The Texas legislature explores new frontiers of Christian nationalism

Source: Washington Post

Opinion ǀ The Texas legislature explores new frontiers of Christian nationalism

By Paul Waldman
Columnist
May 9, 2023 at 6:30 a.m. EDT

As everyone knows, there is no more effective way to shape the behavior of young people than through state-mandated posters on their classroom walls. At least that’s what Republicans in the Texas legislature seem to believe, which is why they’re advancing a bill requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom in the state.

Texas is growing more purple with each passing year, which is exactly why the Republican-dominated legislature is reasserting the right’s political and cultural power with ever more radically conservative laws. Part of that effort is a series of bills meant to impose not just religion but Christianity into public schools.

One bill would allow schools to mandate “a period of prayer and Bible reading on each school day.” Another says school personnel must be allowed to “engage in religious speech or prayer while on duty.” Yet another would allow schools to replace school counselors with “chaplains” — no training or certification required. The centerpiece is the bill requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments, which has already passed the state Senate.

That bill, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico told me, “not only violates our American values, but I think it violates my Christian values.”

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/09/texas-legislature-christian-nationalism-ten-commandments/

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