Many People Sign Paper Saying Republicans Shouldn't Use Hijacking of Jesus!

A recent petition initiated by Faithful America, an organization committed to promoting social justice through Christian values, has gathered nearly 13,500 signatures. The petition implores Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education (DOE) to halt what it describes as the “hijacking of Jesus’s name” within the state’s civics education curriculum.

The organization accuses the state of infusing the curriculum with Christian nationalist ideology, thereby compromising the separation of church and state.

The controversy centers around Florida’s Civics Seal of Excellence program, a component of Governor DeSantis’ broader Civics Literacy Excellence Initiative. This program incentivizes teachers with a $3,000 bonus for completing a 60-hour online civics course.

Critics argue that the course propagates a distorted view of American history, suggesting that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and that the Ten Commandments form the basis of U.S. law. Faithful America asserts that such teachings are not only historically inaccurate but also infringe upon the constitutional principle of separating church and state.

In its petition, Faithful America outlines several points of contention. The organization claims that the course includes misleading statements, such as “the separation of Church and State did not mean the separation of God and government,” which it argues misrepresents the First Amendment.

The First Amendment ensures individuals’ rights to practice any religion freely while prohibiting the government from establishing any religion. By incorporating religious elements into public school education, the petitioners believe the state is overstepping constitutional boundaries.

Faithful America supports its claims by pointing to screenshots and notes from the training course published by journalist Judd Legum on Substack. These materials reportedly include Bible verses and quotes from Christian leaders, reinforcing the notion that the Founding Fathers were deeply influenced by Judeo-Christian traditions. According to Faithful America, this amounts to an endorsement of Christian nationalism in public education.

Governor DeSantis, a vocal opponent of what he describes as “woke” ideology, has defended the civics initiative. At a 2022 event, he stated, “We’re unabashedly promoting civics and history that is accurate, and that is not trying to push an ideological agenda.” DeSantis has positioned Florida as a state where “woke goes to die,” emphasizing his commitment to combating perceived ideological bias in education.

Despite DeSantis’ assurances, Faithful America and other critics remain unconvinced. They argue that the course is part of a broader effort to impose a particular religious worldview on public school students. The petition calls for an immediate suspension of the program and a thorough review of all civics education materials to ensure they honor the principle of church-state separation.

The petition’s significant support reflects a broader concern among many Christians who oppose the intertwining of religion with government functions. Faithful America’s petition urges the Florida DOE to respect religious diversity and uphold the secular nature of public education, preventing any form of religious indoctrination.

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As the debate continues, it highlights the ongoing tension between different interpretations of the First Amendment and the appropriate role of religion in public life. The outcome of this controversy could have significant implications for civics education and the broader discourse on church-state separation in the United States.