The Oklahoma Bible saga continues.
Despite a lack of funding in the state budget, Oklahoma education head Ryan Walters is moving ahead with his yearlong quest to put the Holy Bible in Oklahoma classrooms.
Oklahoma recently finalized their 2026 state budget, and the millions of dollars requested by Walters for classroom Bibles was nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, he says he’s moving ahead with his plan anyway – though it’s unclear at this point how he’s going to fund it.
After more than a year of fighting, will Walters finally get the Bible in every Oklahoma classroom?
What is Going On?
Let’s back up. What’s going on in Oklahoma, and why are they putting Bibles in school?
Last year, Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, mandated that the Holy Bible be available in every Oklahoma classroom across the state. Walters argued that the history and culture of the United States is so intertwined with the Christian faith that every Oklahoma schoolchild will need to read the gospel just to understand American history.
Putting the Bible in classrooms came with a hefty price tag: $6 million dollars, in part because Walters was initially trying to purchase the "Trump Bible", a King James Version of the Bible that is sold exclusively by President Trump.
Both taxpayers and teachers balked at the mandate, and some of the state’s biggest districts pledged to ignore Walters’ demands that teachers incorporate the Bible into their instruction, despite the superintendent's insistence that adherence to the new policy was “mandatory.”
Tightening the (Bible) Belt
Walters’ attempts to force taxpayers to fund his mass Bible purchase was temporarily blocked by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, though further developments are pending.
That may be why the state decided not to incorporate the funding into the state budget, despite the recently lowered price-tag: Walters is now requesting just $3 million to purchase tens of thousands of "Trump Bibles".
But he says that isn’t stopping him.
“The Legislature can put the money there or not," Walters stated at a recent press conference. "We're going to have a Bible in every classroom this fall. So that's going to happen. So we're doing that. We've been very straightforward on how we're doing that.”
“We’ve already been exhausting multiple avenues to [fund the plan],” Walters explained. “We’re going to make sure that Oklahoma children understand the role the Bible played in American history.”
But how? Walters is currently partnered with country musician Lee Greenwood in an effort to spur donations. The results? Walters has reportedly purchased just over 500 Trump Bibles at a cost of $25,000, likely funded through personal donations.
That's still tens of thousands of Bibles short of the goal.
Putting aside Walters’ funding woes, critics of the plan say it’s not even legal to put the Bible in every classroom and make teachers teach from it. And yet, he’s forging ahead, and seems confident Oklahoma students will soon be learning about Jesus alongside reading, writing, and arithmetic.
What is your opinion? Does the Bible belong in the classroom?
57 comments
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Michael Hunt
Just another grift by conservatives to enrich the Trump family at the expense of tax payers.
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Keith Ramsey
Exactly. The telling part is that the only version of the Bible that fits their requirements is the Trump bible.
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Marilyn
I believe firmly in separation of church and state. I've noticed recently many churches are consistently voyaging into politics and when they do , they should lose their tax exempt status. As for schools , that's a big NO if you are using taxpayers money. As a follower of Christ, I believe the Bible should be available in every library along with all other age appropriate books, however not in the classroom at taxpayers expense.
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Jimmy Moon
No such thing as Separation of church and state. Jefferson never said that.
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Asa William Sprague, II
Yes, he did.
Here is the excerpt from Jefferson's 1802 Letter to the Danbury Baptists
I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.
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Hugh D Spiers
There absolutely needs to be a separation of church and state. Without this, we are one step closer to a theocracy and that never ends well! Think about how it ended for people in 1600’s Salem! How about Iran where Ayatollahs judge all things. Would these people in Oklahoma be equally ok with the Quran? If not, that indicates that only the Christian religion is the only acceptable one and even then it has the potential to divide and discriminate against other Christian religions. No funding for Bibles in every public classrooms. I won’t even get into the Trump Bible scam!!!
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Keith Ramsey
Except that he did, it isn't real hard to find this.
