I, the LORD your God, do love the ursine creatures above all others.

Nobody tell Stephen Colbert!

I STILL remember that the bear arms amendment is the second because of the device we used to remember it in high school (not teacher approved). There was this guy, Phil, who always wore muscle shirts (although he got in trouble). He did not have the right to Bare Arms, but he did have 2 arms!

I can recite neither the Bill of Rights nor the Ten Commandments. But I know what the Bill of Rights is, and I can tell you more or less what's in there. I know what the language of it sounds like, so I can tell you "thou shalt not" is something that doesn't happen in the Bill of Rights, and "a well-regulated militia" is something that doesn't happen in the Ten Commandments (no matter what translation you use!).

That's exactly my point. If someone asked me where does "the lord helps those who help themselves" comes from, I may not know the answer, but I know it's NOT a Commandment, due to the whole "Thou Shalt Not" business.

I'm very concerned about Prof. Prothero's (author of the LA Times article that Teppy linked) solution -- to allow Bible classes in public schools. A number of religions have been very influential in shaping the world as it is today, and I don't see how teaching only Christianity (even if it's possible to give an academic focus without proselytizing, which I'll give Prof. Prothero the benefit of the doubt on) creates any benefit.

The Bible was on our required reading list for AP English my senior year in high school. We only spent a day or two on it in school, and the teacher was ferociously clear about "This is not a religion class, we're not going to waste any time debating whether or not it's true, but you must have at least a nodding acquaintance with most of the stories because so very much of Western literature is playing with or responding to or challenging or expanding on these stories. If you don't know them at all, you're missing at least half the unspoken assumptions of at least half the other writers we're reading this year, and your AP test score will suffer."

I don't know how many teachers would be able or willing to teach it that way, but this guy did it beautifully, and within that very narrow context it was an excellent thing.

If someone asked me where does "the lord helps those who help themselves" comes from, I may not know the answer,

Although, if forced to guess, I would guess Ben Franklin, because I think that he and Shakespeare created every single saying ever.

I took a "Bible as Literature" elective in high school. I was a pretty firm atheist by that point.

I may not know the answer, but I know it's NOT a Commandment, due to the whole "Thou Shalt Not" business.

I sometimes confuse the 10 Commandments with the Code of Hammurabi. But to be fair, they're nearly identical in some places and both inscribed on stone tablets.

Happy Pre-St. Patrick's Day! The things my husband will do in the name of charity.

I just don't get people who lack intellectual curiosity. How can you not want to know things about things?!

I kinda feel like I lack it. also, why do I have to work?

I, the Lord your God, do command that thou shalt save thy pennies, for lo, a penny that thou savest is as to a penny that thou earnest. I mean, that though earned, so thou shall not confuse Thine commandments with the parables of Oscar Wilde.

I think that, because it's referenced in so many "artistic" works (i.e., books [and not just Great Literature], movies, TV, music, etc.), it would help a great deal in improving a student's cultural literacy if the Bible were taught as literature, like JZ's teacher taught it. t edit And like Tom took as a class.