Preparing for College by Reading the Bible What Students Need to Know
June 7, 2006
Is it possible to be an educated person without knowing about the Bible? That's the question that was posed to thirty-nine English professors at some of our leading universities. Their answers should not come as a surprise, although given our culture's "Christophobia" and the politically correct attitudes on campuses, they probably do.
The relationship between biblical literacy and education was the subject of a survey conducted by the Bible Literacy Project. The study, whose subtitle is "What University Professors Say Incoming Students Need to Know," found that every professor surveyed agreed with the following statement: "Regardless of a person's faith, an educated person needs to know about the Bible." Every professor!
By way of elaboration, Professor George P. Landow, from my alma mater, the very liberal Brown University, said, "[Without the Bible] it's like using a dictionary with one-third of the words removed." Professor Ulrich Knoepflmacher at Princeton said that the lack of "Bible knowledge is almost crippling in students' ability to be sophisticated readers."
Case in point: A preparation workbook for the Advanced Placement Literature exam lists sixty-seven biblical allusions among the 105 allusions that it recommends students know. Yet, only 8 percent of public high schools teach about the Bible even as literature.
Then there's the Bible's central role in Western civilization. As David Kastan of Columbia said, "The Bible is the foundational text, certainly of the West . . . We need to know more, and we need to know it better."
Given the Bible's status, it shouldn't be "too much to ask," as Gordon Braden of the University of Virginia put it, for students to read what he called a "core Bible." This would include "Genesis, Exodus, the Psalms, the four Gospels, and the Book of Revelation." In Braden's words, "If they have that, then we can get started."
If leading academics agree on the importance of the Bible, regardless of one's faith or lack thereof, why isn't it being taught more? Why are we raising the first generation to have lost the biblical narrative that was second nature to prior generations in America?
The answer certainly is not for lack of a suitable curriculum. The Bible Literacy Project recently released a textbook called The Bible and Its Influence. The textbook has been well received, not only by evangelical leaders, but by Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish leaders as well.
The text enables students to learn about the role of the Bible in an accurate, scholarly, and constitutional way. It helps teachers and administrators feel more confident about their ability to do justice to our "foundational text."
The problem lies in getting past the "Christophobia" I mentioned earlier. Whether the problem lies in overt hostility or a misunderstanding of what the law actually says, many schools are reluctant to teach the Bible.
That's where you come in. There is overwhelming evidence of the need for biblical literacy in public education. You need to bring this evidence to the attention of those running your local school boards. You need to help them understand that the goal is not spreading a particular religion but preventing the spread of something far worse: a crippling kind of ignorance.
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A woman, searching for a job, inquired about the benefits. The Personnel Manager informed her they had group health and life insurance, but the costs were deducted from the employee's pay.
She said, "My last employer had full health coverage, as well as five years salary for life insurance and a month's sick leave AND they paid the full premiums."
"I can't help but asking madam why you would leave a job with such benefits," the interviewer replied.
The woman shrugged her shoulders and said, "The company went bankrupt."
The Stanley behind the Stanley Cup was Lord Stanley of Preston.
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The puck is made of vulcanised rubber, 3" in diameter and 1" thick and weighs 6oz.
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The Cup weighs 36 pounds and stands 35 1/4 inches high.
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ZAMBONI
As it moves across the ice it scrapes the loose shavings of ice off and lays down a layer of hot water, the water must be hot to melt the upper surface and weld a smooth sheet. It takes minutes to freeze.
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HOCKEY RINK
The name hockey--as the organized game came to be known-- has been attributed to the French word "hoquet" (shepherd's stick). The term rink, referring to the designated area of play, was originally used in the game of curling in 18th- century Scotland.
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Original Six
The survivors of a league that had grown at times to as many as 10 franchises, and had seen teams change names and cities with regularity in the 1920's and 30's, would settle in an era of stability, known as the age of the "Original Six." The Red Wings, the Blackhawks, the Rangers, the Canadiens, the Bruins, and the Leafs; these few teams would symbolize hockey for fans across North America.