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John Alex Paxson
Public schools are not for politics or religion. Only reading, writing, arithmetic, music and History. (My opinion).
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Michael Hall
Not the Bible, not the Quran, not the Book of Mormon, not the Bhagavad Gita. I'm sympathetic to the study of religious history but only if it includes all of the majors.Indeed, actually reading the Bible is usually the first step in one's loss of faith, but that's no reason for a State institution to have a copy.
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Andrew F Tatler-Burgess
I would have no problem with religious studies is all religions where given the same amount of exposure; including atheism. But, to put a Christian bible in every classroom is tantamount to brainwashing.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Atheism is not a religion. It isn’t a belief, it’s a lack thereof. That’s like saying not playing golf is a sport, or not making wood crafts is a hobby. Now if you want to include atheism as the flip-side to being religiously delusional people, that’ll work.
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Johnette Routh
Due to budget cuts, Stillwater, Oklahoma didn’t have funding for summer school this year. As Oklahoma already ranks 49th in education, it is my opinion we should be investing in teachers and curriculum, not Trump bibles. Religious studies are appropriate for college students if they choose to enroll in them, not kids trying to learn the basics.
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Patricia Sydney Solis
E Pluribus Unum. This Latin phrase is on the United States currency: From many, one. Education is essential to know this, and public schools are inextricably entwined with the First Amendment and Free Press that enable democracy, liberty and freedom of religion.
Yet public schools, which unite the Republic via education’s enlightenment, reason and free discourse, are under attack. Divisive influences, such as this indoctrination attempt by Oklahoma, destroy this pillar of democracy. Others are complicit. U.S. Supreme Court conservatives of questionable legitimacy just ruled against the sacredness of Native American land to rape its resources for profit instead. Yet it supports institutions that teach a “Biblical worldview.”
What absurdity that one penny of public money is used for any private or religious school, whose curriculum and accountability are shielded from public scrutiny. This dangerous and blatant disregard for the Constitution’s separation of church and state, upheld for hundreds of years, is of immediate threat to every citizen. It must be stopped, for self-governing is the quintessential element of freedom, and church-State union throughout history has proved a threat to freedom and freedom of religion itself.
In 1785 Founding Father, Fourth President and “Founder of the Constitution,” James Madison, wrote The Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments in response to conservative attempts to use tax funds to pay for “teachers of the Christian religion.” It lists 15 reasons why State-supported religion is a bad idea, including a dangerous abuse of power by rulers who exceed their authority and are “tyrants.” Madison explicitly denied government any power over religion, because “religious truth” and “the means of salvation” are beyond the concerns of the State, and church-State union conflicted with “the Spirit of the Gospel.”
Founding Father, Framer of the Constitution and Second President, Thomas Jefferson, believed democracy depended on an enlightened citizenry through public schools, free inquiry and reason. Students should learn Latin and Greek —roots of the words republic, democracy and economy. At such an impressionable age of memory, youth are better suited to learn languages than religious indoctrination, he said.
Yet public teachers struggle to educate or receive improved compensation and could use lost revenue. Just look at Florida, that ranks third worst in the nation for illiteracy. Nationally, only 32 percent of 12th graders read proficiently or above. This is not citizenry, but peasantry meant to bewilder the public with vice, misinformation and attacks on the press. Jefferson warned, no people who are ignorant can be truly free, and that in every country and every age, the priest had been hostile to liberty.
Emperor Constantine dreamed of a cross to conquer with. The Catholic Church burned 90 percent of Classical texts and thousands of Mayan codices. The Spanish Inquisition burned thousands at the stake for heresy in the wake of Protestantism. The Church colluded with Spain’s Franco in his coup d’etat, overseeing censorship during his dictatorship. Emperor Hirohito’s Japan was merged with Shintoism. The Japanese public, believing he was divine, was deceived to wage World War II on America.
