Ed Brayton is a freelance writer and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
This is why these cases involving the Gideons being allowed to distribute Bibles in elementary schools are important.
Some Plano students who are Jewish say they were pressured or taunted to pick up copies of the New Testament from school display tables during recent weeks.Their parents have called for changes in district policies that allow outside groups to distribute materials on campus.
"Probably the one I heard the most was, 'If the Bible touched you, like, will you burn or something?' " said Jeffrey Lavine, 16, a sophomore at Vines High School.
Comments
What, these bigots forgot the "Judeo" part of "Judeo-Christian"?
Posted by: Eamon Knight | May 9, 2008 10:24 AM
Oh, you have got to be kidding me. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the part of that book you call "Old" really just a seriously revisionist version of the Jewish holy book - without the thousands of years of commentary and clarification?
Posted by: Ryan Egesdahl | May 9, 2008 10:40 AM
Are they distributing full-blown Bibles, or just watered-down, sanitized versions of the New Testament?
Posted by: Tegumai Bopsulai, FCD | May 9, 2008 10:45 AM
When I was in elementary school in Amarillo, Texas in the early 60s the Gideons came around. In this case, they came to each classroom and were given half an hour or so. After talking about the Bibles, they went around the room and asked each kid, individually and in front of everyone else, if they wanted a copy of the NT. The one Jewish girl in the room said no, and it wasn't until years later that I realized how much courage and strength of character that must have taken (if I remember correctly, this was in about the 5th or 6th grade). The Gideon guy took no for an answer and didn't press in any way, but he shouldn't have been there in the first place, of course. To the best of my knowledge the girl wasn't harrassed later, but the very circumstances were extremely intimidating in and of themselves, especially at that age. No one should be subjected to that kind of pressure as a price for attending the public schools they are required to be in, and which are paid for by everyone's tax dollars.
Someone I became friends with in high school, and who I am still in touch with, said that growing up Jewish there was really, really difficult. I don't think there was ever any violence or threats thereof, but her family was constantly made to feel different and kids on the block were always telling her that her family was going to Hell if they didn't accept Jesus. One of my other Jewish acquaintances in high school had an astounding collection of tracts that had been left on his desk down through the years (actually I got a bunch, too, once I "came out" as a skeptic).
In the case described in the article above, I must say I have mixed feelings. On the surface a table where anyone can leave materials seems like a good way to handle things, as long as there really is equal access to all viewpoints and, say, the Wiccans or FSM devotees can also leave their materials. But, if it really is resulting in harrassment of those in religious minorities, perhaps the answer, as somone suggested, is to put the materials in a less public, but still accessible place, where interested persons have to make a bit of an effort to get stuff, rather than leaving such materials in a place everyone is obligated to walk by.
Posted by: MS | May 9, 2008 10:51 AM
I think some of us may be running the risk of coming down on what I think is the wrong side of this battle.
The article describes an information table, and that the policy is that if one group has access then all groups have access. I would certainly want to see that table used for distributing information about civil liberties, gender and racial tolerance, birth control and what have you. I like being able to distribute these types of information, especially to high school students. At the same time I have to accept that if I have access to them then people with whom I will strongly disagree will also have access.
The issue to me does not seem to be the distribution of New Testaments (it always bugs me when those little handouts are called bibles, but that is another issue for another day). The point seems to be that an opportunity to teach religious tolerance is being ignored.
As a local TV editorial board says, GeekCyclist "welcomes contrasting points of view from responsible individuals."
Posted by: GeekCyclist | May 9, 2008 11:20 AM
people of a sufficiently religious bent to distribute bibles in inappropriate places do have a tendency to forget that part whenever they face any actual jews, yes.
Posted by: Nomen Nescio | May 9, 2008 12:04 PM
"Probably the one I heard the most was, 'If the Bible touched you, like, will you burn or something?' " said Jeffrey Lavine, 16, a sophomore at Vines High School.
This is a very common type of remark, or assumption. The Christian religion is supposed to be so clearly, obviously, compellingly TRUE that the only reason someone would not want to take a Bible, or listen to a sermon, or have Christian symbols inserted into every government function is FEAR. Why else would they not want a Bible?
If you come in direct contact with Christianity, you'll have no choice but to admit it's all true. Sinners don't want to confront God. It would be like vampires being confronted by garlic -- or a cross.
I suspect the "joke" above has the underlying subtext that "you really are afraid, admit it. Aren't you ridiculous?"
