With eyes wide open …

A Spectrum, by Howard Bess

A proposal to teach a course in the Bible at our local high schools has been put forth. The proposal apparently has significant support on the school board. To the discussion that we are beginning to have, I would like to add my "Yes, but."

The teaching of the Bible on the high school level is perfectly legal and acceptable. The Bible is so influential in our culture, it is short sighted to leave it out of public school curriculum. Understanding western culture apart from the Bible material is difficult if not impossible.

Now the realities. The Bible cannot be taught in public schools as a holy book. It is a holy book for many of us but not for all. Public schools ideally are not anti-religious, but are religiously neutral. With this understanding the Koran, the Book of Mormon, the Pearls and the writings of Confucius have exactly the same standing in our public schools as does the Bible. Here in the Valley we have a very large population of Latter Day Saints. If the decision were made that a course in the Bible will be offered in our area high schools, I would be the first to advocate that a course in the Book of Mormon be added as well. Fair is fair.

This is the first community in which I have lived with a large Mormon population. As long as I did not live around Mormons, I was not motivated to understand them. Since I now live around Mormons, I decided to read the Book of Mormon. It was interesting reading. Now when Mormon elders come to my door and ask "Have you read the Book of Mormon?," I can respond with an honest "yes." Then a friendly discussion can begin. My life has been made richer by taking the time to read the Book of Mormon.

When I read the Book of Mormon, I read it as someone else's holy book, but not mine. I read it with the eyes of a person trained in literary and historical criticism. A Mormon does not read the Book of Mormon with the same eyes and understandings as do I. Never the less, because we have both read the same book, we can have good, friendly discussions. I am enriched and I hope the elders are also enriched in their thinking.

The same dynamic must be present in a public school course on the Bible. The Christian students of all stripes will inevitably read the Bible material with different eyes than does the non-believer. The school, however, has no choice. It cannot take sides. It cannot teach the Bible material as holy. It must be taught as a collection of writings, written over a period of at least 1,000 years. It must be recognized that some of the material existed as oral tradition for hundreds of years before being written down. It must be recognized that the material went through a long series of editing and re-editing. It must be recognized that it has gone through many translations. The types of literary devices used in the Bible material must be identified. When the literary form is mythology, the teacher needs to say so. Legend, parable and poetry are to be identified and named.

I suspect that some of the people who are advocating the teaching of the Bible in our high schools are in for a surprise when they discover the rules of the educational game. The rules call for objectivity and religious neutrality. When some students come home and report that the literary form of the Bible creation stories and of the virgin birth narratives is mythology, not a few parents will be very upset.

Elective classes in the Bible are offered regularly all over the United States. They should be offered here as well. Before the decision is made to teach the Bible in our Mat-Su high schools, everyone should understand the rules of the game.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a Palmer resident.