Church-State union in Maximillian’s Mexico used church money to squash Benito Juárez’s reforms. Donald Trump’s $2 trillion in stimulus, the largest in history, gave millions to churches. He stopped enforcing the Johnson Amendment that prevented 501(c)(3) entities from supporting or opposing political campaigns.
Furthermore, church-State union degrades and corrupts religion. Mark 17: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.” Rendering means aligning with. Christian schools using State public coins are obliged now, just like the Bible’s priests and scribes who indebted and subjected themselves to Rome, and paid Judas 30 silver coins to betray Christ. Christ never joined the State; The State condemned Christ to death.
Call your representatives. Demand vouchers taking public money for any private school stop. Rebuild public schools, and return Latin to the curriculum so students learn to read English well and can communicate with the world. Otherwise, as Jefferson said, Americans who submit to further theft from vouchers to weaken public schools “are governed by laws made neither by themselves nor by an authority derived from them, or their religion, and are slaves.” Caveat Emptor.
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Samuel L Salter
The Bible should be taught in church... church and state need to be separated....
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Dorothy Hawkins
It's clear the government is founded on the principle of separation of church and state - part of what our ancestors needed to escape from in Europe.
It's also clear that the lack of compulsory civics education is showing in the actions of the current batch at the top of leadership.
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James Riggle-Johnson
The fact that this guy is buying tRump bibles is ridiculous and speaks volumes. Bibles in a library are one thing, but when you put them in the classroom, you highlight one religion above all others. It is the parents' responsibility to educate their children about religion. It always has been, and there’s no reason to change that. Mr. Walters and others like him believe these children need to learn their religion, whether the parents agree or not.
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James Dean Lawler
We are a country of many religions and the constitution is supposed to protect all. (Separation of Church and State). Until enough Americans peacefully storm the capital and demand Trump and his administration be removed we will continue to lose our rights as we know them.
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Patricia Ann Gross
All he is doing is following the example of the highest elected public "servant" in this country. He is illegally re-appropriating funds designed for other things, buying things he has no budget for, and defying court orders.
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Brien
Hmm, zealot much? Complain all you wish. Your votes, or lack of, caused everything that happens now. Peace ✌️
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Pastor Jim
I believe the Bible should be included in any complete library, in any institution of learning and especially in institutions higher learning... but I also believe in freedom from religion.
I say leave it to Oklahoma to decide for itself. Being from Texas, I would expect we would do the same and it's my propagative whether or not I choose to participate or otherwise make use of the resource.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
As the titular* head of Tulsa County’s Universal Life Church, (SHP denomination) as an ordained minister, I pontificate at every opportunity— that what’s taught a about the so-called “freedom of religion” — in our public schools —is a lie; there can be no freedom of religion— until it’s classed a serious category of child abuse, to indoctrinate (AKA, brainwash) a naive’ little bitty infant, into only one of the Earth’s thousands of different religions, forsaking all others, while categorizing them as heretical, false, works of the devil, etc, etc. No one should be allowed to choose a religion, until they’ve reached adulthood— and one they’ve reached adulthood, hopefully the only religion they’d pick would be the ULC — as I did, because the ULC is the only church which encourages its ministers to be free; enabling all ULC ministers, to be proponents of religious freedom, while figuring out, on their own, what’s right, and what’s wrong. * titular — by default, and, as of yet — there have been no objections to me calling myself the titular head; so if any other ULC’ers in Tulsa County want to be the titular ULC head honcho, have at it,
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
As the titular* head of Tulsa County’s Universal Life Church, (SHP denomination) as an ordained minister, I pontificate at every opportunity— that what’s taught a about the so-called “freedom of religion” — in our public schools —is a lie; there can be no freedom of religion— until it’s classed a serious category of child abuse, to indoctrinate (AKA, brainwash) a naive’ little bitty infant, into only one of the Earth’s thousands of different religions, forsaking all others, while categorizing them as heretical, false, works of the devil, etc, etc. No one should be allowed to choose a religion, until they’ve reached adulthood— and one they’ve reached adulthood, hopefully the only religion they’d pick would be the ULC — as I did, because the ULC is the only church which encourages its ministers to be free; enabling all ULC ministers, to be proponents of religious freedom, while figuring out, on their own, what’s right, and what’s wrong. * titular — by default, and, as of yet — there have been no objections to me calling myself the titular head; so if any other ULC’ers in Tulsa County want to be the titular ULC head honcho, have at it,
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Dorothy Hawkins
It's clear the government is founded on the principle of separation of church and state - part of what our ancestors needed to escape from in Europe.
