Bible is one of the top 10 most 'challenged' books in America

The Bible is now one of the most objected to books at US schools and libraries, having been challenged on grounds of the sex and violence it contains, and for the legal issues it raises, it was announced this week.

 Unsplash / Alejandro Escamilla

The Bible featured for the first time on the American Library Association (ALA)'s annual list of the top 10 most challenged books, released on Monday, alongside Fifty Shades of Grey.

"You have people who feel that if a school library buys a copy of the Bible, it's a violation of Church and state," said James LaRue, director of the office for intellectual freedom at the ALA.

"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."

Despite the high number of challenges, LaRue said the ALA does not object to having Bibles in public schools or libraries.

article,article,article,article Related

Having the Bible in a library "does not violate the separation of the Church and state as long as the library does not endorse or promote the views included in the Bible," he said.

The ALA defines a challenge as a "formal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness."

The Bible finished sixth on the list, which was topped by John Green's Looking for Alaska, with Fifty Shades of Grey coming second.

"Many of the books deal with issues of diversity," said La Rue. "And that often leads to challenges."

On the list were also two books telling stories of transgender people, Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Jeanette Winter's Nasreen's Secret School: A true Story from Afghanistan.

The list was compiled from 275 incidents of complaints, down from 311 in 2015.

The ALA did receive complaints about the Qur'an, but not as many as about the Bible, La Rue said.

related articles
We must get used to being offended. Without free speech democracy crumbles
We must get used to being offended. Without free speech democracy crumbles

We must get used to being offended. Without free speech democracy crumbles

'God's Not Dead 2' producer denies film is 'full of fake Christian persecution'

'God's Not Dead 2' producer denies film is 'full of fake Christian persecution'

Schools have \'moral obligation\' to protect students from extremism, says union head.
Schools have 'moral obligation' to protect students from extremism, says union head.

Schools have 'moral obligation' to protect students from extremism, says union head.

Why Tennessee making the Bible its official book is a waste of time
Why Tennessee making the Bible its official book is a waste of time

Why Tennessee making the Bible its official book is a waste of time

News
The unyielding faith of one woman that shook an empire
The unyielding faith of one woman that shook an empire

In the year AD 203, a young woman named Vibia Perpetua stepped into a Roman arena in Carthage, North Africa. The crowd jeered, wild beasts prowled, and death was certain. Yet she did not hesitate.

Joy in the journey – serving King Jesus, meeting King Charles
Joy in the journey – serving King Jesus, meeting King Charles

Nicki Duncalfe said 'yes' to God's call, leaving behind comfort and career to support her husband’s mission flying with MAF, raise her boys cross-culturally, and live out her faith in extraordinary ways.

Pope Leo XIV’s first Mass sends a defining message of faith in a distracted world
Pope Leo XIV’s first Mass sends a defining message of faith in a distracted world

Standing beneath Michelangelo’s towering fresco of the Last Judgement, newly elected Pope Leo XIV delivered his first papal homily in the Sistine Chapel, setting a bold and unmistakable tone for his pontificate. His message: reclaim an authentic vision of Jesus Christ or risk living in a state of “practical atheism”.

China clamps down on foreign missionaries
China clamps down on foreign missionaries

China has imposed sweeping restrictions on Christian practices.