Utah parent claims Bible is ‘pornographic’ and demands removal from schools

A parent in Utah is calling for the removal of the Bible from schools, claiming it contains pornographic material.

The controversy has sparked heated debate among local officials and residents, with some defending the Bible’s place in schools while others support the parent’s demand.

The parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that their child brought home a Bible from school and was shocked to find explicit content inside.

The parent claims that several passages in the book describe sexual acts in graphic detail and are inappropriate for young readers.

Moreover, the parent has filed a formal complaint with the local school board. In addition, the parent called out to remove the Bible from all public schools in the district.

BREAKING: Utah Republicans are "Very Sad" that a parent has contested the Bible's presence in schools due to a state law that prohibits "pornographic or indecent" content.

The unnamed parent said that the Bible is “one of the most sex-ridden books around.”

Up until this point…

— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) March 26, 2023

They argue that the book violates the school’s policy on sexually explicit material and could be considered harmful to minors.

The parent accused the non-profit organization Utah Parents United of being a “white supremacist hate group.”

It is due to their regular advocacy for removing books. Some of which contain LGBTQ content, on different social media platforms. 

According to Nichole Mason, the president of Utah Parents United, their goal is to establish clear standards for what is appropriate in K-12 school libraries through their guidelines. 

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Additionally, Mason states that the law safeguards children from accessing explicit sexual content without any restrictions in K-12 schools.

How the Readers Percieve the Context of the Bible

Many argue that the Bible has long been a part of American culture and history. Hence, removing it from schools would be a violation of religious freedom. 

The Bible is “pornographic” but it’s ok for actual explicit content to be in schools? Make it make sense https://t.co/YsEREaXRJK

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 25, 2023

Some have also pointed out that readers often interpret the passages in question metaphorically or in a historical context. In addition, readers should not take them literally.

The Utah parent wrote the Bible, defined by the new Utah Code Ann. § 76-10-1227, is  pornographic.The parent also wrote that it lacks any significant value for minors. 

Given the history of banned books for much lesser offenses, the parent is confident that this argument will hold up. However, Utah’s legislators do not share the same opinion.

The debate has reached the state level, with Utah Governor Spencer Cox weighing in on the issue.

In a statement, Cox acknowledged the concerns raised by the parents but defended the Bible’s place in schools. 

He said that the state respects the rights of parents to raise concerns about their children’s education. It is also committed to upholding the Constitution’s protection of religious freedom.

The controversy over the Bible in Utah schools is just a recent example of the ongoing debate over religion’s role in public education. 

While the First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits the government from establishing an official religion, it has long been a contentious issue in American society.

As the debate continues, it is still uncertain what action the school board will take in response to the parent’s complaint.

In the meantime, the controversy has once again highlighted the complex and often controversial relationship between religion and public education in the United States.