Iowa Students Could Soon be Studying Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament

Iowa high school students could soon have the option of taking a Bible literacy course that focuses on the Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament. 

The bill, introduced by Rep. Skyler Wheeler and 11 other Republicans, would direct the state's Department of Education to prepare material and train teachers on how to teach the elective course. 

"A class on Biblical literacy would help students gain a baseline understanding of the Bible as to prepare them better for college specifically and help them understand history, our Founding and culture better," Rep. Wheeler told CBN News.

Wheeler adds the bill has strong support in both the House and the Senate. 

"It has good support in both chambers, but I don’t want to put the cart before the horse," he wrote via email. "The first step is getting it through an Education subcommittee and then out of the House Education Committee. If we can get it out of the Education Committee, we will clear a big hurdle."

The Iowa Family Leader, a conservative Christian organization, is also endorsing the bill. 

"Schools can use the Bible as a historical, cultural, and literary subject of study, but not as a devotional resource. Or in other words, you can teach it, but you can't preach it," Drew Zahn, Family Leader's director of communications, told CBN News via email.

However, opponents of the bill are criticizing it as an "extreme piece of legislation" and believe it violates the Constitution. 

"Absolutely not," Zhan said when asked if the bill violates the Constitution. "The courts have not ruled that the Bible is off limits in our schools, only the promotion of religion. Schools can use the Bible as a historical, cultural, and literary subject of study, but not as a devotional resource. Or in other words, you can teach it, but you can't preach it."

Opponents also argue that the bill is an effort to force Christianity into schools. 

"We certainly don't need the government to indoctrinate our kids into one particular religion," Connie Ryan of Interfaith Alliance Iowa told WSFA-TV.

CBN News reached out to Ryan but has not received a response. 

Zhan argues the Bible is culturally significant and is essential to America's framework. 

"The Bible has undeniably had an enormous influence on Western Civilization and America, especially in the areas of culture, law, art, and literature. A solid grasp of the Bible, it's major themes and stories, is essential to fully understanding our history and culture, from Shakespeare, to the Declaration of Independence, to the speeches of Martin Luther King Jr., and more," he wrote.

"Yet too few of our children are being exposed to the Bible, and schools are often too intimidated by the controversy, leaving a massive gap in our graduates' education," Zahn added. "Encouraging constitutional and religion-neutral elective courses in public high schools aims to rectify that for those who desire to learn more."

Similiar laws have passed in Arizona, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. 

West Virginia lawmakers have also recently proposed having Bible literacy offered as an elective course in public and private schools.