Senator James Lankford (R-OK) made waves on CNN’s State of the Union by stating what anyone with a shred of historical knowledge already knows: the Bible is an essential part of Western civilization and should be taught in schools as a historical and cultural document. Naturally, this triggered the left, who apparently think teaching kids about the foundations of their own country is the same as forcing them into Sunday school.
During the interview, host Dana Bash pressed Lankford about recent moves in Oklahoma and Texas to incorporate Bible lessons into public school curriculums. Lankford, a former pastor, didn’t flinch. He pointed out that Oklahoma allows off-campus religious education as an elective, just like choir or band, giving students the option to deepen their understanding of faith without imposing it in the classroom.
But Lankford’s key point was this: “The Bible is also a part of Western civilization and part of our founding. Many of our founders were very passionate about scripture and about the Bible, and studied it. So as a historical document, as a cultural document, it absolutely should be taught in schools.”
He’s right, of course. The Bible isn’t just a religious text; it’s a cornerstone of the moral and philosophical framework that shaped the United States. From the Declaration of Independence to countless Supreme Court opinions, biblical principles are woven into the fabric of American life. Ignoring the Bible’s influence is like trying to teach the history of flight without mentioning the Wright brothers.
Lankford made it clear he doesn’t want public school teachers acting as faith leaders. That’s a job for parents and clergy. But teaching the Bible’s historical and cultural significance? That’s common sense. Predictably, the left can’t handle it, because acknowledging America’s Christian roots challenges their preferred narrative that the country was founded on vague secularism and “woke” fairy dust.
Lankford’s call for teaching the Bible as a cultural and historical text isn’t about pushing religion—it’s about educating kids on the foundations of Western civilization. While Democrats twist themselves into knots over “separation of church and state,” Republicans like Lankford are focused on empowering students with knowledge of their heritage. America deserves leaders who embrace our roots, not run from them.
