Tenn. Bill: No Religious Doctrine until High School

Tennessee lawmakers have proposed a bill to stop religious doctrine from being taught in public schools until high school.

The move comes after parents complained that their children are being taught about Islam and its influence on other religions.

State officials acknowledge that students may learn the five pillars of Islam for historical context.

"I think that probably the teaching that is going on right now in seventh, eighth grade is not age appropriate," the bill's sponsor, Rep. Sheila Butt, told The Tennessean. "They are not able to discern a lot of times whether it is indoctrination or whether they're learning about what a religion teaches."

The bill says if a religion is mentioned, it should be referenced and not taught as doctrine to students.

Current Tennessee law allows the Bible to be taught as long as teachers stay away from teaching "religious doctrine or sectarian interpretation."