Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Politics, Religion, Society

Tennessee Moves To Make Bible The Official State Book

h35180px-Gideons_BibleDespite 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.

11-13-12 Lamberth_William State RepRep. 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

227 thoughts on “Tennessee Moves To Make Bible The Official State Book”

  3. “Of course, cat fish are not matters of faith (beyond the hope and prayer of every fisherman). ”

    Incorrect.

    I can prove from thoroughly “mainstream” texts and images, that the historical person with the initials “YHW” (not a misprint) is aka “VishNu”, with the icon of the Catfish, an avatar of VishNu called “Matsya.”

    Yes, I said historical person. His mummy still exists. Remarkably well-preserved.

    It is also the source of the “mysterious king called “Catfish” icon in predynastic Egypt.

    The Hindu/Christian/Jewish/Muslim/Buddhist faiths all have the same historical person as the “supreme” god. All of them.

    Again: ALL of them.

  4. So what “bible” are these clowns going to use…KJV? NIV? The original Greek? Nah…this is the USA so it will no doubt be the Scofield Propaganda Bible (with all those helpful notes putting “Israel” above Jesus). Kirk Cameron will be proud. Maybe the Tribulation Fooooorrrce! will be based out of TN.

  5. Maybe they should READ it instead of WAVING it. The OLD tetstament is a manual of hate and bigotry—
    Abraham was thrown OUT of Ur for being a pimp and a blackmailer, something he did TWICE more in the bible. Jacob was a weasel who conspired with his mother to decieve his Father and STEAL the birthright from his brother, and after happily accepting meat from his brother, refused to SHARE his own food. Jacob was SCUM, like ALL his descendents.
    Let’s keep in mind that the first recorded sex slave–at least as far as the history of Western Civilization is concerned–was Sarah, the wife of Abraham. According to the ordeal as described in the bible, TWICE the father of Judaism sold his wife into prostitution for his own personal enrichment. Giving credence to that old saying concerning an apple not falling far from the tree we have Abraham’s son Isaac who–following in his father’s footsteps–attempted the same thing with his wife Rebecca. A few chapters later we see Lott, Abraham’s nephew, giving away his two virgin daughters to a group of sex maniacs, encouraging them to gang-rape his own daughters, saying “abuse them as you see fit”. Later, these same daughters, no doubt having lost their minds after being handed over by their own father and “abused” the entire night in exactly the fashion he intimated, engage in incestuous relations with him.
    Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.—Genesis 27:22 The Jews claim they are descendants of Jacob who lived more than 3000 years ago.
    Read the “story” of Jacob. Jacob is the Jewish “MORAL ANCHOR”. He was a weasel who had no problem with eating the food his brother Esau provided, yet when the time to reciprocate came, he demanded payment rather then share food. Jacob also cheated and lied to his own Father in his attempts to STEAL his brother’s birthright, and he had an OBSCENE relationship with his MOTHER. THAT is the MORAL BEDROCK of Judaism….LYING, CHEATING, and SEXUAL PERVERSION …

  6. Isn’t Tennesse the leader in obesity, out of wedlock babies, high school dropouts, etc.
    Religion is mostly superstition and delusion. This certainly proves it.

  7. As I remember this is a clear violation of the Tennessee State Constitution, which is far stronger on this than the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution.

    1. Stan Nadel – done the way it is being done, it is not in violation of the state constitution.

  8. Of course Paul and Squeeky are tired of the message, because it’s a message of exclusion and its not a flattering one. Max, keep up the good work, your links, videos and comments are right on target.

    1. Inga – you are also a repeater so I can see why you would be defending Max. When you repeat I just blow by it. You are taking up space on the blog. You are not adding anything substantial to the conversation.

      1. Paul “Always Wrong”. That says it all. Your comments are most often nothing more than carping and sniping and most often erroneous, so perhaps the comments that waste space are yours. Your last comment was an example of this.

        1. fiver – if memory serves he had his mother and Mary Magdalene along when he was camping with the 12 guys.

  12. @Max-1

    Yes, you do look like you need help. You have an irritating habit of posting overly repetitious links on the same thread. As a result, your ability to argue suffers and people tune out a lot of what you post. Personally, I suspect you have some form of OCD. There might be a pill for that, but they have side effects. You would probably do better just to listen to people who are giving you tips on how to present your side of things.

    Sooo, Dr. Squeeky suggests that you try to not post more than two links on a given thread, and start writing down whatever argument that you disagree with, think about what the person is actually saying, and then make answers to the questions and points raised. I promise you that will be happier, and the rest of us, too! 🙂

    Squeeky Fromm
    Girl Reporter

  13. Paul C
    Ask Nick. Do I need look like I need help? And if you’re tired of the same old same old, you might want to focus on the same old religious arguments being made I the name of discrimination versus Civil Rights and freedom. Now, as someone who’s admitted they don’t own a Bible, your insistence of what Jesus said and did is questionable. Paul, Jesus never mentions gay marriage…

    1. Max-1 – Jesus never said Gather all your sodomites and marry them together. I don’t own a Bible, but I have read and taught it.

    1. Max-1 – it is a response to a meme that you have been posting for several days. I have gotten rather tired of looking at the same thing over and over, or with minor variations. Just thought I would add my own. 😉 Just helping you out.

  16. So-called “literal” interpretation’s of the Bible have been used throughout its history to “morally justify” massive wars and all sorts of human atrocities (including genocide). Jesus Christ taught his followers to interpret the Hebrew scriptures in a manner that conforms to the love-your-neighbor-as-yourself principle (Matt 22:37-40) without placing restrictions on one’s definition of neighbor (Ref: The Good Samaritan parable). So making the love-your-neighbor-as-yourself principle the “state principle” would make a LOT more sense!

  18. Jim22,

    It’s kind of amazing the power and threat you feel a simple cross has.

    Truly amazing power. Apparently it can not only reanimate a corpse, but can empower it to fly up, up, up, and out into space. Come to think of it, that Ascension occurred a mere two thousand years ago. Surely the astronomers could calculate earth’s position in the universe at that time then use the Hubble telescope to scan space withing two thousand light years of that location. Forget about finding Christ’s image in the water stains under a viaduct, we could get actual pictures of him racing across the universe!

    But I digress.

    So you believe people can be religious as long as they are forced to hide it. Some “free exercise” you have there.

    Nope. Didn’t say that at all. My only point is that religious people should not be permitted to use public schools to inculcate captive, impressionable children in their religion (which is the only reason I can think of for why she would insist on wearing a crucifix visible to her class).

    The teacher is not just some person when she’s working. She is an agent of government. She is also an authority figure children naturally emulate and admire. Children are vulnerable to influence – especially from authority figures. Which is, of course, exactly why some religious folks want to proselytize in schools.

    It’s tough to sell religion to educated, self aware adults. But it’s a piece of cake with a captive audience of impressionable kids. After all, kids believe teacher knows the truth. From a child’s perspective, that’s why teacher is there.

  19. FYI
    Flori-duh just passed a discrimination RFRA bill that allows discrimination against people who adopt… The buybull religiously convicts have ruled!

    Ladies… This means you are a target

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