Compared to other states, Missouri's Bible elective bill is not one of a kind
Efforts to promote teaching the Bible and posting “In God We Trust” in Missouri schools mirror policies promoted by national Christian legislative organizations. The Missourian reviewed a 148-page document called the “Report and Analysis on Religious Freedom Measures Impacting Prayer and Faith in America” created in 2018 by the National Legal Foundation, Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation and the WallBuilders ProFamily Legislative Network. One of the model bills in the document, the “Bible Literacy Act,” is similar in wording and structure to Missouri House Bill 267, introduced this session by Rep. Ben Baker, R-Neosho.
People Question Trump’s Biblical Literacy After He Touts Bible Classes
President Donald Trump praised the idea of introducing Bible literacy classes into public schools on Monday, naturally sparking questions on Twitter about Trump’s own knowledge of the Bible. Critics on Twitter thought the president should expand his own grasp of Scripture on immigrants, the sick and the poor.
Why is Donald Trump Praising Bible Literacy Classes?
Bible classes in public schools? Why Christian lawmakers are pushing a wave of new bills
A wave of “Bible literacy” bills emerging in state legislatures would allow more students in public high schools to study the Old and New Testaments. Proposals from lawmakers in at least six states would require or encourage public schools to offer elective classes on the Bible’s literary and historical significance. That’s a more narrow focus than what’s typically covered in courses on world religions.
Can progressives reclaim "religious freedom" from Trump and the evangelical right?
'In God We Trust’ - the bills Christian nationalists hope will ‘protect religious freedom’
Christian hardliners on the religious right have introduced new bills to impose their values in at least six American states in the opening days of 2019. The early legal moves have been tracked from Alaska to Florida as mostly Republican legislators make use of off-the-shelf ‘model bills’ generated by Christian nationalists in a playbook called Project Blitz.
President Trump just tweeted support for Bible courses, but it’s already legal to teach about the Bible
Bible courses in public schools appeared to get a high-visibility boost Monday when President Trump tweeted about a group of states proposing such classes. “Starting to make a turn back? Great!” he tweeted. As a Bible scholar, I’d join with the president in affirming the value of a good grasp of the Good Book.