Posted by: Sastra | May 9, 2008 12:27 PM
The pressure seems to come from other students. But failing to address that pressure may be tacit endorsement from the school. This looks like the perfect opportunity for the school to initiate a diversity/tolerance discussion with the students. Free speech and tolerance, win/win in my book.
OT side note, after high school I had a friend who was preparing to enter the seminary. One day, after I'd gone off on some rant I no longer recall, he said to me, "If you walked into a church I'm not sure which would burst into flames, you or it." He was a real jovial type and I took it as a joke. It became a bit of a running gag between us.
Then one day we were walking down the street and we came to a church. I said, "Lets find out," and started walking up to it. He physically got between me and the doors. He had an expression on his face I'll never forget, like a storm had just rolled in. I'd never seen him looking so grave before. Turns out he had been at least somewhat serious and he didn't want to see me or the building in flames.
I was flattered. It's not every day you find out someone thinks your power is on par with their god.
Posted by: Abby Normal | May 9, 2008 1:09 PM
'If the Bible touched you, like, will you burn or something?'
My response would be, "No, but it would."
Posted by: Martin | May 9, 2008 1:41 PM
There's legality and then there is wisdom. Legally it is, I guess, ok to give the Bibles out. Wisdom wise this is stupid. It just creates an uncomfortable environment for the school. Most just want to do it because someone says they cannot.
This is silly to me. I have said it before when I thought the atheists or others who want strict seperation between church and state were being silly and hurting their own cause. This is a case when the Christians are doing it. Just choosing to use another venue is not walking toward the road of persecution. It is those that take advantage of our freedoms to push their agenda in uncivilized and sectartian ways that make it bad for others.
I obviously believe in evangelism in the proper context and done politely. I also have no problem at all with other faiths or worldviews doing the same. Time and place people. Have a club for the students who want to participate at school. If the idea is to get someone to listen open minded to your point of view then this is not the way to go about it.
Posted by: King of Ireland | May 9, 2008 1:57 PM
I would submit, KOI, that the idea is not to "get someone to listen open minded". I would submit that the harassment, pressure and uncomfortable environment *are* the goals.
Just my NSHO...
Posted by: LanceR | May 9, 2008 2:53 PM
As if the reference to the "Judeo" side of the equation was ever anything more than lip service.
Posted by: Sadie Morrison | May 9, 2008 6:42 PM
I think the only thing that burns there is...
the stupid.
Posted by: BobbyEarle | May 9, 2008 6:55 PM
What? Jews aren't vampires. They're closer to zombies.
Posted by: Skemono | May 9, 2008 8:26 PM
When my daughter was in her first year of Middle School she took the little book from the Gideon standing on the sidewalk outside (they apparently are not to go on to school grounds). She thought the men were passing out something useful, a dictionary. When she saw what it was she tossed it into the trash can next to her bus stop.
Martin said:
Last year a child at daughter's school got into trouble for doing that. He took the book from the Gideon, walked off a little way and then set it on fire. He was reprimanded for causing the fire, and for having a lighter at school (he may have been foolish enough to do it on school grounds instead of the crowded sidewalk).
Posted by: HCN | May 9, 2008 8:42 PM
Hmm, looks like another piece of evidence for my "children are evil little bastards" theory.
HCN: A less incendiary alternative would be to take the bible and find either the page with John 3:16 on it or the the page with the Lord's Prayer on it, rip the page out and eat it. Possibly followed by the comment "Mmm, sacrelicious".
Posted by: James K | May 10, 2008 12:41 AM
Skemono wrote:
LOL. That was priceless.
Posted by: Leni | May 10, 2008 10:39 AM
Leni -
Given your light tone, it is apparent that you have never had a runin with one of those brain sucking Jews. Laugh if you will, laugh right up until the moment they're drinking your brains out of your cracked skull.
Posted by: DuWayne | May 10, 2008 1:52 PM
We had those given out to us in primary school in Toronto, say in the late '40's. No fuss, no muss, the Jewish pupils just happened to leave them behind somewhere. After all, why bother our parents with trivialities?
Posted by: Harry | May 10, 2008 7:57 PM
Ed is right about this case demonstrating why Church-State separation is important. I think it also demonstrates the destructive consequences of well-intentioned religious liberalism.
Again, I will forward my argument that we continue to have these problems in schools because the law (and the lawyers behind the law) dislikes bright lines. In the quest to be maximally accomodating to religion, the law becomes maximally complicated and confusing. ( And, therefore, more interesting to the legally trained)
Would it not be better to draw a bright line - no religious influence should be allowed in a public school at all - and "suffer" gladly the loss of Gideon bible distribution, etc?
Posted by: Gingerbaker | May 11, 2008 11:32 AM