Well, folks, welcome to 2024, where the Bible—the bestselling book of all time, the moral compass for millions, and a cornerstone of Western civilization—gets kicked out of a Texas school library under the same law that’s supposed to keep explicit content away from kids. You can’t make this stuff up.
The Canyon Independent School District superintendent, Darryl Flusche, recently announced that the Bible is being removed from school libraries to comply with House Bill 900, the READER Act. This legislation, signed by Governor Greg Abbott, was designed to shield students from sexually explicit material in school libraries. Seems straightforward, right? Nobody wants their kids stumbling across inappropriate content at the library. But apparently, the Bible’s message of hope, redemption, and love has been swept up in the same net as explicit novels that make parents’ skin crawl.
Here’s the kicker: Superintendent Flusche admitted that HB 900 prohibits even a single instance of sexual content, and by that standard, the Bible didn’t make the cut. He did his best to soften the blow, noting that students can still access Bible stories or portions of Scripture in the library. And if they want a full copy? No problem—local churches are ready to hand them out for free. While that’s a nice gesture, the whole situation still feels like a slap in the face to Texas values.
Let’s pause for a moment. This isn’t just any book we’re talking about. The Bible is the moral bedrock of American society, a historical document, and, as one concerned mother put it, a source of comfort and wisdom in a chaotic world. In a time when schools are dealing with security concerns, mental health crises, and a crumbling sense of community, wouldn’t it make sense to keep a book that’s been guiding people for millennia within arm’s reach? Instead, we’re throwing out the Good Book with the bad ones. Brilliant.
“It just makes sense to have the Word of God in our school library,” one concerned mother wrote. “After all, it is the book of wisdom. It is the bestselling book of all time; it is historically accurate, scientifically sound, and most importantly, life-changing.”
Of course, some will argue, “The law is the law.” But here’s the thing: context matters. Yes, the Bible contains some passages that describe the messiness of human history—stories of betrayal, sin, and redemption—but it doesn’t “portray sexual conduct in a way that is patently offensive,” which is the actual standard set by the law. If HB 900 is being interpreted so rigidly that it treats Scripture the same as graphic novels glamorizing explicit behavior, maybe it’s time to revisit how this law is being enforced.
And let’s not overlook the irony here. In a culture where kids can access a smartphone and stumble across far worse content in seconds, school libraries are stripping away access to the Bible. Meanwhile, many of the same people who cheer these decisions will turn around and claim to be champions of diversity and inclusion. What about including the perspectives of families who view the Bible as essential to their kids’ education?
The absurdity of this situation highlights how poorly thought-out policies can undermine their own intent. HB 900 was meant to protect kids, not deprive them of tools to navigate life’s challenges.
As the concerned mother aptly pointed out, the Bible isn’t just a religious text; it’s a book of wisdom and history that has stood the test of time. If we can’t find a way to keep that in our schools while filtering out actual harmful content, then maybe the problem isn’t the Bible—it’s how far we’ve strayed from common sense.
