Bible Ban

   In the wake of protests over books in school libraries that have questionable texts, such as stories about sex and violence, some counter-protestors say that also includes the Bible.

   Therefore, these protestors insist, the Bible should also be banned from school libraries. The proposed ban would not apply to high schools, but only to intermediate and elementary schools. One proposed ban has been made in Utah, but it's not clear whether the proposal also applies to the Book of Mormon.

   All of this raises the question of how many students actually read  the Bible, either in school or on their own. If they read it in a classroom setting, why does it not raise the question of church-state separation?

   And if the Bible is to be banned -- for whatever reason -- what about the Book of Mormon, or the Koran? Or any other spiritual writing? Also, which version of the Bible? The King James version, long praised for its literary excellence as well as its religious significance? Or the Douay version, prepared by the Roman Catholic church? Or any of the many other versions, in the English language or in any other language?

   In my early years of teaching introduction to literature for college people, a student protested assigning a portion of the King James version of the Bible.

   My response was to note its value as literature, not its spiritual or religious significance. Also listed as required reading for the course were writings from early Greece and Rome and portions of the Koran, as well as writings from the Norse Viking era and Celtic stories about the spirit world, plus Native American stories about the Creation.

   None were stressed for their spiritual views. Only for their historical and literary value.

   However, there are still some folks who insist their tradition is the only correct version of creation and spirituality, and all others are evil, regardless of any historical or literary value.

   America is a nation of many cultures, but to insist only one has value and therefore must dominate while others are banned, can only lead to violence.

   By the way, don't forget the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It still applies.