Bill Would Allow Bible Study in NC High Schools

A bill proposing a high school elective course in Bible study was introduced last week by Davidson County Senator Stan Bingham. Responding to constituent interest for a course on the Bible, Senator Bingham said that North Carolina's curriculum could benefit from this elective study. Bingham said, "Anytime you talk about kindness, you talk about being fair to others, you talk about honor, you talk about integrity, I don't see how it could be anything but positive."

Although Bingham says other religious texts could be taught in schools if there is  enough interest, his bill only mentions teaching the Bible. It has yet to be specified how educators would present the material, however Bingham suggested it be in the format of a history or language course. Additionally, students would not be required to take the course since it would be an elective course.  

Similar religious courses offered in taxpayer-supported schools in other parts of the country have raised concerns among civil libertarians about the Constitutional separation of church and state. Bingham did not see any church-state conflict in the bill. He said the state supports the study of religion at public universities, and he wants students to have a similar opportunity in the future to study the Bible in high school.  

Bingham said taxpayer dollars support a variety of courses not applicable to all citizens, so the study of the Bible should not be an issue.