The Old Testament includes all of the Jewish writings with the exception of the writings of the Sanhedrin. Since the Old Testament is included as one of the two optional foci of the class, study of the Jewish faith is most definitely an option, as it's addressed in the bill.

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My blog: http://itsnotateamsport.com/

Excellent points Chris, but I still disagree.

To expect that taxpayers fund what is clearly not a comparative religion class is a violation of the First Amendment.

To not properly represent every religion is also a violation of the First Amendment.

Now add into that this is a recipe for disaster in the context that it will be turned into a preaching session instead of a class and this was a poor idea from the start.

Now I also criticize the Texas legislature for putting this incredibly stupid law in place without even funding their mandates.

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I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.

God and Country are an unbeatable team; they break all records for oppression and bloodshed.

Patriotism is the religion of hell.

The bill expressly emphasizes that it be a bible class with nothing that would indicate the study of Judaism is an option.

__________________
I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.

God and Country are an unbeatable team; they break all records for oppression and bloodshed.

Patriotism is the religion of hell.

The only time it's not implemented as a comparative religion class is when the law its self is specifically broken.

Allow me to make an analogy that illustrates the logical fallacy you're using.

The government passed a law establishing a speed limit.
Most people drive within the confines of the speed limit.
Some people violate the law establishing a speed limit, and drive at dangerous speeds.
How could the government pass such a stupid law that encourages people to drive at dangerous speeds?

I disagree with this interpretation entirely. The one rule laid out by the Constitution is that government can not establish an official religion.

This class does not endorse a religion. In fact, applied correctly, it will indeed point out the shortcomings of the church in England, for example, and explain why the founding fathers, even though they were almost all devout Christians, made it illegal for one religion to be made the state's official religion.

Concordantly, that's why the class is required to be taught by teachers with college degrees (preferably degrees in history), rather than people with degrees in theology.

If you'd actually read the bill you linked, you'd see that your concern is unwarranted. Seriously. The bill is a page and a half of plain text, not a thousand page pile of crap like federal mandates. We Texans are smart enough to write legislation that's concise and effective without being overcomplicated.

The bill specifically forbids the exact situation you're talking about, and opens violators to the full force of the law. Seriously. chill the (*)(*)(*)(*) out.

Texas is the most fiscally responsible state in the union. We're running in the black right now because our banks didn't get caught up in the same subprime lending that destroyed the liberal states, and fiscal neutrality in the state government is a Constitutional mandate.

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My blog: http://itsnotateamsport.com/

(b) The purpose of a course under this section is to:
(1) teach students knowledge of biblical content,
characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to
understanding contemporary society and culture, including
literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy; and
(2) familiarize students with, as applicable:
(A) the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament;
(B) the history of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament;
(C) the literary style and structure of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament; and
(D) the influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament on law, history, government, literature, art, music,
customs, morals, values, and culture.

Seriously. Read your own link, brother. You can't get spooked into drinking the left-wing Kool-Aid here.

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My blog: http://itsnotateamsport.com/

Indeed. However, it is still a bible class, not a Judaism class.


Chris, I am very disappointed. Up until now you have presented clear and valid arguments and not resorted to silliness such as this.

__________________
I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.

God and Country are an unbeatable team; they break all records for oppression and bloodshed.

Patriotism is the religion of hell.

Wow I thought it was bad up here. Good thing I got out of Texas years and years ago.

How is studying the Hebrew scriptures not a Judaism class? If study of scriptures can not be a "Judaism class" if it includes scriptures that also exist in the Christian Bible, then the only scriptures that could be studied would be the rulings of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish court. The "Old Testament" is almost the entirety of the Tenach, and omitting those scriptures would make for a very poor discussion of Judaism.

I'm sorry to make silly arguments by slogan like this, but I hope you can see that your previous argument was a bit alarmist, considering both the plain English wording of the bill in question, and the existing Constitutional law that prevents or punishes exactly the type of thing you're talking about.

My primary objection to the premise of this thread is that it's arguing the exception, and ignoring the rule. Moreover, the exception is already well covered by existing laws, and those laws are not violated in any way by the bill its self.

I gotta tell you, brudda. To me, this is the same ol' Partisan wingnuts throwing stones from the sidelines. This is sensationalist journalism covering a non-issue that has no chance of causing ral harm to the country, and is SPECIFICALLY designed to whip disestablishmentarians into a frenzy over a mountainesque molehill of a story.

In short: Kool-Aid. And you know it, my friend

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My blog: http://itsnotateamsport.com/

I agree completely. =D

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My blog: http://itsnotateamsport.com/

No real harm to the country? The bible classes have already turned into preaching sessions. I do not question the wording of the bill, only the end results of zealots preaching religion in schools and the lack of any other religion being mandated as a required available class. You want kids to learn about religion? have a comparative religion class. I am all for it. However, this is clearly sactioning one religion only.

As for the kool aid, that is what people say when they run out of facts.

__________________
I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.

God and Country are an unbeatable team; they break all records for oppression and bloodshed.

Patriotism is the religion of hell.