Florida state law allows public high schools to offer courses in biblical history as long as the classes are “secular” and “objective.” However, according to a recent report by liberal watchdog group People for the American Way, the courses are taught solely from a Christian—usually Protestant—perspective, teachers assume students are Christian, and the Bible is used in class to “promote Christian faith formation.” Following are a few of the exam questions that the organization collected from the 14 county school districts that offer such courses:
“Why is it hard for a non-Christian to understand things about God?”
—Vanguard High School, Marion County, and Williston High School, Levy County
“If you had a Jewish friend who wanted to know if Jesus might be the expectant [sic] Messiah, which book [of the Gospels] would you give him?”
—Columbia High School, Columbia County
“Using Scripture reference to support your thoughts, write a short essay about each of the following topics: (a) God’s Plan for the Family; (b) Living a Victorious Life in the World Which Is So Dark; (c) God’s Directions for Righteous Living.”
—Madison County High School, Madison County
“When a person says, ‘I just can’t help myself. The temptation to sin is too great,’ [w]hat verse in [I Corinthians, Chapter 7] could you give him that would help him to see it is not true?”
—Vanguard High School, Marion County
“We can see in the Temptation Story of the 3rd Chapter of Genesis that we of the 20th century haven’t changed much from the days of Adam and Eve. What states in the Temptation and Fall of Man do we still find ourselves [in] today?”
—Columbia High School, Columbia County
“How is Jesus the ultimate Passover lamb?
(a) He is perfect.; (b) He was a sacrifice.; (c) His blood atones for all.; (d) All of the above.”
—Niceville High School, Okaloosa County
“Being raised from the dead is best defined as ___________[?]”
—Keystone Heights High School, Clay County
“How was man created?”
—Keystone Heights High School, Clay County