Pay no attention to what the critics say; no statue has ever been erected to a critic.
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O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You.
Ps 69:5 - Show Context
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TRIVIA:
The Mushrooms are commercially grown in virtually every state in the U.S. Pennsylvania, however, still accounts for over 40 percent of total U.S. production, which in 1998, reached over 800 million pounds.
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Only 40 days left until 2004.
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In England a "bap" is a hamburger bun.
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Spinach is native to the area of Iran, but didn't spread to other parts of the world until the beginning of the Christian era.
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THAT'S A LOT OF CLIMBING
There are 1,792 steps leading to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
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THE MIRACLE OF LIFE
During pregnancy, the uterus expands to 500 times its normal size. (See Ps. 139)
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Eph 4:32 - Show Context
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Just got this in from a reliable source. It seems that there is a virus out there called the C-nile Virus that even the most advanced Antivirus programs cannot take care of, so be warned. (David W.)
Symptoms of C-nile Virus:
It appears to affect those of us who were born before 1958!
1. Causes you to send same e-mail twice. 2. Causes you to send blank e-mail. 3. Causes you to send to the wrong person. 4. Causes you to send back to person who sent it to you. 5. Causes you to forget to attach the attachment. 6. Causes you to wonder who all the people in your address book are. 7. Causes you to hit "SEND" before you've finished the
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THE SIN OF LOYALTY
“None of the Democrats in the running appeals to Senator Zell Miller, former governor and lieutenant governor of Georgia. And he doesn’t think they can win the trust of the kind of Southern Democratic voters he grew up with, in, and around the mountain town of Young Harris, Georgia, where he was ‘born a Democrat’.” In fact, Senator Miller has very few bridges to the current Democratic Party left to burn. So reported The Washington Times two weeks ago, a report based on an exclusive interview with Zell to mark his apparently “blunt and often-scathing” new book A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat.[1] Mr. Zell, who has grown increasingly disgusted with his Democratic colleagues’ willingness to be led by liberal special-interest groups, will “buck his party” and its left leanings by voting for President Bush, the first time a Republican has ever won his vote for president.
Unlike other Democrats-turned-Republicans who say the Democratic Party deserted them, Mr. Miller said that he sees it “as his party having been invaded by squatters.” “I compare it to living in this old house, where I have lived all of my life,” he said, “where it’s drafty and hard to heat, the plumbing won’t work, the commodes won’t flush, and some strangers have moved in down there in my basement and I don’t know who they are and I don’t know how to get them out. But I haven’t got long to live here, and it’s home, it’s always been home and I have a lot of bittersweet memories of it.” [2]
As a conservative Republican, I am delighted with Senator Zell’s perspective, but I am not singling out this story for political reasons. What I am most interested in is Zell’s thoughtfulness and refusal to be loyal for the sake of loyalty alone. This is a Christian principle that one rarely sees employed within the church or Christian institution. We are often urged to be faithful and mistakenly think that means unquestioning loyalty to a leader or set of leaders because they call themselves Christian.
To question them gets confused with questioning God. Yet, unconditional loyalty to any person, institution, or party, finally, to anyone but God, is dangerous.
In his wonderful book on Christian thinking called The Christian Mind, Harry Blamires writes that we too often “set aside individual Christian judgment in the interests of keeping the machinery going…while, as Christians rejecting at a profound level the policy and principles professedly served by those who give the machine its direction.”[3] We cannot stop thinking Christianly in the interest of national, institutional or church harmony. That is the way of false compromise. As Blamires writes, “May God deliver us from the sin of loyalty” when loyalty means overlooking what needs to be confronted.
