In the Wake of Virginia Tech, commentators call for more Bible Study

The Tribune (CO): A guest commentator and local pastor believes that if Virginia Tech gun man, Cho Seung-Hui, had been raised with biblical morals and not "a solid diet of secular humanism," tragedy would have been prevented.

The commentator references historian David Barton when claiming that after the Supreme court ruled in 1961 that Bible study was not permitted in the classroom "there was an immediate increase in societal problems, including violent crime, divorce, unwed pregnancies, dropping test scores at all academic levels, etc."

Barton vehemently opposes the separation of church and state. He speaks with numerous state legislatures about their commitment to biblical values and has written amicus briefs in cases at the U.S. Supreme Court (see here, here, and here). Times magazine lists Barton as one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals. His website, WallBuilders.com lists as its goals:

"...to exert a direct and positive influence in government, education, and the family by (1) educating the nation concerning the Godly foundation of our country; (2) providing information to federal, state, and local officials as they develop public policies which reflect Biblical values; and (3) encouraging Christians to be involved in the civic arena."

The Republican National Committee employs Barton's services to mobilize the Christian vote. As Barton told Beliefnet.com: "I show them the Biblical basis for pastors being involved in civil government."

Christian Broadcasting Network (VA): Another version of the argument that the Bible shaped the minds and moral character of generations of young Americans, including those who formed the constitution. An excerpt:
"And with secular beliefs replacing scriptural doctrines, today it's widely assumed that man stands atop the evolutionary ladder, proud master of his own fate -- free from having to answer to anyone. Many Americans today seem to think that the path to freedom is to be free of God and the command of His holy Scriptures. But the Founding Fathers believed that the only true freedom comes from knowing this God and knowing His holy Word."

CNN: Texas legislators decided to make a course on the Bible optional, instead of mandatory. "I think the committee got the message that families and churches don't want the government to tell our children what to believe about the Bible," said Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network.

UPDATE: An Australian court found the man who had rapped a woman for studying the Bible guilty. The Australian media caught the attention of BibleBending for referring to the case as the "Bible rape case."