Religious illiteracy is still rather common across the world.
New curriculum guidelines set by the Texas Education Agency include biblical principles. One of the references mentions the "Sermon on the Mount" where Jesus gave his most famous sermons to people about how to live a life full of love and grace and that is pleasing to God.
However, there's been some blowback from people about the new guidelines that include the bible references.
In a recent news report by CBS 5 in Austin, they referred to the historical event as the "Sermon on the Mound." The Texas Public Policy Foundation believes that is a good example of the cultural illiteracy that still exists in the media and in the country.
Sherry Sylvester is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. She says the new curriculum guidelines can familiarize people about major historical events.
"What is important to recognize about what's in the Texas Education Agency curriculum is that it provides a variety of historical references that are critical to western culture," she said.
The "Sermon on the Mount" introduced the idea of being kind to people and treating everyone fairly. Sylvester said it's frightening that people wouldn't know about arguably the greatest sermon ever given.
"Educated Jewish students and educated Muslim students know about this because this is part of western culture," Sylvester said.
Sylvester said the guidelines are not about making kids in school become Christian but rather teach them about a historical event involving Jesus giving an important speech and how it shaped a lot about Western Civilization.
"It's teaching people to understand the culture and the philosophical framework for hat we believe as Americans," said Sylvester. "If you do not know this, you're illiterate."