Should the Bible be taught to Minors?

[Rainbow Mage]

The Bible contains many things that many people in our modern society would find cruel and barbaric. It contains racism, sexism, homophobia, violence, bloodlust, and rape. Does anyone think this should concern people that this is taught to children as the infalliable word of god?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I believe in preparing kids for the real world.

 

[PolyHedral]

It should be taught in religious studies classes, and given no importance beyond that. This includes when deciding whether to censor/restrict it. If I understand the ratings systems correctly, that would probably mean it would get an R.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

An R? That's all? What about that time where Ham went to Noah while he was naked, or that time Judah and his brothers circumcised that whole city?

 

[ImmortalFlame]

It should be taught in religious studies classes, and given no importance beyond that. This includes when deciding whether to censor/restrict it. If I understand the ratings systems correctly, that would probably mean it would get an R.

This.

In an ideal world, schools would be able to teach children about the Bible (among many other religious texts) objectively and without preference, and I do think it is important for children to have a well-rounded understanding of many different cultures and beliefs. So, in that sense, I think teaching the Bible would be a good thing.

However, this is not an ideal world. The Bible has little practical value aside from indoctrination, and too many teachers would take advantage of that fact.

 

[ChristineES]

This isn't just a yes or no question. Children can be taught parts of the Bible. Ruth, for example, has no violence or anything else. I think 13 or 14 would be a median age to start reading the more violent parts.

 

[PolyHedral]

This isn't just a yes or no question. Children can be taught parts of the Bible. Ruth, for example, has no violence or anything else. I think 13 or 14 would be a median age to start reading the more violent parts.

Teaching bits of the book out of order/context just seems like asking for trouble, though.

An R? That's all? What about that time where Ham went to Noah while he was naked, or that time Judah and his brothers circumcised that whole city?

Oh, oops. I thought R was the highest. Maybe NC-17?

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Oh, oops. I thought R was the highest. Maybe NC-17?

Now you're getting warmer :clap

 

[linwood]

Teaching bits of the book out of order/context just seems like asking for trouble, though.

Seems like standard Christian teaching to me.

Sorry, couldn`t resist.


As I stated earlier leaving parts out defeats the purpose of teaching it.

There is nothing in the Bible unsuitable for minors...for me anyway.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

There is nothing in the Bible unsuitable for minors...for me anyway.

1 Corinthians 14:[34] Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith. [35] But if they would learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.

Leviticus 20:[13] If any one lie with a man as with a woman, both have committed an abomination, let them be put to death: their blood be upon them.

Dueteronomy 22:28 If a man rapes a young woman who is a virgin, so that he defiles her, 29 Let him pay her father fifty shekels and marry her and never divorce her as long as he lives.

The Bible- It's such a good book for minors

 

[Levite]

The Bible contains many things that many people in our modern society would find cruel and barbaric. It contains racism, sexism, homophobia, violence, bloodlust, and rape. Does anyone think this should concern people that this is taught to children as the infalliable word of god?

The Bible shouldn't be taught to anyone, adult or child, if it will be presented in a simplistic and fundamentalist way. That is not what it is for.

 

[Storm]

Ugh, not another "think of the children!"

Kids are tougher than people think. My favorite bedtime story was Leonaedas and the Spartan 300. I also got children's adaptations of Shakespeare and the Iliad, and yes, the Bible. None of it did me any harm.

 

[linwood]

1 Corinthians 14:[34] Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith. [35] But if they would learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.

Leviticus 20:[13] If any one lie with a man as with a woman, both have committed an abomination, let them be put to death: their blood be upon them.

Dueteronomy 22:28 If a man rapes a young woman who is a virgin, so that he defiles her, 29 Let him pay her father fifty shekels and marry her and never divorce her as long as he lives.

The Bible- It's such a good book for minors

I have read each and every one of those verses to my daughter from between the ages of 5-9.

Especially the verses from Corinthians and Duet.

She was quite angry at god for his misogynistic ways.

She asks questions, I answer them.

Please tell me...what exactly makes those particular verses verboten to children in your mind?

 

[Storm]

The Bible shouldn't be taught to anyone, adult or child, if it will be presented in a simplistic and fundamentalist way. That is not what it is for.

Good point, frubals.

 

[Arav]

None of it did me any harm.

Are you sure?

Just KIDDING!!! But do I think that the Bible should be taught to Minors with such things in it, im not really sure. People react to different content differently. I have a cousin who cant stand hearing about violence let alone seeing it, so if you were to tell him some of the things in the Bible that might just make him not like the Bible. But im sure that there are other children out there who will read the bible, think something is cool in there and go try it out. Also, Im sure that there are some minors who will grow up and find out that they are Homosexuals and condemn themselves only because of the Bible.

So in my opinion there is no universal answer to this question. It really depends on the individual and how they react to the content of the Bible.

 

[ChristineES]

Teaching bits of the book out of order/context just seems like asking for trouble, though.

You must be joking. There are 66 different books in the Bible. Ruth is one entire book.

 

[fallingblood]

So you are for censoring literature? If we censor the Bible, where will that lead? Why just single out the Bible? There are many books that have similar stories within them that are just as bad if not worse. So wouldn't we then also have to censor those? Or do you simply have a negative bias against the Bible?

Why focus on just the part of the Bible that is considered evil? Have you ever considered that maybe you do not know the context in which those verses were written? Have you ever considered that you are not aware of the historical context behind those books?

The Bible is an invaluable piece of literature. I fully believe that the Bible should be taught; however, in a literary context. It is a piece of literature that has had a vast impact on our world. It is a piece of literature that was used to inspire many other stories, and is alluded to in many other pieces of work. In various instances, it is necessary to have a working knowledge of the Bible in order to fully understand many other pieces of literature.

More so though, I think if people had a more in depth understanding of the Bible, as in, the historical context, a lot of the problems would be solved. If people were taught that it was a piece of literature, as many schools do teach now, a lot of the problem would be solved.

But what it really comes down to; we live in a free society. People have the right to teach their children what they want.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

I didn't say the Bible wasn't an invaluable piece of literature and all that good stuff. I said I didn't think the Bible should be taught as a whole to minors, because some use it to promote racism, sexism, and homophobia.

 

[ChristineES]

Try to ban the Bible and everyone will be rushing to read it.

 

[linwood]

. I said I didn't think the Bible should be taught as a whole to minors, because some use it to promote racism, sexism, and homophobia.

Because some use a tool improperly none should have access to that tool?