By BRAEDEN COOK, Guest Columnist
It is time to teach about the Bible in public schools. The true impact of the Bible is immeasurable. It is a huge part of the foundation of Western Culture. Countless conflicts throughout history have been fought because of it.
Its teachings have given hope and purpose to billions. The public education most of our students receive does them a disservice.
It excludes study of this monumental text of our society. The Bible should be a part of the United States educational curriculum because: it is a predominant part of Western Culture, it is a key piece of American history that should be understood by the general public, and students should be encouraged in understanding the ideology that so many people believe to be true.
The influence of the Bible on a global scale has been quite profound.
There have been many people throughout history that have fought, lived and died for the ideas found in the Bible.
Christians today are the most prosecuted religious group in the world. There have been times when the Bible has been construed to justify great evil in the persecution of people by other groups, such as the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition and the Ku Klux Klan.
The Bible has also inspired great acts of good and selfless service: feeding the hungry, caring for the sick and fighting for the justice of those persecuted in the past and today.
If any other book had made such an impact and had touched so many people, it would be a vital topic to be taught already. The very notion of Natural Law found in the Declaration of Independence shows how, even in the founding of this nation, the Bible had its influence.
Why is such a significant piece of history and culture excluded from the average curriculum? Many would say it is unconstitutional because of the separation of church and state.
It is a religious text to Jews and Christians; however, that does not lessen the impact it has made in the world. Students have the right to learn about something so impactful. Why do they learn about the Civil War? It is because of its impact and the changes it has brought.
In the same way, the Bible has impacted and changed the world, and yet it is maybe mentioned in a high school history class twice.
How long will this continue? We all need to stand up and work to give our students a well-rounded education that helps them better understand the world around them.
Braeden Cook is the chairman of the Northwestern College Republicans Club.