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
This hyper-religiosity is making a significant minority of Americans absolutely plum crazy. I’d opt for a century without religion just so we can re-set our brains and try again. If there’s an eternal god, he or she could use the vacation.
Fortunately, for the rest of us, so is inebriation.
Michael Haz:
I find your comment peculiar. History demonstrates that legislative imbecility is contagious.
Tennessee is a state in the United States of America, last I heard.
So what? Unless you are a Tennessee resident, it doesn’t involve you. Move along.
Mike A is of course correct. There is no way that this law can be passed as Constitutional. It is an endorsement of one religion over others by the State.
What a dumb move on the part of the legislature. And rafflaw is correct as well. Waste of time AND money.
Agreed, rafflaw. And the taxpayer foots the bill.
Stupid is as stupid does. The Tennessee legislature is looking at a very expensive legal bill trying to defend this nonsense.
I did a word search on the First Amendment and couldn’t find the exact phrase “separation of state and church” (or “separation of church and state”). So, I guess, on that simplistic basis….
Except … different words and phrases can mean the same thing (even the dog is rolling her eyes as I type this). While this is patently obvious to most people, some seem to require that a thick, hardcover book be aggressively waved around for legitimacy. I suggest Roget’s Thesaurus.
So, we can use the shorthand phrase “separation of church and state,” or we can use the phrase “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
They mean the same thing, but the latter is a PITA to type. Given that the Founders were using quill and inkwell to write, it’s hardly surprising that Jefferson coined the shorthand.
But, for those whose religious beliefs forbid the recognition of synonyms, equivalent phrasing, terms of art, etc., remember: your limited, simplistic, literal approach would also result in a “free exercise” clause which only protects the right to naked calisthenics while praying.
@bigfatmike
LoL! Oh, I have a way to pick the state book in a way that is constitutional and fair to everybody. This is sooo simple I am surprised that nobody else thought of it! They just pick the book that has the most sales in the state! That way it might end up being The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, or 50 Shades of Gray, or the Bible!
Oh, am I a little problem solver, or not!!!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
@Squeeky: “Oh, am I a little problem solver, or not!!!”
I think you missed your true calling as a management consultant. I is not too late to consider a second career.
Fred Farklestone – “Let’s not forget this wonderful religious symbol! Does the Tennessee legislature also recognize it and if they don’t, why not?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster”
I would guess for two reasons: one, it’s not a real religious symbol and two, there isn’t enough support for it to be the states symbol.
There are a lot of great things about this country. One of them is the diversity and flexibility when it comes to religion, ethnicity, race, and other important facets which make up this ‘salad’. Some of the activities of some of the ‘things’ are to be taken seriously to the point of supreme sacrifice. Other activities of some of the things can only be laughed at. There is a sickness in religion taken to extremes. In cases like extreme Islam it is a cancer that must be cut out. In cases like Tennessee, laughter is the best medicine. If they take it too seriously, it will be a test for the higher elements of our society: Constitution, Bill of Rights, and above all the supreme element, common sense.
Go ahead Tennessee, we need a good laugh.
Hmmm. Maybe they should have picked Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “Cities of the Red Night” instead??? I hear that one’s quite a romp with Tarzan and pirates and detectives.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
” I hear that one’s quite a romp with Tarzan and pirates and detectives.”
You are referring to the Turley blog…right?
There is not much to debate here, actually. The proposed legislation violates the Establishment Clause because it would constitute official state endorsement of Christianity.
Besides, I’m quite certain that the text envisioned by these intellectual giants is the KJV. As a Catholic, I cannot support government adoption of heresy. If Tennessee specifies the Douay-Rheims version in the legislation, I’ll reconsider my position.
Let’s not forget this wonderful religious symbol! Does the Tennessee legislature also recognize it and if they don’t, why not?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster
The phucking bible, fairy tales for those whose thinking stopped, around the time they came out of diapers!
I see that the Tennessee branch of ISIS is doing very well, in the Tennessee State Legislature!
How soon before it will be lawful to blow away anyone that doesn’t kowtow to your religious beliefs?
That’s about all that’s left for the Legislature to make lega,l or am I missing something?
has
Here are the state icons and symbols of the great State of Tennessee.
http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Tennessee/Tennesseestatesymbols.html
Wouldn’t this be moving closer to Iran’s model of government [theocracy] than James Madison’s model of government?
Article VI of the U.S. Constitution also bans a religious test to hold government office and an oath to the U.S. Constitution.
Awwww. Geeeze.
Don’t they have anything better to do in the Tennessee government. What a waste of time.
Why does the state have to have official fish, books or really official anything else. I get the State flag and maybe a State song. But this is ridiculous. What next State fungus? State disease? California could claim Valley Fever…. I suppose.
DBQ – The Valley of the Sun also have Valley fever. 🙁