On Wednesday, schools across Oklahoma received unsettling packages purporting to come from the State Department of Education (OSDE). The packages contained 80 pages of what was claimed to be biblical teachings and were accompanied by a cover letter describing them as a “Supplemental Supervisory Document.”
However, the OSDE has disavowed any connection to these documents.
Among the materials in the package, which was reviewed by StateImpact, was a document titled “The Book of Aaron: A Lost Book of the Pentateuch” by Julian of the Jains. The document claimed to have been discovered in Syria in 2008 and translated by an entity named “Syncretic Pedagogical Services, LLC.” The copyright was listed under “the Beast of the Sea,” a reference to the Antichrist from the Biblical Book of Revelations.
The text, presented as a continuation of the Biblical narrative, features a portrayal of Moses and his brother Aaron. The translator’s note controversially declares, “Submit now, Aaronites: for I am the Antichrist, and your scriptures compel you to grant unto me three and a half years of power and authority over you.” It further criticizes modern issues such as the greenhouse effect and technological influences on children’s minds.
StateImpact found no verifiable information about Syncretic Pedagogical Services, LLC. The cover letter described the organization as a “privately funded think tank of religious scholarship,” but this description lacked any credible foundation.
The packages were marked with an OSDE return label but lacked an official seal, and postage was applied using three Forever stamps. The cover letter, allegedly from State Superintendent Ryan Walters, was signed as “Secretary of Education,” a title not held by Walters.
The letter stated:
“Effective June 27, 2024, the Holy Bible is now classified as Printed Pedagogical Material under Oklahoma law. Consequently, the Department is required to distribute a Supplemental Supervisory Document of the Holy Bible to all qualifying Oklahoma public school classrooms. As none of the Department’s approved suppliers provide a suitable product, we have engaged Syncretic Pedagogical Services LLC to produce a Supervisory Document for distribution.”
Dan Isett, an OSDE spokesperson, confirmed that the packages were fraudulent. Isett suggested, without evidence, that the incident might be connected to investor and philanthropist George Soros.
“The documents include a forged Oklahoma state seal and a counterfeit signature of Superintendent Walters,” Isett said. “This situation is extremely serious, and any attempts to mislead Oklahoma schools will be dealt with rigorously. We urge all districts receiving these packages to report them to local authorities and contact OSDE with any inquiries.”
This article was originally published by StateImpact Oklahoma. StateImpact Oklahoma is a collaborative effort among Oklahoma’s public radio stations, relying on reader and listener support to continue its public service mission.