Usually the selection of a state bird or state song is not particularly divisive or even notable. The same goes for a state book (though it seems a bit odd to select a single book for a state unless it is written by a native son or daughter). Louisiana however could find itself in court as it moves to make the Bible the state book. Rep. Thomas Carmody, R-Shreveport, proposed the official adoption but insisted that it should not be viewed as any type of state endorsement. It is simply the selection of one faith’s religious book as the official book for the entire state. Who could possibly view that as a state endorsement?
It does seem at times that religious legislators look for any opportunity to entangle government with religion. This seems particularly gratuitous. Indeed, the best defense for the state may be that the selection is really quite meaningless. However, there are presumably some government action — and clearly endorsement — associated with the selection.
A House committee has approved the selection by an 8-5 vote so it will now go to the full House for debate. The concern is that few members want to be seen voting against the Bible. In the meantime, a state that has long been denounced for its lack of funding of key programs, particularly educational programs, would be triggering another costly court fight in its effort to endorse a religious faith.
Carmody insisted that the adoption of the religious book for one faith is “not to the exclusion of anyone else’s sacred literature.” Of course, their books would be excluded from the list of official state books but that is not exclusion from . . . well its just not exclusion.
He received bipartisan support for his measure with favorable votes from Reps. Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia; Johnny Berthelot, R-Gonzales; Robert Billiot, D-Westwego; Terry Brown, I-Colfax; Mike Danahay, D-Sulphur; Dalton Honore, D-Baton Rouge; Stephen Ortego, D-Carencro; and Tom Willmott, R-Kenner.
The greatest irony is that some opposition has come not in the adoption of the Bible but what version of the Bible would be adopted — potentially triggering an intra-sectarian fight. Will it be the King James version or some other version?
If the Bible is the official state book, there may be demands that it be featured more prominently in Louisiana schools, incorporated into lessons, and even promoted on state sites or campaigns. Then citizens can be exalted to read such passages as John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Carmody in the meantime has continued to express disbelief that anyone would see a constitutional issue or be insulted in any way. After all, he insisted “It’s not meant to be offensive. There’s no requirement that they would have to follow this particular text.” Of course note, he is not seeking to bar you from reading other books. However, if he is successful, there can be only one state book and that is the Bible.
Carmody is a real estate broker and a founding member of the Louisiana Legislative Conservative Coalition.
By the way, if the state were to honor a great Louisiana book (one of my favorites), an obvious choice would be A Confederacy of Dunces by American novelist John Kennedy Toole. It seems as relevant today as in 1980. After all, Carmody may find the views of the main character, Ignatius, rather attractive. Ignatius insisted that “with the breakdown of the medieval system, the gods of chaos, lunacy, and bad taste gained ascendancy.” and warned that “[a] firm rule must be imposed upon our nation before it destroys itself. The United States needs some theology and geometry, some taste and decency. I suspect that we are teetering on the edge of the abyss.”
Source: NOLA
The first compiled Bible came from The Catholic Church in about 325AD. It has books than the KJV, and the KJV wasn’t written in the English Language until the 1600’s.
The Islamic religion did not begin until Mohammad began to have revelations about 610 AD. the Quran came much later. Therefore, using the Koran would not be feasible.
There is no Constitutional rule that would keep the people of LA from having a Bible as their state book (Read davidm2575, above).
The people of Louisiana would have to vote to decide if they want a Bible and which version they would want to consider as their state Bible.
AY – the Bible, when capitalized refers to the OId Testament and with Christians the New Testament. And yes, you are correct, bible does mean book. Much as you stretch it, I do not think they are talking about the Fisherman’s Bible (which I am not sure is an actual book, but certainly could be). Would you like to source your comment to Mespo regarding the KJV?
Mespo… Just so you know… One version of the KJV states that that thou shalt commit adultery… I think 5 are still out there….
Meso – there are over 40 generally recognized versions of the Bible. If the legislature takes a middle road and just selects “The Bible” everyone gets to choose for themselves.
Dredd,
After what you said…. I feel the need to yawn……
AY – no one and I mean no one, accepts the Gnostic gospels or Lost Gospels as they are known as something that should be part of the Bible. They are interesting to read, but have no validity for Christianity.
Dredd,
It’s just a devisive tool used to keep people in line…
What AY said.
AY – there are three major religions who accept the Old Testament, which makes up part of the Bible. The Koran is not the Bible, but rather the collected saying of Mohammad and printed by length of verse. Islam, Christianity and Judaism all accept the Old Testament, they are the People of the Book.
More money…. For LEO…
Seriously David?
Ok David…. I vote for the Koran……. This is one of those hollow points…. Like if you vote against the bible you’re not a Christian….. Or if you vote against more more for the LEO budget you are soft on crime…. It’s all a smoke screen….
Why didn’t my post make sense David….. No wriggle room….
Ok…. Now that you’ve said the vulgate why ? Why not the gnostic gospels as written…,
Third part…. What kind of oath of office did the legislators in Louisiana take…..to uphold the laws of the land…… Both the state and federal….. Would not entertaining a law such as this be in the class of treason…..
AY wrote: “Why didn’t my post make sense David….. No wriggle room….”
