MS HB200

Requires each school district to offer a secular program of education on religion and the Bible in high schools as elective courses for grades 9-12.

Mandates that the program include objective study of religion and the Bible, with courses covering Hebrew Scriptures and Old Testament, New Testament, and combined study of both.

Specifies that courses must maintain religious neutrality, cannot endorse or disfavor any particular religion or nonreligious faith, and must comply with state and federal laws prohibiting sectarian teaching.

Allows students to avoid being required to use a specific Bible translation as the sole text for courses.

Permits local school boards to include religious references in other courses when incidental and not constituting aid to any religious sect.