Georgia okays Bible classes, Commandments
 

Georgia OKs Bible Classes, Commandments

By SHANNON McCAFFREY, Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA - Georgia became what is believed to be the first state to offer government-sanctioned elective classes on the Bible, with Gov. Sonny Perdue signing a bill into law Thursday.

The governor also signed a bill permitting the display of the Ten Commandments at courthouses, an issue that has raised thorny constitutional questions.

Critics say the measures blur the line between church and state. National civil rights groups said they want to see how the laws are implemented before deciding whether to challenge them in court.

The Bible is already incorporated into classes in Georgia and other states, and some local school districts have passed measures permitting classes devoted solely to the Bible. But education analysts say the law in Georgia is the first time a state government has endorsed such courses.

The new law allows elective classes on the Bible to be taught to high school students. Local school systems will decide whether to teach the courses.

The state Education Department has until February to craft curriculums. The law requires that the courses be taught "in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students."

The state's new Ten Commandments law was prompted by controversy over the posting of the commandments at the Barrow County Courthouse. A federal judge ordered the display removed in July.

Backers of the law made clear they were trying to craft a statute that would survive any constitutional challenges.

In a split decision last June, the U.S. Supreme Court declared exhibits of the Ten Commandments constitutional if their main purpose was to honor the nation's legal, rather than religious, traditions, and if they didn't promote one religious sect over another.

Both bills passed the state Legislature by comfortable margins.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060420/...us/bible_bills

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I'll be honest. I have nothing against Christianity or any other religion (well, except whacked out ones like Scientology, etc.), but honestly! You hear about the crazy old Liberals trying to push their agenda down people's throats and then you come across things like this. It's all bullshit, I think, but I really don't agendas should be so readily shoved down people's throats like this is trying to do.

Trying to care.

Really am.

And that attempt failed. At least you tried.

Elective classes. No big deal.

Whatever happened yo keeping Religion and Politics separate?

Being America, I suppose you've got a lot of different religions floating about in all the states - Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, etc - so won't things like BIBLE classas and displaying the Christian (and do the Jewish people live by them?) Ten Commandments make a lot of people angry?

And whatever happened to your bog-standard Religious Studies classes, where you just sit down, learn about every religion, and leave every lesson asleep on your feet?


If that was something passed locally over here, then there would be rioting, there would be killings, and most of the corner shops and takeaways would either have their windows smashed in, or be fire-bombed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/...ce/default.stm

Nothing like that ever happens in Yorkshire. :(

Because people in the southern part of this country don't give a fuck about other religions, and want everyone converted to christianity.

They want the coveted Lenny.

It's America. It's the southern portion of America. It's the weirdest part.

I'm athiest and this does not bother me.

Exactly. If you have a problem with it, don't take it.

Stop thinking that way ...then there won't be something to bitch about.

Oh, Southern USA. That makes a bit more sense.

It's still a silly thing to do. Regardless of how small or big the minorities of other religions are, you're more or less THE Western country, and in Western countries these things shouldn't really happen. :p

If it was an Eastern Country, then nobody would bat an eyelid, as that's what they do. Live by religion.

I have a problem with this. Those damn christians are trying to take over everything I hold dear.

Vote, then complain how the government is run.

I forgot the sarcastic tags :(

SORRY!