Elective But Essential: Reflecting on 12 Years of Bible Courses in Arkansas Public Schools

Legislation,

This month marks 12 years since the Arkansas House of Representatives passed legislation clarifying that public schools may offer elective, academic courses on the Bible.

Act 1440 of 2013 — which was sponsored by Rep. Denny Altes (R — Fort Smith) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R — Branch) and enacted under Governor Mike Beebe — lets public schools offer elective, academic courses that study “the Bible and its influence on literature, art, music, culture, and politics.”

The law says the course must be objective and nonsectarian, and it must meet the same academic standards as other elective courses offered in public schools. Anyone wishing to teach the course must be licensed to teach in the State of Arkansas.

In 2019 the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 1016 by Rep. Joe Cloud (R — Russellville), Rep. Jim Dotson (R — Bentonville), and Sen. Bob Ballinger (R — Ozark). Act 1016 helped make technical clarifications to Act 1440 of 2013.

Since Act 1440’s passage, the Arkansas Department of Education has outlined curriculum frameworks for the academic study of the Bible the same way it does for other classes.

The department’s academic framework for Academic Study of the Bible says,

Academic Study of the Bible is a one-semester English elective course that is designed to strengthen students’ understanding of the Bible and its impact upon American culture. This nonsectarian, nonreligious, academic course integrates the study of the Bible as a piece of literature with art, music, literature, culture, and politics in order to understand the relationships between the Bible, society, and culture. As an English Language Arts elective, it is expected that students will develop and apply literacy skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The Academic Study of the Bible course does not need Arkansas Department of Education approval.

Over the past 12 years, different school districts in the state have chosen to offer academic courses on the Bible under this type of official state framework.

Courts have said the U.S. Constitution does not prevent public school students from being taught about the Bible and its significance throughout human history, provided that the instruction is neutral and educational.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 1980 Stone v. Graham decision went so far as to say, “the Bible may constitutionally be used in an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like.”

This year lawmakers are considering S.B. 223, the Religious Rights at Public School Act by by Sen. Mark Johnson (R — Little Rock) and Rep. Alyssa Brown (R — Heber Springs). This good bill affirms public school students’ and teachers’ religious liberties.

The bill does not create any new rights or freedoms, but it does identify existing religious freedoms that are already protected by state and federal law — such as the freedom to pray, discuss religion, or read the Bible during free time at school.

The bill also highlights the freedom that schools have to offer academic courses on the Bible under Act 1440 of 2013.

S.B. 223 does not change any laws about the academic study of the Bible in Arkansas, but it does help draw attention to the fact that state law and U.S. Supreme Court rulings let public schools offer these elective courses.

Arkansas law makes it clear the purpose of studying the Bible in these classes is to understand its impact on our culture.

After all, no single book has been more influential over our civilization than the Bible.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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What is The Most Well Known Scripture Verse?

Christmas,

If you asked the people at your church, “What is the most well known passage of scripture in America?” most might say it’s John 3:16.

But the answer might actually be Luke 2:8-14. Here is why:

In the summer of 1965 television executives approached Charles Schultz, creator of Peanuts, about writing, drawing, and animating a Charlie Brown and Snoopy Christmas TV special.

Schultz and his team finished the Christmas cartoon a week and a half before the broadcast date. Most of the production team believed the special would be a complete disaster. They didn’t like the music, the storyline, or the message at the end.

Television executives even said they would have canceled the program had their TV schedule allowed it.

On December 9, 1965, an estimated 15.5 million homes tuned in to watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” It has aired every December since.

The simple story is part of what makes this Christmas special so endearing. Charlie Brown searches for the true meaning of Christmas. The answer finally comes when Linus van Pelt recites Luke 2:8-14:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Because of the Charlie Brown Christmas special, Luke 2:8-14 may be the most widely heard passage of scripture from the entire Bible. It certainly is the most widely broadcasted in the history of television. For nearly six decades, millions of children and adults have heard these words each December.

You can watch Linus recite this famous passage of scripture by clicking here.

This December, may you and your family take time to remember “what Christmas is all about.” Thank you for your friendship and support to Family Council and the Education Alliance.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Bible Sales Jumped 22% in America This Year

Religion,

The Wall Street Journal reports Americans are buying more Bibles this year.

From January through October of 2024, book tracker Circana BookScan found that Bible sales were up 22% compared to the same time period last year.

Overall, sales of printed books have risen 1% this year — meaning people are buying more books, but Bible sales far outpaced the sale of other books.

According to the article, the increase in Bible sales has been driven by factors such as rising anxiety and a search for meaning, noting:

“People are experiencing anxiety themselves, or they’re worried for their children and grandchildren,” said Jeff Crosby, president of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. “It’s related to artificial intelligence, election cycles…and all of that feeds a desire for assurance that we’re going to be OK.”

The article also noted that this jump in Bible sales comes despite evidence that Americans are growing less religious:

The Pew Research Center found that about 28% of adults in the U.S. now consider themselves religiously unaffiliated. Yet Bible sales rose to 14.2 million in 2023 from 9.7 million in 2019, and hit 13.7 million in the first 10 months of this year. Readers are also stocking up on related titles that provide guidance, insights and context—even sets of stickers to flag particularly meaningful passages. 

By most accounts, the Bible is the bestselling book of all time and the single most widely-read book in the history of human civilization. The Bible has had such a profound impact on American society that in 2013 Arkansas lawmakers passed Act 1440 letting public schools offer elective academic courses where students may learn about “the Bible and its influence on literature, art, music, culture, and politics.”

It’s good to see more Americans turning to the Bible for the answers to life’s challenges. Of course, it isn’t enough simply to own a Bible. The Bible is meant to be read, learned, and lived out in daily life. Still, buying a Bible is a great start.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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