My Bible Curriculum
Teaching the Bible needn't be an exercise in promoting Christianity... though it could and should be an exercise in promoting ethical, kind, and compassionate behavior
When I first read that Ryan White, Oklahoma’s Commissioner of Education, was demanding that the Bible be included in the curriculum of public schools in his state I was appalled. But his contention that offering instruction based on the Bible would undercut “left-wing activist” who “say we don’t like Christianity” seemed particularly wrongheaded in light of the Bible studies I experienced growing up in the Presbyterian Church and the Bible studies I offered as a Sunday School teacher in the Methodist Church. And his desire to make certain that every student in Oklahoma “knows the role that the Bible played in American history” might undercut his idea that learning such history might be inspirational is especially preposterous given that 150,000 of its public school students are Native Americans whose forefathers were force-fed Christian dogma and required to give up their spiritual beliefs so that White settlers could occupy their land in the name of factory farming and extraction of natural resources.
So given my understanding of the Bible I would offer the following framework for using it as a teaching tool.
First, I think it is important to emphasize the creation myth of Genesis and compare and contrast it with that of other spiritual traditions, including the Native American ones. Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces might be a good resource for teachers to use to help place the story of Adam and Eve in context along with some of the other myths that are used in the Old Testament Bible
Secondly, Oklahoma students should have instruction on the Torah— Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy— should be required so that Oklahomans gain an understanding of Judaism, the first monotheistic religion and the faith Jesus grew up in.
Thirdly, the story of King David in Samuel I and II would surely interest middle and high school students. As noted in Jeffrey Kranz’ Beginner’s Guide to the Bible:
He’s the most frequently mentioned human in the Old Testament, and the second most frequently mentioned human in the entire Bible (only Jesus Christ is mentioned more).
David is a main character in the Old Testament books 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, and 2 Chronicles. He’s also mentioned in several other books, and nearly half of the Psalms are attributed to him. Today, David is most famous for being the boy who defeated a giant with a slingshot. In fact, the famous narrative of “David and Goliath” has been so prolific in literature, art, and culture that it’s become a common trope for describing other stories about underdogs. But what makes David such a significant biblical figure is his role in establishing God’s earthly headquarters in Jerusalem.
Despite his glaring flaws, the David is described as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). David was far from perfect, but his faith and zeal made him the standard against which all Israel’s future kings would be measured against.
His musicianship and “glaring flaws” will be of particular interest to young Oklahomans who will undoubtedly be interested in his with his eight wives and dalliances with Bathsheba.
Finally, and most importantly, young Oklahomans should study Jesus’ life and teachings, especially those included in his Sermon on the Mount and those included in Paul’s letters. For those who were not raised in Christian churches, here are the eight beatitudes included in Jesus Sermon on the Mount, which can be found in Matthew 5: 3-10: :
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. (Verse 4)
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)
And my own favorite code of ethics in the Bible, described as “The Marks of a True Christian” can be found in Paul’s letter to the Romans, Chapter 12, verses 9-21:
9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.
18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, say the Lord.”
20 No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
These are words that Ryan White would clearly want Oklahoma students to embrace. I would also expect that Oklahoma students would learn of the guidance St. Paul offered in I Corinthians verses 1-13, offered here in paragraph form:
I may speak in tongues of men or of angels, but if I have no love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy and the knowledge of every hidden truth; I may have faith enough to move mountains; but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give all I possess to the needy, I may give my body to be burnt, but if I have no love, I gain nothing by it.
Love is patient and kind. Love envies no one, is never boastful, never conceited, never rude; love is never selfish, never quick to take offence. Love keeps no score of wrongs, takes no pleasure in the sins of others, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, its endurance.
Love will never come to an end. Prophecies will cease; tongues of ecstasy will fall silent; knowledge will vanish. For our knowledge and our prophecy alike are partial, and the partial vanishes when wholeness comes. When I was a child I spoke like a child, thought like a child, reasoned like a child; but when I grew up I finished with childish things. At present we see only puzzling reflections in a mirror, but one day we shall see face to face. My knowledge is partial; then it will be whole, like God's knowledge of me. There are three things that last for ever: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of the three is love.
I think that once Oklahoma students learn of the history of monotheistic religion and the teachings of Jesus their perspective on tolerance, compassion, and love for all of humanity might blossom… and they will surely eschew the fundamental principals of liberalism, which Wikipedia defines as “a constitutional order that prizes important individual freedoms, such as freedom of speech and freedom of association; an independent judiciary and public trial by jury; and the abolition of aristocratic privileges.”
If you know any teachers in Oklahoma who want some help in putting together a Bible based curriculum, feel free to share this. Peace be with you….