Gideon Bibles in school

[BusyBeez99]

DS12 came home with a bible today presented by the Gideons. It's New Testament and Psalms. Why are school children getting free bibles and who is paying for them?

My AIBU is why aren't they giving out other faith books .... or, from an atheist viewpoint (me) , why are they giving them out at all?

It's a shame that rich religious organizations who print and give out millions of free books can't think of anything better to do with their money.

important historical knowledge that cant be learned from factual books

FFS I said that it was a historic book, not a history book, why can some people not get the difference.

I am not a believer but still find it interesting to read occasionally. I read bits of it recently while helping my son with his RS homework, it's full of quotes that we use now in everyday life, for this reason alone it is of cultural significance. I encourage my DC to be interested in all things not just the things that fit my narrow world view.

FFS I said that it was a historic book, not a history book, why can some people not get the difference.

Because some people are generally ignorant, and others like to twist things.

For the context of thousands of years of art alone the Bible is important.

The Bible, Quran, Torah etc are all relevant as they demonstrate a part of Human history. Just as we read about the Ancient Greek, Nord or Roman gods.

I don't mean what is written in the books themselves are history (lol) but I mean that the books meaning and what they represent is a part of history.

I've still got mine and my parents copies.

The last time I looked we do still live in a Christian country (and no, I'm not a practising Christian).

I am a staunch atheist but would be happy for my children to recieve a free Bible - I keep one in the house for reference. It’s an important part of our cultural history. Besides, you can go through it and look at/discuss some of the issues and inconsistencies.

Besides, you can go through it and look at/discuss some of the issues and inconsistencies

Or level a table.

it's full of quotes that we use now in everyday life, for this reason alone it is of cultural significance
I think very few people know the origin of most of the quotes they use. Most of the bible quotes/stories have just been recycled from previous books/stories, its more interesting to learn the actual origins of these stories rather than the rehashed versions in the bible.

It's a shame that rich religious organizations who print and give out millions of free books can't think of anything better to do with their money.

But what is more important that saving souls ? After all the Kingdom of Heaven is eternal, whilst we just have to put up with a sliver of time on Earth. Where would you invest your effort.

(is one possible response ....)

For the context of thousands of years of art alone the Bible is important Is there any pictures in the gideon? I dont remember there being any. My family are not artistically inclined but where we to be so we could go see the actual art in a gallery and listen to the experts explaining their meaning. Not sure what a bible adds to that?

I'm actually think of rewriting the bible, I think, if things were modernised it would appeal to the game of thrones crowd.

Because some people are generally ignorant, and others like to twist things.

This

Is there any pictures in the gideon? I dont remember there being any. My family are not artistically incNot sure what a bible adds to that?

So you never want to look into the inspiration and story behind famous paintings?

It's just like people reading a book because they like the movie.

Or reading g about the actual crystal skulls because of Indiana Jones.

I'm actually think of rewriting the bible, I think, if things were modernised it would appeal to the game of thrones crowd

Have you read The Message (Bible in modern English)

Or the Street Bible (Bible in a sort of 'yoof of today, innit' version of English)

Or the Book of God (Bible in novel form)

There are lots more updated examples. Quite hard to find a new take, I imagine (though I once had a strange fancy to try and write a rhyming Bible ... ) Someone's probably done that too, thinking about it.

The bible isn't actually intended to be read all at once, it's not a novel.

It's a collection.

Rather amused by these supposed tales of book burning. How frightfully rebellious.

If DD gets offered a bible in school it will be her choice as to take it or not. It will be her choice whether to read it or not. Her choice whether to keep it or not.

My role as a parent shouldn’t be dictatorial. I far prefer to guide.

Wow, how do people get so wound up and oppositional about one book? That's just nuts. And those being concerned about one organization giving out a point of view and the "that's not fair" attitude (hey no one is giving out evolutional books...) seriously? The whole education system now has turned to evolution. You can't do anything more than that. Your kids learn about evolution everyday in govt run schools. Why get so het up? There's seriously no need.

I'm actually think of rewriting the bible, I think, if things were modernised it would appeal to the game of thrones crowd

Maybe there's scope for some sort of art "installation" which can be packaged as an app (or "app") and which starts of with every word in the Bible (King James, of course) and a count. You use a word, it's count goes down until zero.

The challenge is to use the words (the choice is the authors) to tell whatever story the author can. The app (or "app") can then post these to Facebook or whatever social media platform is the flavour of the day.

(Astonishing as it seems, I am actually quite well behaved in church ....)

Your kids learn about evolution everyday in govt run schools. Why get so het up? There's seriously no need.

I heard Professor Alice Roberts once comment (quite politely I thought) that she was a bit when a student at a lecture asked why she hadn't given the course the alternative theory of Intelligent Design.

So you never want to look into the inspiration and story behind famous paintings? Personally not really, if I did I could look into it. Still not sure why I need to study the Bible, when I can just google the information a lot quicker.

It's just like people reading a book because they like the movie
I have watched biblical movies, 'The Exorcist', 'Bruce Almighty', 'The Omen', 'It's a Wonderful Life' etc. None of them have made me even think about studying the bible.

Or reading about the actual crystal skulls because of Indiana Jones
There is no such thing as telepathic crystal skulls, so no wouldn't want to read about them.

Oh, I see you're joking, sorry my mistake.

I am not a Christian, but rather like the idea of a Gideon bible - I was quite pleased when I received mine at school. I hadn't been baptised and had joined a CofE school part way through a year, so finally felt like a member of the club!

This organisation thinks that the bible is great and will transform your life - so therefore gives it absolutely free of charge to anyone and everyone, with no obligation whatsoever.

Whatever you think of the bible, that is pretty generous. Not much is given away in life.

I've got a small white copy and I think it's bound in leather (I found it the street decades ago).

Oh don't..you'll only get people coming on and saying that Ben Hur wasn't actually in the bible