up. CNN reporter Susan Roesgen figures a HitlerBush is “a lookalike”, but HitlerObama is offensive: : youtub...bedded |
![]() Comment by JJ Ross April 23rd, 2009 at 11:00 am |
But that hasn’t anything to do with the religious world view. I think a more relevant example to this letter writer is Bill O’Reilly, who sounds like he decides who is Hitler-like by political analysis, when actually it is his Catholic lizard brain making him rationalize political judgments to fit:
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![]() Comment by Shayrah April 24th, 2009 at 2:05 pm |
I have to disagree with JJ on the whole “comparative religion in the science curriculum. Religious studies are great for studying history and philosophy but have no place in the science classroom. I see you are mentioning cognitive neuroscience. This is a fairly new science and still has a long way to go before it is worth studying (unless you are in college working towards a degree in it). I recently read a book called Why God Won’t Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief. I believe this is what you are getting at. Although it was very interesting, it just explains things like when we pray different parts of our brain turn on. I don’t see how you could turn this into a class for children. |