Bids opened Monday for a contract to supply the state Department of Education with 55,000 Bibles. According to the bid documents, vendors must meet certain specifications: Bibles must be the King James Version; must contain the Old and New Testaments; must include copies of the Pledge of Allegiance, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights; and must be bound in leather or leather-like material.

A salesperson at Mardel Christian & Education searched, and though they carry 2,900 Bibles, none fit the parameters.

But one Bible fits perfectly: Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the U.S.A. Bible, endorsed by former President Donald Trump and commonly referred to as the Trump Bible. They cost $60 each online, with Trump receiving fees for his endorsement.

  • Rob@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    52
    ·
    3 months ago

    Why are they putting bibles in classrooms in the first place? Did they repeal the First Amendment?

    • kyle@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      32
      ·
      3 months ago

      Apparently, the State Superintendent gets to decide what gets taught in classrooms, and how it gets taught is left up to individual school districts. But it’s fully within his right because no “commentary” is allowed around the Bible, just how important it was to America’s history.

      Why that requires a physical copy that’s leather bound, I have no idea. Nor why the money has to come from the fucking payroll budget.

      Oklahoma is ranked 49th in education, yet this is what we’re spending money on? Seriously?

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      16
      ·
      3 months ago

      The first amendment doesn’t apply to Christian evangelism.

      According to SCOTUS at any rate.

    • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      3 months ago

      The Bible is really important for understanding western society and it’s history. It has a place in the classroom.

      I’m sure that was not the motivation behind that law but it’s true.

      • Entropywins@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        3 months ago

        There are history books that can contextually bring our students up to speed on what religious texts drove certain events/societies.

      • hr_@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        3 months ago

        You’re not wrong but, thankfully, studying history and teaching the impact of things doesn’t require the things to physically be in the room.