Arkansas lawmakers have advanced a bill to lay out guidelines for public schools that want to offer elective courses on the Bible.
The proposal, which passed by a voice vote in a House education committee on Tuesday, would discourage teachers from using such a class as a pulpit. But several lawmakers voiced concern that the bill might not prevent teachers from injecting their own religious views into the classroom.
The bill does not deal with other religious books, such as the Quran or the Torah.
Republican Rep. Denny Altes called the Bible the most accurate history book and says students could learn about its influence on literature, culture and politics in a nonreligious setting.
That measure now heads to the House for a vote.