Abstract
On April 17, 2012, the Arizona Governor signed into law a bill requiring the state Board of Education to design a course for public high schools titled, “The Bible and Its Influence on Western Culture.” This paper explores the political and pedagogical implications of Bible-based courses and the often unclear and debated understandings of religious studies as an academic discipline. Supporters of the Arizona legislation are placed in the larger context of religious resurgence amidst a secular backdrop as theorized by Juergensmeyer, Berger, Shah, and Toft. Detractors and skeptics of the bill raise first amendment concerns as well as practical questions of budget, teacher training, and the pressures to focus on math and science. This paper also provides discussion of Bible-based courses in other states, curricula options for pre-college curricula, and the role of organizations such as the American Academy of Religion in addressing these challenges and opportunities.
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