A bill allowing the Bible to be referenced in classrooms of public schools has passed the Idaho legislature and will move on to Governor Clement Leroy "Butch" Otter for approval.
According to the bill, the Bible can be referenced for "literature, comparative religion, English and foreign languages, United States and world history, comparative government, law, philosophy, ethics, astronomy, biology, geology, world geography, archaeology, music, sociology and other topics of study."
The Bible can already be used as a reference along with other religious texts, but the new bill eliminates the impediments of its use, as many school teachers are afraid of referencing from it.
"A lot of teachers are scared to use the Bible," said Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, the sponsor of the bill.
The bill will allow the Bible to be used as a reference for a range of subjects, excluding the scientific ones.
The bill makes it clear that students will not be forced to study the Bible, if they or their parents object. Also, no teacher can be compelled to use it.
The bill is based on legislations introduced in 10 other states, said Nuxoll.
Senator Janie Ward-Engelking (D-Boise), Lance Clow (R), and Fred Wood (R) opposed the bill. Clow said that the bill could provoke lawsuits from institutions against religion.
