Oklahoma's Bible Mandate—Ryan Walters' Latest Misstep in Church-State Separation
Why should anyone even know who Oklahoma's State Superintendent is?
In an unsurprising move that seems more suited to the 19th century than the 21st, Oklahoma’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, has mandated the teaching of the Bible in public schools. This decision comes hot on the heels of a controversial state Supreme Court ruling against a religious charter school, prompting Walters to double down on injecting religion into the state’s education system.
Effective immediately, Oklahoma schools are now required to incorporate the Bible into their curriculum for grades five through twelve. Every classroom must also host a copy of the Bible, because apparently, Oklahoma’s education priorities are stuck somewhere between Sunday school and the Middle Ages.
Walters, known for his crusade to blend church and state, insists that this move is essential for students to grasp the "historical understanding" of our nation’s founding principles. One can only wonder which version of history he’s been reading—one where the Founding Fathers apparently drafted the Constitution with a Bible in one hand and the Ten Commandments in the other.
Opposition to this theocratic overreach has been swift and fierce. Americans United for Separation of Church and State rightly lambasted Walters for trampling on the religious freedoms of Oklahoma’s diverse student population. Their CEO, Rachel Laser, denounced Walters’ actions as textbook Christian Nationalism—a term that aptly describes his attempts to impose his religious beliefs on an entire generation.
This isn’t Walters' first rodeo in pushing his agenda. Since assuming office, he’s spared no effort in “putting God back in schools,” as if public education were incomplete without a daily dose of divine intervention. From vilifying educators with unconventional sidelines to spearheading rules against gender identity changes in school records, Walters has made it clear that his vision for education aligns more with indoctrination than enlightenment.
Governor Kevin Stitt, another figure in Oklahoma’s religious revivalist drama, has backed Walters’ initiatives, endorsing everything from mandatory prayer time to affirming the existence of good and evil in the state’s education guidelines. Such endorsements only serve to solidify Oklahoma’s descent into theocratic territory, where state policy mimics the plotlines of a Sunday sermon.
In a twist of irony—or perhaps justice—the state Supreme Court recently struck down funding for a Catholic charter school, citing violations of both state and federal law. Walters predictably cried foul, decrying the decision as an affront to Christian liberty. Fortunately, Attorney General Gentner Drummond intervened, reminding us that true religious freedom is protected by keeping the government out of the business of promoting any specific faith.
As Oklahoma continues its dance with constitutional boundaries, one can only hope that reason and respect for diversity prevail. Until then, Superintendent Walters’ Bible mandate stands as a glaring testament to how far some are willing to go in blurring the lines between church and state. If history has taught us anything, it’s that this sort of religious fervor in public policy rarely ends well for anyone except those in power.
Head over to our website to find out more about us at: sacrilegiousdiscourse.com
Catch up on our latest episodes by listening to our “Bible Study by Atheists Weekly” episode.
This week we cover Ezekiel Chapters 31 - 35 and our Saturday Q&A
Also, be sure to check out our Merch shop where you can find our podcast related items as well as some great atheist and science themed merch!