I respect Senator Zell for understanding the problem of false loyalty, for being willing to confront what he considers to be the fatal mistakes of his party, and for voting for the person who will represent what he believes in, even if that means voting outside his party. His example is a model for the way each one of us should think, not only politically but also spiritually. Rosalie de Rosset on the Moody Broadcasting Network.
A young private sought permission from his Commanding Officer to leave camp the following weekend. "You see," he explained, "my wife`s expecting."
"Oh..." said the Officer, "I understand. Go ahead and tell your wife that I wish her luck."
The following week the same soldier was back again with the same explanation: "My wife`s expecting."
The Officer looked surprised. "Still expecting?" he said, "Well, well, my boy, you must be pretty bothered. Of course you can have the week-end off."
When the same soldier appeared again the third week, however, the Officer lost his temper. "Don`t tell me your wife is still expecting!" he bellowed.
"Yes sir!" said the soldier resolutely, "She`s still expecting." "What in heaven is she expecting?" cried the Officer.
"Me." said the soldier simply.
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This past week a panel of judges in Alabama fired Chief Justice Roy Moore from the Alabama Supreme Court. There could hardly have been chosen a site offering a more symbolic portrayal of what was taking place than the capitol city of the State of Alabama. The focal point of the issue was a monument which was erected (and totally paid for with private donations) in the foyer of the Alabama Supreme Court building. The monument bears the words of the Ten Commandments and quotations from America's founding fathers.
Just a few blocks away, in front of the Federal court house stands a statue of Themis, the Greek Goddess of Law and Justice, paid for by Federal funds. Hard as it may be to believe, but the statue of Themis is allowed under the US Constitution, and is guarded by Federal troops -- but a US District Judge ordered that the monument depicting the Ten Commandments must be removed. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evangelical_viewpoint/
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Thus says the Lord: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you; I will preserve you and give you as a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages... Isa 49:8 - Show Context
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1-800-633-3446
(Not amalgamated with 'Thought & Humor')
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Here's a great site if you're a Civil War buff or interested in genealogy. It's called The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. This is a huge database filled with information on people who served during the Civil War.
There's over 5 million names in the database, and it's simple to use. Submit a query based on any of the following criteria: first name, last name, Union or Confederate, state, unit and function. There's also information on battles, national parks and cemeteries.
TO VISIT THIS SITE, GO HERE: http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/index.html
A philosopher from Paris once commented, "God is dead. Marx is dead. And I don't feel so good myself." His attitude illustrates the pessimism rampant in our culture today.
If there really is a God, people wonder, why has He allowed so much suffering in the world?
Many Christians honestly struggle with that same question. Only by turning to the Bible can we begin to understand the problem of suffering in this life.
Basically, there are four types of suffering. The first type is that which comes as the result of natural disasters, such as an earthquake or a hurricane. The suffering that results from these disasters happens to both the righteous and unrighteous (Matthew 5:45).
A second type of suffering can be called man's inhumanity to man. War would be classified under this type of suffering, as well as the tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001. Because of humanity's greed and pride, people try to hurt other people (James 4:1-2).
A third type of suffering is best seen in the life of Job in the Old Testament; it came as a result of Satan's attack on him. After receiving permission from God, Satan moved in and caused incredible suffering to Job and his family.
A fourth type of suffering is that which comes as a result of our own erroneous actions. For example, if I walk off the roof of my office and fall to the ground, breaking my leg, I am suffering because I broke God's law of gravity. We also suffer when we break God's moral laws.
Much suffering can be traced to the evil choices we make. Some, but not all, suffering is allowed by God as a punishment for sin. Often God simply forces us to live with the consequences of our actions (Galatians 6:7-8).
Whenever people break God's laws, others are bound to suffer as well. I refer you to the story of Achan in Joshua 7. When he coveted and took some of the spoil from the battle of Jericho, Achan cost the lives of thirty-six men in battle against Ai. It is inevitable that others will suffer in the wake of an individual's disobedience.