It's also clear that the lack of compulsory civics education is showing in the actions of the current batch at the top of leadership.
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April Linda Wiles
The problem is that perspective influences how you understand scripture. We have many different denominations of Christianity that all claim truth and can all use scripture to back up that truth. So what perspective is the school teaching? What denomination of Christianity are they teaching?
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
This sounds lije something that could have happened in Nazi Germany. It’s also why I am vehemently anti-religion. Religiously delusional people have a hard time resisting the urge to force their irrational beliefs onto other people.
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Diana L Mendez
I agree that the Bible belongs in every library. The student can decide whether they want to read it or not. There a plenty of inappropriate books that don’t belong in schools, yet no one makes a fuss but as for the Holy Bible … all hell breaks loose
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Michael S. Russell
There has been massive book bannings across the US both in schools and in public libraries. There were even a few book burnings to show loyalty to banning those books. And yes, the Bible belongs in the library. Along with every other religious writing there is. But none of them belong in the classroom. This all brings horrifying reminders of "The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice", which Trump has authorized a "soft copy" of in the US already. In the church, in the library and in the home- OK. In the classroom- NO
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Joseph A Caron
Sorry, but I think this is wrong on every level. We have a Constitution in this country that outlines the separation between church and state. Putting bibles in public schools goes against that. While I believe that the bible SHOULD be readily available to anyone who wants to read and try to understand it's teachings and concepts, I don't believe that ALL taxpayers should be made to pay to put the bible into classrooms. Not all taxpayers are of the same beliefs. I think the money would be better spent on American/world history books.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
If I lived in Oklahoma I'd be lawyering up. If parents can pull their kids out of sex ed classes for religious reasons, they can pull them from religious classes. But they shouldn't have to in a public, government-funded, American school.
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Mark Dyer
After reading many comments on this, and as a person with a degree in law, I respect the opinion of NOT bringing the church into the classroom.
What I am in support of, is perhaps, leaving a bible on the desk of the teacher. The symbolism will mean more if the teacher conducted themselves in a way that aligns with the goodness and love the bible preaches. They do not have to reference it at all, just have it on their desk. Sometimes the "symbol" is all that is needed.
I think the 10 commandments, is where it should stop. Those are universal laws for general kindness. Let these kids experience the pillars of kindness, and from there let them explore religion further if they shall wish to do so. Sometimes being "exposed" to something, is all that it takes to get the ball rolling. Afterall, for all those who act out despicably they certainly were "exposed" to that behavior somewhere.
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Robert F. Denk Jr
No Bibles in public schools! If you want Christianity in schools then all other religions have to be equally represented. I am a Minister and a memeber of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Religion is personal and should not be a part of the public education system or any other part of our government. Christianity is one of many religions and is no more a part of America than any other. This is not a Christian Nation and should never be allowed to become one.
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David Stephen Parker
Jefferson and many of the other “Founders” were deists who were concerned about the fervor of others who believed in this or that specific religion. Have you ever read about Jefferson’s edit of the New Testament? There’s an article on History.com titled “Why Thomas Jefferson rewrote the Bible without Jesus’ miracles and resurrection.” He did this to reveal Jesus as a man of morals not miracles. The Founders were definitely not a group of evangelists.
