MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- School boards in Alabama could eventually be
offering courses in Bible literacy if a bill promoted by two
Democratic state legislators becomes law.
House Majority Leader Ken Guin of Carbon Hill, has pre-filed a bill
that would authorize public school systems to offer the elective in
grades 9 through 12.
The course will be based on the textbook titled "The Bible and Its
Influence," that was published in September by the Bible Literacy
Project, a Fairfax, Virginia-based nonprofit.
Guin spoke at a news conference Thursday with House Speaker Seth
Hammett of Andalusia.
The bill can be considered in the regular session, which begins
January 10.
Supporters of the bill say the course would not be a devotional
study of the Bible, but an academic discussion of how it has
influenced literature, art, history, music and Western civilization.
Critics, including the Washington-based Americans United for
Separation of Church and State, say it's another attempt by
Christians to preach in classrooms.
Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press.
