The textbook publishers claim they don't censor their history and English textbook writers, but merely apply "rules of sensitivity." God is banned "because he or she is too religious" a term and may cause someone to be offended.

What other words are also considered offensive? A Reuters news report published on CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/05/28/life.language.reut/index.html) says, "you can't find anyone riding on a yacht or playing polo in the pages of an American textbook either. The texts also can't say someone has a boyish figure, or is a busboy, or is blind, or suffers a birth defect, or is a biddy, or the best man for the job, a babe, a bookworm or even a barbarian.

"All these words are banned from U.S. textbooks on the grounds that they are either elitist (polo, yacht) sexist (babe, boyish figure), offensive (blind, bookworm), [or] ageist (biddy)."

We should show kindness and sensitivity toward others, and not cause needless offense. The apostle Paul once said that he would not eat meat if it would cause another to be offended (1 Corinthians 8:13). But can we take this principle too far? When we become so concerned about not offending that we blur the standards of right and wrong, good and evil, what pleases God and what doesn't, and even God's loving direction in our lives, we've obviously gone too far. This is what happens when we can't mention God, or talk about His standards of right and wrong, because "it might offend someone." Jesus Christ said, "Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me" (Matthew 11:6).