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James H. Tijerina-Spalten
Be afraid! Be very afraid. This is an assault on everyone. I would call it White Nationalist Authoritarianism. Being driven by a cult leader that has never read the Bible. He only sells them to enrich himself. The Bible Belt was a long standing joke to those of us that were never under it's rule. I recall going to a part of Texas that was in "the belt" an trying to buy a beer. I had to buy a card. Not only do they want the Bible hitting you in the head The 10 commandments will also have to be displayed within easy viewing. This whole administration is the laughing stock of the world. There is an orange man child sitting in his own filth with access to the destruction of man's kind. BE AFRAID! BE VERY AFRAID.
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Ronald King
I can donate $30.00 to Oklahoma. I believe in the biblical learning process. Even my Lord and Master Jesus the true Christreferenced the bible.If it was good enough for him and countless millions, it certainly is good enough for us now and in the future.
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Baptized in Cranberry Sauce
Let me just comment on the "Trump Bible." I bought one out of curiosity, not bothered by the fact that similar Bibles can be purchased for one third the cost. The thin pages stick together and the print bleeds through, making it difficult to read. It's not a study Bible, just a run of the mill King James Bible using archaic English. There aren't any subtitles or footnotes, and for some reason they don't tell you where this "Trump Bible" is printed.
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Michael S. Russell
It was found that the Trump Bibles were printed in China and it caused quite the controversy when it was revealed. And you are right in saying they are not study Bibles as they do not come with footnotes or helps with explanations of the "Old World" English that is used.
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Yanel Jay Laroche Jr.
According to 2 Timothy 3:16, everything in the Holy Bible is beneficial for teaching,for reproving, for disciplining in righteousness. Bibles in schools will help a lot of students.
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Ahmed Abduljabar Al-Hujazi
Interesting. A message that is self-affirming. Isn't that an innovative concept (watch out for the sarcasm dripping here)
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Keith Ramsey
Except that they will no help anyone. If the student wants a bible they can carry it in their bag.
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Michael S. Russell
But that is according to YOUR Bible. Not everyone practices the same religion and all should be able to receive an education without having someone else's religion forced upon them.
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Rev Ned
“What a Maroon!” B. Bunny
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Daniel Gray
So what. Considering the SCOTUS already ruled that most of Oklahoma is Native American land, this does not effect as many schools as the people are whining about
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Michael Hunt
But it still does affect public schools in Oklahoma still.
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Richard Kathriner
I believe we need to bring Christianity back in schools. It builds value, manners and faith. Bibles and 10 commandments are great in schools. However I do not believe it has to be a Trump bible.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Richard, Which Bible would you prefer, and if it is the Christian Bible, the KJV, RSV, NRSV, NKJV, or The Message? What language? How about the Jewish Tanak or the Muslim Koran? They have the 10 commandments. What do you say to a Muslim child who wants to read part of his Koran instead? Not only does this defy the separation of Church and State and make an uncomfortable if not hostile of children of different faiths, but it is a bad idea with more downsides than upsides.
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Gregory Alan Richards
you're right
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April Voit
What follows is only my opinion and personally belief. I am 63 years old and have seen a lot. The first war I personally had an association with was the Vietnam War. My Father was in the Korean Conflict, my Uncle was in WWII, My my Great Uncle was in WWI. My Grandfather was not in the War of 1918, but it effected his family nonetheless.
From each of these people I learned many reasons for each War. But the most important thing they told me was that our United States and the Constitution was, that it was my duty to protect my country, the people in it and uphold the Constitution. As far as I know, they were all Christians, however, I am not. My religion accepts that others have differing beliefs and they are all important to each of us. However, when it comes to someone indoctrinating others to only believe one religion and forcing that into a public school, that not only goes against what our Forefathers put down on paper, but it also is morally wrong.
But if they would like Religion in schools, then all of them should be included. They just need to be prepared for students walking out, or being removed, when it doesn't conform to thier specific Religion.
