Copyright 2011 by Lauretta Marigny - All rights reserved

Comments on the article "A Defence of the Use of the Bible as a School Book" by Benjamin Rush © 1791

The Bible literacy project (bibleliteracy.org) seeks to promote teaching of the Bible in public schools in America. Their idea is not a new one; Dr. Benjamin Rush thought it a good idea in 1791.

The following are some ideas from Dr. Benjamin Rush's essay to a minister in Boston.

Dr. Rush was strongly against Deism. Deism is the belief that God created the world, but that he is not much involved in his creation; he is a very impersonal God.

Dr. Rush thought teaching the Bible in the schools was better than just in homes. (p 101) He felt children were open to truth, and that if we don't teach Biblical truth to our children "we deprive ourselves of the best means of awakening moral sensibility in their minds.” (p 105)

Dr. Rush thought the schools should use the actual Bible itself rather than various extractions of it. He said the Bible itself was cheap, and using it in its entirety would prevent various denominations from encouraging their interpretation. He thought children should actually read the Bible for themselves not just have it read to them. (p 106-7)

Dr. Rush made a bold claim: Teaching the Bible in schools would, “in the course of two generations, eradicate infidelity among us and render civil government scarcely necessary in our country.” (p 112)

 

The full text of Dr. Rush's article can be found here.