Gideon bible giveaways halted in Somerset Co.
Posted by Jeff Quinton on June 27, 2008Public schools in Somerset County will no longer allow a Christian organization on school grounds to distribute Bibles.
For years, The Gideons, an international Christian organization, has been passing out Bibles to interested fifth-graders. But Stephanie Kayhan says when she moved to the county three years ago, she was shocked by the Bible distribution.
Kayhan says she is a practicing Christian, but she is against Bibles being passed out on school grounds because it blurs the line between church and state. She contacted the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU then wrote a letter to the school board, stating that the distribution was unconstitutional.
Supporters of the Bible giveaways say no child was ever forced to take one.
Comment by Tyldak
More detailed story here: http://www.wboc.com/global/story.asp?s=8560741
“Kayhan said she knows many people in the community do not share her view. Dana Williams said she has no problem with groups passing out Bibles at public schools. Her son will be entering Princess Anne Elementary School next year.
“It’s a choice. If they want a Bible, then why not?” said Williams.
The school always notified parents when the Christian organization would be on school grounds to pass out Bibles, and no child was ever forced to take a Bible. Many parents did not see a problem.”
I can’t help but wonder what the community’s reaction would be to Hare Krishnas on school grounds handing out the Bhagavad Gita or to Muslims handing out copies of the Qur’an.
Comment by Bruce
It didn’t make mainstream news, but schools in Montgomery County now teach a lesson on the Qur’an. Where’s the separation there?
Comment by Tyldak
First, I would consider the issues of what textbooks say (assuming they aren’t prostylitizing) wholly separate from the issue of a religious organizations being allowed on public school grounds to hand out literature. Apples and oranges.
Second, I would imagine the story didn’t make mainstream news because it is, by and large, a hoax. The American Textbook Council is not some Very Important group of auhtorities with Very Educated opinions. They’re just two guys spouting off.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1429570~Council__Mongtomery_schools_cave_to_pressue_with_Islam_book.html?cid=temp-popular
http://www.historytextbooks.org/about.htm
The American Textbook Council is a former high school history teacher who has done some part-time work at a couple universities, and a lawyer. They just created this “shell” called the American Textbook Council to sound important. They have no more authority to speak on what textbooks in Montgomery County say and don’t say than some random guy on the street.
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[…] pass out free New Testaments and alarm bells are sounded! How our country got to this point, I don’t know…but its sad. Public schools in Somerset County will no longer allow a Christian organization on school grounds […]
Comment by serfdood
Right thing to do.
Comment by I am so Wise
There are prohibitions against passing out bibles because Baltimore City Christians turned their city into a war zone battling over the correct interpretation.
As for the Quran, it’s totally permissible to teach about religion in non-promotional way. As a 9th grader, my Spanish class acted out some Mexican holiday thing. I thought I’d be cool and get the guy fired. ACLU didn’t help out at all.
Comment by John Almen
Stephanie Kayhan is a hypocrit of the first order. She can call herself a Christian if she wants to but when you halt the spreading of the Gospel you are fooling yourself. You are playing right into the enemies hand. Jesus said in Matt 28:19 to go make disciples baptizing and teaching. That would automatically lead me to believe it includes the spreading of the Good News which the bible contains. Stephanie I pray that you get off the path of destruction and get to the foot of the cross. What you did is very Anti-Jesus. Shame on you Judas!