By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – The seven to five vote Wednesday in favor of the bill came after a more than three-hour public hearing. During the hearing Republicans and representatives of Christian groups questioned the need for the course and accused Democratic supporters of playing politics with religion. The vote fell along party lines. Democratic members voted in favor of the measure and Republicans voted against it. Most of the opponents objected to the bill specifying that the course would use a new textbook titled ``The Bible and Its Influence.'' The opponents say the textbook includes questionable content and bypasses the state Board of Education process for selecting textbooks. But the sponsor of the bill, House Majority Leader Representative Ken Guin, says the course will provide a constitutional way to teach the Bible in public schools.