The Blaze
The American Library Association (ALA) fielded 275 formal challenges to materials in school libraries in 2015, and, for the first time ever, the Bible landed on the top 10 list.
Why was the holy book challenged? According to the ALA, “religious viewpoint” was the only reason cited. But that isn’t necessarily the only issue some people have with the Bible sitting on school library shelves.
“You have people who feel that if a school library buys a copy of the Bible, it’s a violation of church and state,” ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF) Director James LaRue told the Associated Press. “And sometimes there’s a retaliatory action, where a religious group has objected to a book and a parent might respond by objecting to the Bible.”
This development coincides with the belief shared by the majority of Americans that religious liberty is in decline. However, along with that belief is the feeling that American Christians complain too often about the way they are treated.
Though this is the first time the religious book has made it to the top 10 list, 2015 did mark a downward trend in the number of complaints fielded. The ALA registered 311 complaints in 2014 and 307 in 2013. The average number of complaints lodged generally falls between 300 and 600 per year.
The AFA compiles the top 10 list by collecting “anecdotal data derived from media stories and voluntary reports sent to OIF about book challenges in communities across the United States,” according to the association’s website.
Article continues: See the Top Ten List of Books
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