Oklahoma’s state superintendent, Ryan Walters, said the Bible is a “necessary historical document” and has mandated that it be taught in the state’s public schools, The New York Times and Huffington Post report.
“Every teacher in every classroom in the state will have a Bible in the classroom and will be teaching from the Bible in the classroom to ensure that this historical understanding is there for every student in the state of Oklahoma in accordance with our academic standards and state law,” he said at a board meeting today.
He explained the significance of the Bible, which was written more than 1,500 years ago by several people and translated and recopied countless times.
“The Bible is a necessary historical document,” he said, “to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of Western civilization, to have an understanding of the basis of our legal system, and is, frankly, since we’re talking about the Bible, one of the most foundational documents used for the Constitution and the birth of our country.
“We see multiple figures, whether we’re talking about the Federalist Papers, the first Constitutional Convention arguments, and Martin Luther King Jr, who used it as a tremendous impetus for the Civil Rights Movement, and tying many of those arguments back to the Bible.
“It is essential that our kids have an understanding of the Bible and its historical context,” he continued.
Editorial
While the Bible contains valuable historical information, its primary purpose as a religious text, the lack of contemporary corroborative evidence, and the presence of anachronisms and inconsistencies mean that historians must critically evaluate its content. Many historians use the Bible as one of many sources, cross-referencing it with archaeological findings, other historical documents, and broader historical context to understand the history of the ancient Near East and the importance of this religious text in the context of the birth of the US.
First, its primary purpose is not as a historical document, as Mr Walters claimed today, but as a moral teaching document for Christians. Many historians question the credibility or reliability of the Bible as a historical document for several reasons:
Lack of Contemporary Evidence
Timing of Writing: The books of the Bible were often written long after the events they describe. For example, the New Testament accounts were written decades after Jesus’s life, and the Old Testament stories were compiled centuries after the described events.
Absence of Corroborating Sources: Many critical events described in the Bible lack contemporary corroboration from other historical sources or archaeological evidence. For instance, there is little evidence outside the Bible for events like the Exodus.
Religious and Theological Bias
Purpose of Writing: The primary purpose of the biblical texts was religious, not historical. The authors aimed to convey theological messages and religious beliefs rather than provide objective historical accounts.
Miraculous Events: The Bible contains numerous accounts of miracles and supernatural events that are not typically accepted as historical facts by modern standards.
Historical Inaccuracies and Anachronisms
Inconsistencies: There are numerous inconsistencies and contradictions within the biblical narrative and between the Bible and other historical records.
Anachronisms: Some events, names, and places mentioned in the Bible are historically anachronistic, suggesting they were written or edited later than the events they describe.
Oral Tradition and Transmission Errors
Oral Tradition: Much of the Bible’s content was transmitted orally before being written down, which increases the likelihood of alterations and embellishments over time.
Copyist Errors: The Bible has been copied and translated numerous times, introducing the potential for errors and changes in the text.
Myth and Legend
Mythological Elements: Many stories in the Bible, such as the creation narrative in Genesis, the flood story, and the tales of patriarchs and kings, have parallels in other ancient Near Eastern mythologies. This suggests that they may have been influenced by or adapted from earlier myths.
Legendary Development: Over time, historical figures and events can be embellished and transformed into legends, making it difficult to separate historical fact from legend in the biblical texts.
Lack of Archaeological Support
Archaeological Findings: Archaeological evidence often does not support the biblical narrative. For instance, the cities of Jericho and Ai, which the Bible describes as being destroyed by the Israelites, show no signs of destruction at the supposed time of the conquest.