Seriously? You wrote: “Which religion should be the predominate bible of the state of Louisiana ?”
Religion does not equal bible. Religion cannot be the bible. Religion cannot be the predominate bible. It makes no sense to ask which religion should be the predominate bible. It is like saying, “which car should be the predominate gasoline.”
Well played mespo….
Annie…. Since Dearborn area of Michigan has one of the highest concentration of Muslims outside the Middle East….. You have a very excellent point….
Frankly:
“First question should be “WHICH BIBLE?”. ”
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I vote the Gnostic “bible”. From the The Infancy Gospel of Thomas:
3 And a certain Jew when he saw what Jesus did, playing upon the Sabbath day, departed straightway and told his father Joseph: Lo, thy child is at the brook, and he hath taken clay and fashioned twelve little birds, and hath polluted the Sabbath day. 4 And Joseph came to the place and saw: and cried out to him, saying: Wherefore doest thou these things on the Sabbath, which it is not lawful to do? But Jesus clapped his hands together and cried out to the sparrows and said to them: Go! and the sparrows took their flight and went away chirping. 5 And when the Jews saw it they were amazed, and departed and told their chief men that which they had seen Jesus do.
III. 1 But the son of Annas the scribe was standing there with Joseph; and he took a branch of a willow and dispersed the waters which Jesus had gathered together. 2 And when Jesus saw what was done, he was wroth and said unto him: O evil, ungodly, and foolish one, what hurt did the pools and the waters do thee? behold, now also thou shalt be withered like a tree, and shalt not bear leaves, neither root, nor fruit. 3 And straightway that lad withered up wholly, but Jesus departed and went unto Joseph’s house. But the parents of him that was withered took him up, bewailing his youth, and brought him to Joseph, and accused him ‘for that thou hast such a child which doeth such deeds.’
IV. 1 After that again he went through the village, and a child ran and dashed against his shoulder. And Jesus was provoked and said unto him: Thou shalt not finish thy course (lit. go all thy way). And immediately he fell down and died. But certain when they saw what was done said: Whence was this young child born, for that every word of his is an accomplished work? And the parents of him that was dead came unto Joseph, and blamed him, saying: Thou that hast such a child canst not dwell with us in the village: or do thou teach him to bless and not to curse: for he slayeth our children.
Here’s some interesting facts from the 1994 (the latest data we have) Louisiana Survey of Adult Literacy:
“Twenty-four to 26 percent of the adults in Louisiana demonstrated skills in the lowest level of prose, document, and quantitative proficiencies (Level 1). Though all adults in this level displayed limited skills, their characteristics are diverse …”
“The average literacy proficiencies of adults in Louisiana (257 to 263 across the scales) were comparable to those of adults living in the South.”
“There are no significant differences in literacy proficiency between foreign-born adults nationwide who have lived in the United States for one to five years and those who have lived here for six to ten years.”
“Eight percent of the Louisiana residents were enrolled in school or college at the time of the survey, and these individuals had higher literacy proficiencies, on average, than adults who were not enrolled in an academic program.”
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As Jefferson said,”if a nation expects to be ignorant & free, in a state of civilisation [sic], it expects what never was & never will be.” (letter to Charles Yancey, 6 January 1816)
So is Michigan going to make the Quran their state book next? No? Why not?!
Which religion should be the predominate bible of the state of Louisiana ? David…..
AY, your question does not make sense, but if you mean what should be the State book if the Fourteenth Amendment were repealed, it would be whatever book the State legislature votes it to be.
Most of the religions present in Louisiana embrace the Bible as a good book, so there probably would not be much objection to it. If they wanted to get clever, perhaps they should vote in Jerome’s Latin Vulgate version because of its antiquity and because it has served as a basis in most versions of the Bible that have ever been developed.
And his claim this is not preferential probably makes good sense to a guy who considers other religions False Religions anyway….
First question should be “WHICH BIBLE?”. It should be fun to see how the various denominations defend their version of the one and only true version.
Once they settle that question to everyone’s satisfaction I’m OK with it. It will just be one more in a very long list of books people in LA have never read.
Paul, your list jogged my memory a bit for my own State. The State motto of Florida is the same as our National motto: “In God We Trust.” Florida has these words written on the State Seal and also on the State Flag. They also are written on the bottom of standard automobile license plates, but tag holders can opt for a license plate which shows the county name instead of the motto, “In God We Trust.”
To my knowledge, we do not have a “State Book.” 🙂
State Symbols of Arizona
State Motto: Ditat Deus (“God Enriches”)
State Nickname: Grand Canyon State
State Songs: “Arizona March Song” and “Arizona”
State Flower: Saguaro Cactus Blossom
State Gem: Turquoise
State Tree: Palo Verde
State Bird: Cactus Wren
State Fossil: Petrified Wood
State Mammal: Ringtail
State Reptile: Arizona Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake
State Fish: Apache Trout
State Amphibian: Arizona Tree Frog
Official Neckwear: Bola Tie
If Arizona adopts a book it will probably be titled “Fun Facts about the Skin Cancer Capitol of the US”
Fun fact – Arizona has more coastline than the US Pacific coast.