If they were to "preach " every Religion, there would be no time to study what is needed for their futures. But I guess if they want their children to be ignorant sheep without knowing how to read, write, add, subtract, learn from history, how to change a tire, how to build things, how to reconcile a bank statement or basically be able to graduate with enough knowledge to get a job. Who am I to tell them that preaching every Religion in a public school will not end well. Where I live, the Lutherans have thier own school and so do the Catholics. All are funded by the parents paying tuition. If it works here, it should work everywhere, unless people just don't want to pay for the privilege of private school where you don't need to go against the Constitution we all fought to protect. But I'm certainly not paying to have a public school teach Religion when there are alternatives. Again, just my opinion.
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John William Elsa
As an Atheist and a recovering Catholic this makes a mockery of all Christianity. It's as bad as the Catholic Church and the Nazis whom supported what was going on in Germany. Pathetic
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Phlan-Michelle Anne Phillipa Purss
So FAILING North American's the whole Mayflower thing was to get away from RELIGIOUS Tierney in England about near 300 years ago now. Near 300 later, to today now isn't Stumpy, MAGA CULTISTS repeating this. Especially in Oklahoma, it's already (and I'm not America) known as the Dumbest State in the country and the world knows it. Now you have a person with Multiple Physiological Disorders. From social endpted to a Full Blown Personality Disorder. But at the end of the day, we all know that we're sadly seeing again a once great Empire fail and collapse not like normal behaviour were this happens. It tends to take decades and to the thrill and excitement for sociologists and the likes. As this is being excelerated to a few years in Strumpets America. Also this is the polite religious version of my view of the United States of America today and honey's you don't want to see the NFW Version.
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Michael S. Russell
If he wants people to know about the history of the Bible in the US, then maybe he, himself, may want to read the Constitution which will tell him why what he is Hell bent on doing is not legal. This is nothing more than a push to spread his own religious beliefs onto others. If he wants to Bible thump to people, then let him become ULC certified and start his own congregation. The idea that only ONE religion is responsible for the founding of the US is, for use of a softer word, uneducated.
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Max Peter Grilly
Where are the Giddeons?
Why should taxpayers be on the hook for this when bibles are free?
The brazen corruption and disregard for personal liberties is disgusting. It's so maga.
And Jefferson 100% used the phrase "wall of separation" regarding religious freedom. However, that's missing the point entirely.
The world is no longer laughing at us. They are just moving on and we are irrelevant.
We did this to ourselves.
Separation of church and state is part of the bedrock of our country’s Constitution. The stupidintendant of the school system needs to go back to school himself and take a class on the Constitution.
The phrase "separation of church and state" refers to the principle, enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, that the government should not establish or endorse a particular religion, nor interfere with the free exercise of religion. While the phrase isn't explicitly used in the Constitution, the Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from making laws respecting an establishment of religion, is the foundation of this principle.
Whether you like it or not other people have the right to express their religion, and so do you. That was written to prevent the government from establishing or endorsing a single religion, not the people. That's why this country has so many different types of religious people exercising their right to whatever their religion is. Some of you have to go back and actually read the 3 documents that make up our nations laws and read the Federalist and Anti Federalist papers for the founders perspectives on the issues they faced in their time.
I'd be more upset about the teachers sharing their sexuality and sexual views with children than this. Public schools should be teaching children the 3 R's, music, shop, sports, balancing a check book, finance, home economics and American history. I don't care what your religion or sexuality are, you have no business discussing it with children during school hours.
No such thing as Separation of church and state. Jefferson never said that.
He definitely wrote that the First Amendment provided a separation of church and state. Ask any constitutional law scholar and they'd tell you that this has long been decided by the Supreme Court. See Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1 (1947) where the court concluded that "The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the slightest breach." Now the current SCOTUS has already shown their willingness to throw out previously adjudicated precedent so who knows if the ruling in Everson v Board of Education will be overturned but currently separation of church and state is part of US constitutional law.
Yes, it seems that he did.
Here is an excerpt from Jefferson's 1802 Letter to the Danbury Baptists
I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.
It seems that he actually did. Separation of Church and State is a very real thing.