Despite far more pressing problems, Tennessee Senate and House committees have been working to make the Bible the official book of Tennessee — adding the Bible with catfish (the state fish) as a symbol of the state. Of course, cat fish are not matters of faith (beyond the hope and prayer of every fisherman). The House sponsor, Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Bean Station, added “talking points” to bill. Sexton was only elected in 2015 but is wasting no time in trying to rollback on the separation of church and state.
The bill was approved by the Senate State and Local Government Committee by a 7-0-2 vote. Only two abstained. Not a single opposing vote. The House State Government Committee approved the bill (HBO615) by a voice vote about an hour later.
Rep. William Lamberth, R-Cottontown insists that it must be constitutional because “It doesn’t in any way, shape, form or fashion say that anyone has to read this book. It doesn’t mean anyone has to believe in the tenets of this book.”
Legislators could argue that they are associating the state with the generally accepted elements of the Bible such as the values expressed in the book. However, rabbis and clerics of other religious are objecting. The book also ascribes to one view of the Almighty. Moreover, the official designation will require some state action by employees in listing and featuring the book. It would raise an interesting and potentially expensive court case for the state. If the legislators tried to erect a monument to the Bible, there would be a credible challenge. What is the difference between a monument on the grounds and this designation?
Putting aside the question of the separation of powers, the claim of constitutionality does not make this the right thing to do. There are many citizens in Tennessee who follow other faiths or no faith. This is the majority forcing all citizens to associate with the religious book of one faith. If one truly believe in free exercise of religion, it should come with a respect for the faiths of others. The concept of tolerance and pluralism runs deeply in our values as a nation.
The fact that not a single member had the courage to oppose this bill on principle is a deeply sad reflection on our current politics. Imagine who people would feel is a bill passed making the Koran the official book or the Torah. It is not enough to say that you might be able to get away with dong something wrong — I learned that as a kid from the Bible.
Source: The Tennessean
Establishment Clause violation?
This raises the question WHICH Bible, and this should be interesting since wars were fought over which Bible is the official one. Maybe we can hope for a civil war within TN to diminish their voting strength in Congress as they fight it out. But TN has a long tradition of denying science, and promoting religion, so this is not a surprise, except for how long it took for the right wing nuts to get around to this one. I like the pastors comment that rather than honoring the Bible it diminishes it to the level of the catfish, or the mockingbird, which is quite appropriate for their state bird, since these legislators are mocking the Bible rather than honoring it.
I meant a violation of the separation of church and state.
It’s inappropriate and constitutionally wrong to make a religious book the symbol of a state. An area can be known as “The Bible Belt” but to go beyond that and incorporate it as the state symbol is a violation of church and state.
Karen – it is not the state symbol, it is the state book. States have books, trees, flowers, birds, ties, etc.
Besides being constitutionally offensive and monumentally stupid, these solemn solons did not designate WHICH bible they mean!! There is the Jewish version which could be just the Pentateuch (a/k/a Torah), or even the expanded version that Christians call “The Old Testament”; but all those are in Hebrew. A little hard for most legislators to read. Then there is the Latin Vulgate, which is the official translation approved by the Pope of the original Hebrew and Greek texts of the Old and New. And if we move into English then do they want the Douey-Rheims translation of the Latin Vulgate (Catholic) or the “King James” (protestant) translation of the Papal Latin Vulgate. There are in fact differences there with not only a different numbering of the Ten Commandments, but a different number of “books” in the new testament. This would probably make the legislators’ brains ache. But the governor can save them from this with a veto.
m – I think they left it up to the purchaser to select the version they liked. Free enterprise.
Bible Thumper
http://disney-clipart.com/bambi/jpg/Thumper-1-lg.jpg
Hi Nick
On the other hand, this does suggest they can read – which is usually a positive sign.
Maybe he means the bible as literature?
Maybe he should base it on what the citizens actually read – hmmm should we make the state book Readers Digest the National Enquirer, or Chilton’s Repair Guide for the 1983 F-150?
http://www.tncrimlaw.com/law/constit/I.html#3
§ 3. Freedom of worship
That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience; that no man can of right be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship, or to maintain any minister against his consent; that no human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience; and that no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment or mode of worship.
Well Nick,
Lately I have designed bizarre interpretations of events as it is more than obvious that cops shouldn’t shoot guys in the back while they are fleeing and visibly harmless, and science fiction based religion should be able to compete with traditional fairy tales, etc. But, I will need a little time to reflect on how to make this sound more bizarre. The day is young. It might have ‘blackened catfish’ or ‘noodling’ in it.
Time to abandon this thread!
evolved, Both the extreme left and extrem right have a fundamental derision for the Constitution.
Only Christians live in Tenn?
http://youtu.be/XovWN3L4CLo
What about the poor minority that like trout?
You’re right that there’s no specific “separation of state and church” but there’s a clear prohibition against state-sponsored religion. A total waste of taxpayer dollars, this one will go down in flames as an unConstitutional move.
JT, When I speak of our “evangelical atheist” I am referencing Isaac. We have a good relationship, although ideologically different in most categories. He is not the kind of person who will email you and demand a deletion. We kid each other often. We’re both adults.
The state tie of Arizona is the bolo tie and I don’t wear one. Arizona has a bunch of state ….
Isaac, I wonder what you will have to say on this??
Is the catfish being the state fish a violation of state and fish? Besides anyone that knows their history at all knows that there is no such thing as separation of state and church… read the 1st amendment again if you think that there is?=.
That being said the naming of state books or fish is not a proper function of government…..