Texas makes Bible passages required reading for millions of public school students

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/26/texas-bible-required-reading-public-school

285 points · 55 comments · view on lemmy.world

55 Comments

velma@sh.itjust.works · 93 pts · 55d (8 replies)

While the Supreme Court rules against a Rastafarian for his religion in the same week.

They're really sending a message about which religion gets protection.

mkwt@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 55d (1 reply)

This one really pisses me off.

The guy brought in a printout of the controlling fifth circuit opinion that was directly applicable to him, and the prison guards literally threw the court order in the trash before trashing his constitutional rights.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 54d

Well, he chose the wrong religion to have any religious freedom.

The Nat-C's think that religious freedom just means choosing the "right" denomination of xtianity and definitely don't believe in actual religious freedom which would require a separation of church and state, which they absolutely deny.

TheTechnician27@lemmy.world · 31 pts · 55d (3 replies)
BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 55d (1 reply)

GD that's even worse than I thought it would be. What kind of crazy ass cognitive dissonance is it to say it's unfortunate, even illegal, but no, there will be no consequences for violating this law.

CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 55d

It's not cognitive dissonance, it's hate and cruelty.

velma@sh.itjust.works · 12 pts · 55d

Thank you!

BillyClark@piefed.social · 15 pts · 55d (1 reply)

I guess some religions are more equal than others.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 54d

Yes, absolutely what the Seven Mountain Mandate Nat-C's want. You have the "religious freedom" to "choose" between a narrow set of xtian sects.

Everything else is suspect and anyone choosing something else is to be treated like second class citizens, if not outright persecuted.

People in the "right" xtians sects are to be granted unwarranted privilege and and put on pedestals, as it was before.

Hegar@fedia.io · 62 pts · 55d (6 replies)

Good, there's no stronger driver of atheism than being forced to read boring canaanite fan fiction.

theuniqueone@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 19 pts · 55d (4 replies)

They are also changing the social studies program to promote christian nationalism while promoting islamphobia so no farthest from good.

HasturInYellow@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 54d (3 replies)

You can help by reporting any religious drivel that appears in your feed.

Harmful or misleading content

nomy@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 54d (2 replies)

You think reporting posts on social media is going to do anything at this point?

The billionaires are on board with this plan and are actively helping.

HasturInYellow@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 54d (1 reply)

You're absolutely correct. BUT it may lessen the amount you see and if everyone does it, it can't hurt.

Woodchippers are always my preferred solution though.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 54d

They can use the algorithms to be sure that not too many people see it.

MrGeneric@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 54d

Right? Id be fine with Bible studies in schools if dan mcclellan taught it

ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world · 48 pts · 55d (3 replies)

Add it to the huge and ever-growing pile of "reasons to not live in Texas". Hopefully Texans have enough of this bullshit and kick out the clowns responsible for this. But given how voters are being disenfranchised in many parts of the country, that's very unlikely.

velma@sh.itjust.works · 20 pts · 55d

They're hoping the Supreme Court takes this case. Texas has tried this before and it was struck down. I'm not so sure it will be struck down again.

YoureHotCupCake@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 55d (1 reply)

Are you kidding me they're the dumbest amongst us, they won't change.

FenrirIII@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 54d

As someone living in Texas, I agree.

W3dd1e@lemmy.zip · 37 pts · 55d (3 replies)

Doesn’t the first clause of the first amendment say the government shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion?

I guess Texas can’t read.

Kirp123@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 55d (1 reply)

They can't read but they can sure tell you some Bible stories.

lightnsfw@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 54d

Well, the lines that give them excuses to hate people at least.

AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 54d

Texas fought two wars to preserve slavery. One against Mexico, and one against The Union.

some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org · 24 pts · 55d (1 reply)

The Supreme Court has already ruled against this. The point is to let this corrupt court reverse that ruling.

Spooge@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 54d
[ removed ]
frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io · 16 pts · 55d

Can parents exempt their children from this? Because they already let them avoid sex education and anything that might not be hetero.

hal_5700X@sh.itjust.works · 15 pts · 54d (1 reply)

Bold of you to assume America's public school students are still capable of reading.

o0evillusion0o@sh.itjust.works · 0 pts · 54d

You still have a public school system?

