Well, I don't want to seem like I support the white-washing of abuses and atrocities committed by the various religions or societies in human history, but I think this quote says quite a bit:
The Institute for Curriculum Services, a Jewish group set up in 2004 to scrutinize textbooks, was upset by the book's statement that archaeology and ancient Egyptian records don't support the Biblical account of the Exodus of the Israelite slaves from Egypt. While conceding this was true, the group said the book didn't apply the same skepticism to Islamic or Christian events, such as when it said that "ancient writings" and the Gospel according to Matthew relate that "wise men (probably philosophers or astrologers) followed a brightly shining star" when Jesus was born.
Others faiths do tend to be unjustly maligned, especially when compared to a "normal" faith like Christianity. So when
[h]indu groups, in particular, have swamped California authorities with proposed revisions, which would delete or soften references to polytheism, the caste system and the inferior status of women in ancient India.
While I would not want to eliminate references that traditionally Hinduism has supported very illiberal system in India, I have to ask whether these same text books explain how traditional Christianity supported aristocracy, a feudal class system, the killing of heretics, and an equally inferior status of women in Medieval Europe?
The complaints may have justification, even if I disagree with the requested remedies.
"Intellectually, scientifically, even artistically, fundamentalism -- biblical literalism -- is a road to nowhere, because it insists on fidelity to revealed truths that are not true." -- Katha Pollitt
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