Long before the United States existed, early American leaders believed education was necessary so people could read the Bible for themselves.
In 1647, the Old Deluder Satan Act was passed in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The law required towns to establish schools so children could learn to read.
Why?
The law explained it directly:
“It being one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures…”
The leaders believed that if people couldn’t read the Bible, they could be deceived. So towns were required to hire teachers and start schools to ensure the next generation could read the Scriptures for themselves.
In other words:
One of the earliest education laws in America existed specifically to prevent biblical illiteracy.
This is another piece of American history that rarely gets mentioned today. Follow to hear more!