MrMeanJavaBean@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 55d

The American Taliban

LucidNightmare@anarchist.nexus · 13 pts · 55d

Ya’ll Queda strikes again

fireweed@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 54d

On the plus side, forcing middle-schoolers to actually read the Bible is a great way to get them to hate it. The Bible is... not exactly an enjoyable reading experience, and that's coming from someone who loves to read. You think this is going to be anything but torture for today's TikTok-brain kids?

Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 55d (3 replies)

Good. Kids should know things like Ezekiel 23:20

lemmyng@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 55d (2 replies)

"There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses."

I'm sure these kids are destined to come across horsecock porn if they haven't already.

Zahille7@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 55d (1 reply)

It's Texas, that's one of their first Google searches /j

Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 55d

Everything's bigger in Texas?

Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 55d (6 replies)

Teacher should make a whole thing of teaching them the original languages of each passage, and also the Latin Vulgate so they'll get something useful out of it.

otterpop@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 55d (5 replies)

Not gonna lie if I had the opportunity to learn Hebrew, Koine Greek, Aramaic and Latin in school that would have been amazing. Where I live, it was only Spanish

TootSweet@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 55d

Latin

All the better for demon-summoning incantations. And just freaking people the fuck out.

a4ng3l@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 55d (3 replies)

Latin and Ancient Greek were fun for a cumulated 3 minutes before I realised how unrelated those are to any of young-me interests. And it was a 2 or 3 years ride…

otterpop@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 54d (2 replies)

What about old you? I've always thought reading the classics in their mother tongue would be great!

a4ng3l@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 54d

Sure. I learned english largely to be able to read OG Pratchet & Tolkien. Old Greek & Latin I have actually zero interest into most of it. Maybe if that's your thing it would be great but in that case nothing it preventing you to learn old language whenever. Young-me had no choice - those were mandatory at school.

RecursiveParadox@piefed.social · 2 pts · 53d

In the "highest(?)" secondary school called, Gymnasium in the Netherlands you still have to take years of both Greek and Latin. My son hated ever second of it, but it's fun my wife can still read a tiny bit of modern Greek.

LemmyBruceLeeMarvin@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 55d

It's okay I'm sure they'll focus on the passage about the rich getting into heaven as likely as a camel going through a needles eye and all that chasing money changers from the temple

Anonymous_Leaker@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 55d (1 reply)
[ removed ]
lolcatnip@reddthat.com · 2 pts · 54d

To promote their Christian nationalist agenda.

ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net · 5 pts · 54d (1 reply)

Isn't Mythology required reading in many states? How is this different? (ducks)

vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works · 12 pts · 54d

Actually ducks don't appear too often in mythology too much. Swans do though, if you are in a myth and a swan appears just run it's probably Zeus and he is fully intending to commit sexual assault.

Etterra@discuss.online · 4 pts · 54d

They did the specifically to get sued. Then they can claim their being attacked by the left/woke/lgbt/athiest/satinist/bogeyman and make a bunch of noise when (if but probably when) it's ruled unconstitutional. It's become their MO; do something blatantly illegal, then kick and scream like a toddler because you forced everybody else to sue to strike it down. The assholes get to brag that they did something to protect religious freedom, or cultural values, or family protection, or some such shit, and then they get to make a lot of noise in the press when they get knocked on their ass for it. Then while the people who actually care about the law are busy fighting that they can repeat the process two or three more times. It's sisyphian bullshit and I hate it.

tacoplease@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 55d (2 replies)

Reading doesn't mean understanding. If I had children in Texas, I'd encourage them to ask questions over and over.

thorhop@sopuli.xyz · 10 pts · 54d

Critical thinking is the problem they're trying to solve.

JcbAzPx@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 54d

I'd move.

MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 53d (1 reply)

But the ones pushing the law didn't read the bible.

RagingRobot@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 53d

No but Jesus will forgive them if they force it on our kids

tacoplease@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 53d

The Church of Satan should disseminate reading material as well.

CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 54d

Oh thank goodness! I was worried about xtian belief falling off a cliff the past several decades.

Now we can get the government to compel an underage captive audience to read from "the" bible and hopefully compel them to convert!

-- xtianists

darkmogool@feddit.org · 1 pts · 51d

There are waaay better fantasy books out there…