Ryan Walters ordered schools to teach the Bible. Will this include justifying slavery?

Lately, a lawsuit was filed against Oklahoma State Schools Superintendent Ryan Walters to oppose his attack on the wall that protects the state from the church and our children from forced religious indoctrination. Earlier this year, Walters ordered all Oklahoma districts to teach the historical and literary value of the Bible beginning in the 2024-25 school year.

Louisiana passed a law requiring public schools to post the Ten Commandments in every classroom. This was the move faced a lawsuit from the coalition religious and secular reasons, arguing that such a law imposes a particular religious viewpoint on students, violating their First Amendment rights. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill seem determined to enforce that mandate, undeterred by legal challenges and emboldened by a Supreme Court-bound deity.

Defenders of these political educational moves argue that they are intended to teach students the history and importance of Christianity in American history. Christian nationalists claim that we have strayed from being a self-proclaimed Christian nation and have lost our morality. They argue that educating children about America’s religious history is a fundamental step toward their fundamentalist worldview. However, as these countries implement their programs, it is important to remember that religious history education must be comprehensive and impartial, and not a tool for promoting a specific religious ideology in public schools.

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While it is indeed important to teach school-age children about America’s religious history, we must ensure that this education is comprehensive and unbiased. As a professor who studies religious and political rhetoric, I think a good place to start is The Doctrine of Christian Discovery. This doctrine justified much of colonization, including the brutal institution of slavery, as a means of spreading Christianity. From this we can look at the Puritans who opposed religious freedom and diversity, even going so far as to exile those who did not conform to Massachusetts.

Understanding these early historical contexts helps us understand why Roger Williams, a staunch supporter of secularism, founded Rhode Island as a refuge for those seeking “freedom of conscience.” This is a key chapter in our history that highlights the fight for religious freedom.

Taking the story further, students would benefit from learning about the Founders’ diverse views on religious freedom and its role in shaping society. Despite what Oklahoma or Louisiana may suggest, some Founders advocated religious liberty for all, including those without a religious affiliation.

An important document in this discussion is the Treaty of Tripoli, unanimously ratified by Congress in 1797, which states: “The Government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.” This treaty could spark lively discussion among students about the Founders’ intentions and the envisioned path for the nation.

It is also important for students to learn that although the United States Constitution provided for religious freedom and prohibited religious tests for office, states were not required to follow them until after the Civil War. This historical nuance meant that many states functioned as “Christian states” in which laws were deeply rooted in Christian doctrine. Examples include laws prohibiting non-Protestants from holding public office, Sabbath day laws enforcing Sunday rest, and blasphemy laws restricting public criticism of Christianity.

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When discussing the role of religion in American history, it is important to address its dual influence. While religion played a significant role in the fight to end slavery, it was also used to justify the institution. Teaching students about this dichotomy helps them understand the complex ways the Bible is interpreted in American politics.

Furthermore, students should learn about the treatment of various religious groups throughout U.S. history, including Jews, Muslims, atheists, and Mormons, as well as the forced Christianization of indigenous peoples – a painful but crucial lesson in religious intolerance. It would also be valuable to understand the historical conflicts between Protestants and Catholics in the United States.

Christian nationalists often claim that they want to return to being a Christian nation, using selective history teaching to promote their agenda. While it is important to recognize the influence of Christianity on the culture and institutions of the United States, we must recognize that this influence is complex and often involves restrictions on the religious freedom of non-Protestants. By learning about religious persecution in the past, students can ensure that history does not repeat itself and that we maintain 250 years of progress.

Kristina Lee is an assistant professor of communication studies at the University of South Dakota and vice chair of the board at Secular Student Union.

This article originally appeared on The Oklahoman: Opinion: Biblical teaching in Oklahoma must include its good and bad sides