The attacks on the Bible continue to ramp up, this time in the surprise state of Utah. With a list citing verses from Genesis to Revelation, a parent is calling for the Word of God to be removed from a high school library for being “pornographic.” A request filed on Dec. 11, 2022, with the Davis School District, located just north of Salt Lake City, calls the Bible “one of the most sex-ridden books around” and, therefore, violates Utah state code, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. According to a copy of the request obtained by The Tribune, which has since been taken down, the parent — whose name, address and contact information were not disclosed for privacy concerns — specifically asked for the Bible to be removed at Davis High School in Kaysville, about 15 miles north of Salt Lake City. The parent also included with the request a list of more than 130 passages from Scripture the parent described as offensive, even including the very words of Jesus Himself.
The code referenced in the request defines pornographic and harmful materials as those which include a “description or depiction of illicit sex or sexual immorality” or a “nude or partially denuded figure.” However, the code notes that such definitions do not apply to any material with “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors,” which could likely include the Old and New Testaments. In submitting the request, the parent referred to Utah Parents United, a conservative parental rights group that, in recent months, has challenged various books in school libraries under Utah’s HB374. The statute prohibits “certain sensitive instructional materials in public schools.”
Some of the Bible verses referenced in the request include several laws for the people of Israel given to Moses at Mount Sinai, including laws regarding homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22), incest and bestiality (Deuteronomy 27:20-23), and sexual assault (Judges 19:22-29). According to the request, red-letter verses — denoting Jesus’ words — from Revelation 2 are also pornographic: “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”
Davis School District spokesperson Christopher Williams said has received 81 requests to review books following the passage of HB374, including one request to review the Bible. “At this point, it is also one of many that is in the process of being reviewed by a Sensitive Material Review Committee,” Williams said via email. “The process to review any book for possible removal from school libraries is time-consuming. However, parents, at any time, can request that their individual child not have access to specific books. Those requests have always been granted.” The challenge is expected to take roughly 60 days to complete from the original submission date.
Utah Parents United, meanwhile, called the complaint a “political stunt.” “It is clear from the petition that challenging the Bible was a political stunt. It has nothing to do with content in schools,” the group said in a statement on Facebook.
Biblical Connection: The Bible is inspired by God and is perfect (2 Timothy 3:16). Satan has been casting doubt on the words of God from the very beginning all the way back to the Garden of Eden. It was there that Satan first questioned God’s commands and has been continuing this process throughout history. As our culture moves away from our theological foundation, it will continue to attack the Bible and try to discredit it in any way possible.
PRAY: Pray that these baseless attacks against the Scriptures will be thwarted and that a respect for God’s Word will again reign throughout the land.