“400 Years of American Education — Part II”
“The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. … The Bible … should be read in our schools in preference to all other books. (If we remove it) … we waste so much time and money in punishing crimes and take so little pains to prevent them.” (Dr. Benjamin Rush, Signer of the Declaration of Independence)
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Crime and the Bible: A Connection?
Crime doesn’t pay, either for the criminal and most certainly not for the victim(s). Shootings at a school in Columbine, a movie theater in Aurora, a school at Sandy Hook, a church in Charleston, an office in San Bernardino, and at a night club in Orlando are only several of the most egregious examples.
So, why is this happening, and what can we do to turn it around?
Perhaps, as one of our most respected Founding Fathers, Dr. Benjamin Rush, suggests above, one of the best ways to combat crime is to bring the Bible back into our public schools.
To make that point, historian David Barton points to court-ordered bans on school prayer and Bible reading in the early 1960’s as contributing to our moral decline and to the corresponding increase in crime.
The Bible in the Public Schools?
Therefore, in this week’s continuing TV series on America’s Godly Heritage, he explores the role that education – and particularly the Bible – played in building strong moral foundations in our early communities and for our national well-being. For example:
— What did the Founding Fathers see as the most important role of education, why did they believe the Bible should be the primary textbook, and what did they warn would happen if it were ever removed?
— How did some of the other early school textbooks deal with religion, and would they be permitted to be used in our public schools today? If not, why not?
Against this background, should the Bible be brought back into our public schools as an important step toward rebuilding America on the Judeo-Christian values and enduring principles of our Founding Fathers – and reducing crime in the process?
For answers to these and other questions, we are again featuring David Barton from Wallbuilders as he continues his presentation about “Four Centuries of American Education” — and why it matters.
Valley Faith in Action
VFIA airs five times on WAZT-TV, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, again at 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, and finally at Wednesday midnight. That is on Comcast Cable Channel 13 in the central Shenandoah Valley area but varies in other locations. It is also on WIAV-TV at 8:00 p.m. Friday in Washington DC.
We deeply appreciate your continued prayers and financial support of these programs. All gifts are tax-deductible and can be sent to the Valley Family Forum at PO Box 881, Harrisonburg, 22803.
For God and Country!
Dean