tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post2696486479470243110..comments2024-03-27T17:34:52.560-05:00Comments on A Garden Carried in the Pocket: a digressive postjenclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-52054897408660068012007-04-09T18:11:00.000-05:002007-04-09T18:11:00.000-05:00I love Joseph Campbell!My sister went to a British...I love Joseph Campbell!<BR/><BR/>My sister went to a British school for a couple of years (we're American), and they have a 'world religion' class where they study all of the major belief systems. I'd like to see something like that here in America. The problem, of course, is that some people would like to see only Christianity taught. I took a Bible as/in Literature class in (public) high school and thoroughly enjoyed it, despite being the only non-Christian in a class of 30+! I think you *have* to know the Bible in order to be considered well read in the Western tradition, since it's referenced by so many people in so many times.Evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06703372903532502944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-21552139842862699682007-04-09T09:35:00.000-05:002007-04-09T09:35:00.000-05:00Ann - I've not read Q's Legacy, and I thank you fo...Ann - I've not read Q's Legacy, and I thank you for the mention. It has been years since I read 84 Charing Cross Road, and I adored it. Now would be a good time to see about Q's Legacy for a number of reasons!<BR/><BR/>Marty - So much is predicated on religious works, and you've broadened the possibilities again. If religious works were presented as history and as literature, we might all gain better understanding.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the nice comments.jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-61942622239060672082007-04-09T01:20:00.000-05:002007-04-09T01:20:00.000-05:00Art, history, politics, anthropology, poetry, lang...Art, history, politics, anthropology, poetry, language, archaeology and other subjects would be enhanced by including The Bible in curriculum. Greek mythology is taught because it is basic to understanding history. Why is the Bible so different? It shouldn't be taught as religion in public schools, but as literature. <BR/><BR/>I love your blog and have found several others I enjoy on your list. Thanks!Travelin'Omahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18415472674768977723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-89556743872156357762007-04-08T03:32:00.000-05:002007-04-08T03:32:00.000-05:00Doesn't Helene Hanff make precisely this point som...Doesn't Helene Hanff make precisely this point somewhere in 'Q's Legacy'? If memory serves me, trying to read Q's lectures on English Literature she got no further than the first couple of pages before discovering that as a Jew she had no knowledge of anything that referenced either the New Testament or the Apocropha. Mind you, I bet she knew who Joan of Arc was!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-9135963600653803412007-04-07T07:56:00.000-05:002007-04-07T07:56:00.000-05:00teabird - Yes, history hinges on so many of the ev...<B>teabird</B> - Yes, history hinges on so many of the events in religious works. Leaders from the world's great religions have changed the course of events, over and over. So to understand our current world, we need some background...<BR/><BR/><B>Lisa Jean</B> - I agree. A course on world religions might be the best approach. I like your comment about "giving them the tools they need to decode the world." My original response to the topic was literature based, but it is broader than that, isn't it?<BR/><BR/><B>danielle</B> - I understand some of the problems of teaching such a course without moving into the area of personal beliefs...<BR/><BR/><B>Jill</B> - Oh, yes, how could I forget art? Medieval paintings are full of religious symbolism that add so much meaning and complexity.<BR/><BR/>I think part of the problem is that many parents have not had any religious background and can't teach their children. And you're right, the balance between exposure and indoctrination is key.<BR/><BR/><B>Maggie</B> - Good point - even titles of literature have import. How about comparing other similarities in the flood story? Gilgamesh and the Bible have several similarities and there are religions and myths from all over the world that have flood stories.<BR/><BR/><B>Dorothy</B> - Again, we are back to "easier said, than done." Truthfully, there are so many areas of education with gaps and most are not controversial. I can see how most school systems would prefer not to stir the pot. Still...jenclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06046532245054911248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-38130787973445870562007-04-07T06:31:00.000-05:002007-04-07T06:31:00.000-05:00I agree -- to really understand history and litera...I agree -- to really understand history and literature students need the Bible! I would want to be very careful, though, about how it gets taught -- and I imagine the whole thing would be quite controversial.Rebecca H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10825532162727473112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-89229621101188115152007-04-07T00:08:00.000-05:002007-04-07T00:08:00.000-05:00The Dr. was on Oprah today and I liked his view. H...The Dr. was on Oprah today and I liked his view. He mentioned how Oprah's own book club had <I>Bible</I> based titles, i.e. <I>East of Eden</I>, <I>Book of Ruth</I>, and <I>Song of Solomon</I>. <BR/><BR/>Continuing on his reasoning, most literature is a story up from the foundation; Should the Dr. be reminded "Noah's Ark" was first written in <I>Gilgamesh</I>. Oh, or did I just demonstrate a little "religion" illiteracy? ;Dmaggie moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02462439415973311990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-81336956926331433102007-04-06T20:32:00.000-05:002007-04-06T20:32:00.000-05:00I remember being in an art history class some thir...I remember being in an art history class some thirty years ago (mid to late '70's) and listening to an art history professor explain the symbolism of Mary Magdalen with her hair unbound and flowing around her torso in strategically placed locks. The gap in knowledge of the classic bible stories isn't entirely recent. <BR/><BR/>The exposure to biblical stories needn't be done in the public schools at all if that's the sticking point, although I don't see why one can't outline the stories in the context of art, history and/or literature. If one really doesn't trust the schools to do it, parents can impart the basic stories by reading aloud to young children. There are respectable collections, neither disrespectful nor overly pious, that present the biblical stories as stories. <BR/><BR/>To my mind, it's a question of finding the right balance between exposure and indoctrination.Jill ONeillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03348126772146456322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-38391380203227464512007-04-06T15:21:00.000-05:002007-04-06T15:21:00.000-05:00I also see no reason why the Bible can't be taught...I also see no reason why the Bible can't be taught as history or literature. I do think "religion" classes need to stay out of public schools. I'm quite surprised that students did so poorly on that test.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-5854009439863181722007-04-06T12:56:00.000-05:002007-04-06T12:56:00.000-05:00I am a major proponent of keeping religion out of ...I am a major proponent of keeping religion out of public schools, but teaching the bible as history and literature is a wonderful idea. So much of our national and world history is based on all of the holy books, we are doing future generations a diservice by not giving them the tools they need to decode the world.Lisa Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02543435909439905937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22616974.post-61542801216526840202007-04-06T10:52:00.000-05:002007-04-06T10:52:00.000-05:00Absolutely - I agree. Without understanding the hi...Absolutely - I agree. Without understanding the history of religion and how its leaders and its metaphors have changed the world, how can anyone make sense of anything, present or past?teabirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01789062795176641187noreply@blogger.com