And Then God Created U.S. History
The Texas Board of Education is currently reviewing the state's social studies curriculum to decide whether God should have a bigger place in history class. On the revision committee that's shaping the debate there's a reverend who preaches that Hurricane Katrina, Watergate and the Vietnam War -- three events surely to be found in history textbooks -- are signs of God's judgments on America's sexual immorality.
The Texas Board of Education is currently reviewing the state’s social studies curriculum to decide whether God should have a bigger place in history class. On the revision committee that’s shaping the debate there’s a reverend who preaches that Hurricane Katrina, Watergate and the Vietnam War — three events surely to be found in history textbooks — are signs of God’s judgments on America’s sexual immorality.
Your support matters…The Wall Street Journal:
The fight over school curriculum in Texas, recently focused on biology, has entered a new arena, with a brewing debate over how much faith belongs in American history classrooms.
The Texas Board of Education, which recently approved new science standards that made room for creationist critiques of evolution, is revising the state’s social studies curriculum. In early recommendations from outside experts appointed by the board, a divide has opened over how central religious theology should be to the teaching of history.
Three reviewers, appointed by social conservatives, have recommended revamping the K-12 curriculum to emphasize the roles of the Bible, the Christian faith and the civic virtue of religion in the study of American history. Two of them want to remove or de-emphasize references to several historical figures who have become liberal icons, such as César Chávez and Thurgood Marshall.
Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.
You can help level the playing field. Become a member.
Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.
Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.
Opinion
But the implications of increasing secularization aren't clear.
Tom Catena, who risks his life daily to provide medical care in an African war zone, examines what it means to be a good Samaritan.
Now that fundamentalists have their man in the White House, they are running another assault on democracy that would make the late televangelist Jerry Falwell proud.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.