It has been nearly 20 years since religious study majors received state-funded scholarships, but that practice might soon be ending.

State lawmakers are finally working toward allowing religious study majors to secure their deserved amount of money, and it's about time.

It is discriminatory to deny someone funding because of his or her collegiate choice of study.

If high school students pass the required sections on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program test or qualify to receive the Michigan Educational Opportunity Grant, there is no reason they should not be given their deserved money because of a major or field of study.

If students plan to go to a private seminary school instead of college or a university, than obviously giving them money is an infringement on separation of church and state.

However, if the students in question planned to attend publicly-funded schools and universities, the money they earned should be given to and used by them.

Not all students going to public universities to study religion wish to continue their studies at a seminary. If history majors focusing on theology get money, it's only fair theology majors receive money as well.

If a public university offers courses and majors dealing with religion, philosophy, theology, etc., students should not be denied funding for studying within those fields.

The state should have no say in who can receive a general scholarship they earned while in high school because of what they plan to study in college.

Scholarships like MEAP are intended for students going to publicly funded universities. So if those students choose to study religion at a public institution, the money should still be theirs.