How we respond to suffering--whether or not we brought it on ourselves--is going to make us or break us as Christian pilgrims. Circumstances often do more to reveal our character than to shape it. But by properly responding to trials, we can develop patience and proven character (Romans 5:3-4).
Problems, stress, calamity, or the death of a loved one often cause us to search ourselves for any sin in our lives (see 1 Kings 17:18). Pain plants the flag of truth in a heavy heart. But we must be cautious not to let Satan overwhelm us with excessive and false guilt or grief (2 Corinthians 2:7). Job's wife told him to curse God and die. He refused to give up and remained faithful to the Lord. Notice that in the end God gave him all he had before and even more (Job 42:10-17).
Instead of looking at our circumstances, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, the source of life. He will bring us through whatever situation we face, and as a result we will be stronger Christians, better able to serve Him because of our trials.
In a day of pessimism and suffering we can say with the psalmist, "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:6). The Lord Himself, as the great Sufferer, is our comfort and hope in troubled times. habits@palau.org
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Three cowboys were hanging out in the bunkhouse.
"I know that smart-alec Tex," said the first. "The boy's going to start bragging about that new foreign car he bought as soon as he gets back."
"Nah... not Tex," said the second. "He'll always be just a good ole boy. When he walks in, I'm sure all he'll say is hello."
"I know Tex better than any of you," said the third. "He's so smart, he'll figure out a way to do both. Here he comes now!"
Sure enough, Tex swung open the bunkhouse door and shouted, "Audi, partners!"
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"In the days before one could cross the ocean by plane, people traveled more slowly and, often, with more style. Diary entries and old film footage tell us that the departure of an ocean liner from a port city was a grand occurrence. As the ship's band played rousing music, the gangplank receded and well-wishers on shore waved to the happy passengers on board. Throughout the lengthy voyage, the same band was responsible for providing the passengers with music for strolling the deck and dancing, as well as playing hymns for church services.
In times of disaster, the ship's musicians were still expected to carry out their duties and play even as the ship sank. So many legends surround the Titanic story that it is difficult to separate fact from fiction, but the prevailing account says that "Nearer, My God, To Thee" was the last song the band played as the Titanic went down. However, one survivor claimed that as the ship went down the band played, contrary to popular belief, not a hymn but a ragtime tune. This memory presents a sharp and somewhat disturbing contrast to the more poignant picture of the ship going down to the music of a hymn. The hymn's lyrics point to a coming hope that lies beyond death and suffering:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee! E'en tho' it be a cross That raiseth me; Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Ragtime, on the other hand, was music meant to encourage one to seize the day. It was fast and carefree. Those dancing to a cheery rag gave no thought for tomorrow. The image of the ship sinking to a ragtime tune is a picture of denial, a refusal to admit the imminence of death. In contrast, the image of the boat sinking to the tune of "Nearer, My God, To Thee" is one of a send-off, though it is a somber one, to a known destination.
What sort of tune is accompanying your life? Does it move you to dance faster and faster so you won't have to think about what is to come? Does your song lend meaning and purpose to your path and urge you on to a destination, or does it sing to you that you have already arrived? Passengers who board a ship know that they are on a voyage; but when your voyage is a luxury cruise, it is easy to forget that you haven't reached your destination. Disaster forces the passengers of a sinking ship to remember that they are not on firm ground and announces that they will reach an unintended destination much sooner than they would like. With this knowledge, the carefree songs become discordant. On the other hand, the one who remembers that he is a voyager listens to a song of hope that incorporates the coming disaster and points to something beyond it. Death and disaster may bring him to his destination sooner than he expected, but the destination is not ultimately unexpected.
The songs that we sing with our lives should beckon others on to God, even as they accompany a sinking ship, because that is what this world is. But that is not all that this world is; this life is our passage and we have a known destination. Those who live life with eternity in mind do not have to change their tune on their deathbed. For those of us who see this life as a voyage and know their destination, our song will always be "Nearer, my God, to Thee!"
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