Iowa GOP lawmakers again eye public school course on Bible

DES MOINES — Iowa religious leaders and educators decried a proposal advanced Thursday by Republican lawmakers that would allow public schools to offer an elective social studies course on the Bible in grades 9-12.

Supporters say learning about the Bible is essential for understanding Western civilization and the values on which America was built, citing its influence on literature, culture and history.

Opponents, however, expressed concerns about promoting Christian nationalism, biblical literalism, and its potential to favor one religion in violation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which prohibits the federal government from establishing a national religion.

Despite these concerns, Republican members of a Senate subcommittee advanced the proposal — touting its educational benefits — making it eligible for consideration by the full Senate Education Committee.

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Sen. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, who chaired the subcommittee, noted the course could only be offered after being approved by a district’s school board and district improvement advisory committee.

Salmon said the bill focuses on the Bible because of Christianity’s influence on U.S. history and Western civilization.

“That is our history, society and culture,” she said. “The Bible has had an enormous impact on America and Western civilization in the areas of history, government, law, literature, art, music, values, morals, customs and culture.

“This bill sets out the guidelines for teaching the Bible as an elective class so schools can be confident that there are no legal or constitutional issues with this.”

Salmon and Sen. Doug Campbell, R-Mason City, advanced the bill 2-1, with Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-Waukee, declining to sign on.

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Trone Garriott, a Lutheran minister, said the bill fails to acknowledge the diversity of Christian communities and other religions. She suggested a broader survey of religious texts for major religions — not just the Bible — would be more inclusive and valuable for religious literacy.

“It's very important to study the Scriptures as part of a community of faith, but the task of a community of faith is very different than the task of our public schools,” she said.

Trone Garriott also argued the bill, despite its wording and claims by supporters, fails to address legal or constitutional questions.

“We also heard from another supporter that this is to advocate for the Bible. Those words are quite literally saying this bill is about promoting one religious community,” she said. “Indeed, all those who have spoken in favor of the bill have only referenced Christianity.

“By only featuring one religious community’s Scriptures, this legislation is preferencing — it's making a claim that only one is relevant to our culture and history, which, in and of itself, is moved to endorse and promote one religious community, which is not constitutional.”

If passed, Iowa would join a small number of states with "Bible literacy" laws that allow public schools to offer such courses.

Similar legislation failed to pass in 2018 and 2022 after sparking similar outcry from critics who called it "extreme legislation.“

What the bill would do

Senate File 138 would direct the Iowa Board of Education to adopt rules for establishing course standards and teacher training for high schools to offer an elective social studies course that focuses on the Hebrew Scriptures or the Bible's Old and New Testament.

The bill authorizes a school district to offer and teach such a course to students in grades 9-12 if the district’s school improvement advisory committee recommends and the local school board approves the course.

The purpose of the course would be to provide students with knowledge of “biblical content, characters, poetry and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, and to familiarize students with the contents, history, literary style and structure” of the Hebrew Scriptures or the Bible.

A course offered under the bill would be subject to federal and state guidelines regarding religious neutrality “and shall recognize and accommodate the diverse religious views, traditions, and the perspectives of students enrolled in the school district.”

Teachers could not “endorse, favor, promote, or disfavor, or be hostile toward, any particular religion, faith, or non-religious perspective.”

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William Jeynes, a professor at California State University-Long Beach who advocates for instruction on the Bible in public schools, spoke during the subcommittee hearing.

Jeynes cited the Bible’s influence on literature and history and that learning about it would enhance students’ understanding of people of faiths, including those other than Christianity.

Chuck Hurley of the Christian conservative group The Family Leader cited historical support for teaching the Bible in public schools and the positive impact on students' morals and education.

Concerns over promoting ‘Christian nationalism’

The Rev. Lizzie Gillman with the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa expressed concern about the bill promoting Christian nationalism and the potential for espousing biblical literalism in public schools.

“What I'm concerned about with this bill is we're at the precipice of diving deeper into Christian nationalism,” Gillman told lawmakers.

“I'm a mom with public school kids, and I think that Christian nationalism is incompatible with the essence of America as a secular nation. … I myself am worried about the interpretations that could be taught to students. Biblical literalism leads to Christian nationalism,” she said.

“And so we have to make sure that the ways in which the children and the students in our church are taught about their faith comes from educated faith leaders who have gone to seminary who … have spent years in formation and years in study.”

Connie Ryan, executive director of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, argues the bill is misguided and would give preference to one religion over others.

“Courses about religion should expose students to critical thinking about various religions and sacred texts and a diversity of interpretations, including Christianity and the Bible,” Ryan said. “Unfortunately, Bible-specific courses can become nothing more than Sunday school lessons masquerading as instruction about religion.”

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Berry Stevens, a 14-year-old who uses they/them pronouns, shared their experience of being targeted by another student with a Christian Bible to justify anti-LGBTQ beliefs.

“I understand that this bill doesn't mandate courses like this,” Stevens said. “However, it sends a message of promotion to not just our public schools, but to our entire state of the supremacy of Christianity over other philosophies and beliefs.”

Melissa Peterson, a lobbyist for the Iowa State Education Association, said the bill is unnecessary as public schools can already offer elective courses on religious literature.

Kara Ryan, a political activist from Des Moines, called out lawmakers for promoting Bible instruction while banning books with similar problematic content.

“The Bible has misogyny, rape, incest and murder, and why would that be taught in schools ... when ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ that teaches about racism is not allowed?” Ryan said. “You are so focused on banning books, but you're going to allow a book that has those things that you are against?”

Bill ‘aligns with constitutional principles’

Amber Williams, representing Inspired Life, said the bill equips students with “essential contexts for interpreting historical events, legal traditions and cultural works.”

Inspired Life, according to its website, “is committed to being a leader in shaping culture by focusing our efforts where God has called us to grow our influence.”

Williams argued the bill includes safeguards for religious neutrality and allows students and parents to decide whether participation aligns with their interests and educational goals.

“This aligns with the constitutional principles of religious freedom in education,” allowing educators to tailor the coursework to the needs of students while upholding academic integrity, she said.

“It ensures that educators are properly trained to present the material in an objective and scholarly manner. This will strengthen the academic rigor of the course and reassure parents and students that the instruction will be factual and balanced.”

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com