Search Religion News

Show summaries



Religion News
Israeli News

Top News Stories
U.S. Political News
Canadian News

Christian Magazines
Link To Us

Bible Resources
• Bible Study Aids
• Bible Devotionals
• Audio Sermons
Community
• ChristiansUnite Blogs
• Christian Forums
Web Search
• Christian Family Sites
• Top Christian Sites
Family Life
• Christian Finance
• ChristiansUnite KIDS
Read
• Christian News
• Christian Columns
• Christian Song Lyrics
• Christian Mailing Lists
Connect
• Christian Singles
• Christian Classifieds
Graphics
• Free Christian Clipart
• Christian Wallpaper
Fun Stuff
• Clean Christian Jokes
• Bible Trivia Quiz
• Online Video Games
• Bible Crosswords
Webmasters
• Christian Guestbooks
• Banner Exchange
• Dynamic Content
Subscribe to our Free Newsletter.
Enter your email address:

Religion News
 You're here » News Main Index » Religion News
Religion News
Printer friendly version
Email page to a friend
Link to this story

Attorney Proposes Ballot Initiative to Bring KJV Bible to California Classrooms

by Jim Brown
January 13, 2004
Like This Page?

(AgapePress) - A Christian attorney in California has unveiled a new ballot initiative proposal that would make the King James Bible a textbook for public school students in the state.

Matt McLaughlin says due to some Supreme Court decisions that have been misinterpreted, God's Word has been completely removed from public schools. The Orange County attorney says his new ballot initiative -- KingJamesTextbook.com -- would amend the state constitution to allow use of the Bible in a non-devotional manner that is within current constitutional guidelines laid out by the high court.

"This will be voluntary. Parents will be able to opt out," McLaughlin says, "and we're not prescribing a religious curriculum. We're merely presenting the Bible as great literature, which it is, and to put it back in the public schools so it's available to be used by students that want to take advantage of that opportunity."

The proposed ballot measure would allow the use of the King James Bible as a textbook in public school literature classes. The initiative requires 600,000 voter signatures by May 24 to qualify for the ballot. McLaughlin says he is asking God to unite a :Gideon's Army" to bring it to pass.

If the author of the initiative is able to get enough signatures, voters will then get the chance to decide if the Bible can be used voluntarily for classroom instruction in grades one through twelve. McLaughlin says there are many reasons why he is pushing this initiative.

"The King James Bible doesn't have a copyright, so due to the fact that it's in the public domain, it can be published very inexpensively," he says, "and it's also one of those enduring touchstones of the English language. It has beautiful, powerful language -- something that's been around for 400 years -- and it's still the number-one selling Bible."

In fact, as Associated Press reports, this week marks the 400th anniversary of King James' command to create an authorized translation of the Bible to be used in all the churches of England. During the seven years between that command and the publication of the King James Version, some 50 of the most brilliant minds in the church and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge toiled over Greek and Hebrew texts and earlier English translations to create what many consider the greatest prose work in English -- on a par with the works of Shakespeare.

McLaughlin says early opposition to his initiative has come from individuals who are not aware that the Bible is permitted in public schools.


Associated Press contributed to this story.

Discuss this article in the ChristiansUnite Discussion Forums

Back to Religion News Headlines.




More From ChristiansUnite...    About Us | Privacy Policy | | ChristiansUnite.com Site Map | Statement of Beliefs



Copyright © 1999-2025 ChristiansUnite.com. All rights reserved.
Please send your questions, comments, or bug reports to the

NOTE: News and information presented on this web site is for informational purposes only. ChristiansUnite.com does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions expressed.