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
apollodr
I will remind you that in Theocracies like Iran, people are NOT equal and some are executed based on said unequalness and treatment unequal BY the law…
… WOMEN and DRIVING as one example. How about head scarves?
If America is founded on Christian values, how will law treat others who don’t believe, equally? Jews? Muslims (Sunni/Shia)? Atheists? Buddhists? Agnostics? Sieks? etc, Heck… we’re all unequal under just Christian Law.
So, if “all men are created equal”… have equality as the law.
How are the theocracies around the world doing?
I think it is high time that someone in this country stand up for what this country was founded on – a solid Christian belief in the BIBLE and that there is one GOD under which this great nation was formed. This whole nation needs to turn back to God. I believe that Tennessee is doing the right thing, and I fully support what this state and it’s leaders are doing.
Kenneth Reid
I am a Christian and I spend more time in Church and Praying than not. Heavy handed Christians in this Country are not Constitutional as Church and State are separated. and with good reason as this is how things like the Scarlet Letter, Stoning and now this ridiculous Homophobia is happening now. This Country is also full of Jews and Muslims. Are you a member of the KKK and the John Birch Society by chance?
I simply love all these “legal scholars” saying “There is no separation of Church and State in The Constitution”. The FACTS here are that The Supreme Court has the job of INTERPRETING The Constitution, and they have ruled, on numerous occasions I might add, that The First Amendment prohibition against any laws being enacted to establish or prohibit the practice of religion DOES in fact establish the “Separation of Church and State” rule of law in the United States.
Simply because you disagree with that does NOT make it any less real. Simply BECAUSE you want to believe that because many (NOT ALL) of our Founding Fathers were Christian, DOES NOT negate the fact that they realized that the entire reason that many of the original colonists came to “The New World” was due to religious persecution in their home countries.
The entire reason that The Bill of Rights, the first 10 Amendments to The Constitution came into being so quickly, is because MANY of the Constitutional Delegates refused to sign The Constitution UNLESS there were specific freedoms written into it, which were not in there originally. The MOST important of these were Freedom of Speech and Freedom of (and FROM) any religion being the guiding force behind the laws of the new nation.
The MAJORITY of Americans, who know WHY our country was founded, not why we WANT TO BELIEVE it was founded, KNOW that we were SPECIFICALLY founded to NOT be a nation which was to be ruled by religion so as to provide a refuge for those who were escaping that persecution.
THAT IS AMERICA!!!!
Alex Klebenow – the Supreme Court has made a series of remarkably dumb decisions. I just wait for them to try to refine the situation. Usually, little by little they clear the matter up.
I’m not sure what Jerry Sexton or Bean Station meant when wanting the Bible to become the book of the state of Tennessee. They will have to consider, like most states, not only the predominately Christian population, but,must have equal rights for those of other religions or no religion at all.
If they’re basing the laws on the 10 Commandments and laws handed down by God through the Holy books, then no Jew, Christian, or Muslim would object.
Historically, we find that most of the laws that we grew up with and have been on our books for hundred’s of years are based on Judeo-Christian teachings. So making the Bible the book of law in Tennessee, wouldn’t be far off the mark of the laws we now have.
Keep in mind what Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar and render the things of God that which are of God.”
Thomas Jefferson himself created the phrase in his 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptist Association:
… Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church & State, therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.”
The First Amendment creates the separation of church and state, just as the first three articles of the Constitution create the three equal branches of our government. The federal government recognizes this separation in many ways to this day. Churches are exempt from income taxes and do not have to file formal requests for tax exempt status like other nonprofit organizations.
Federal courts have held that the establishment clause (“respecting an establishment of religion”) means that the government may not show any preference for one religion over another, sponsor or promote religion or religious practices in any way, prevent people from privately practicing their own faiths, or require anyone to perform religious rituals at all. That’s where the phrase “freedom from religion” comes from. The separation works both ways. If we permit religious interference in the government, then the government will be free to interfere with religion. Do you want the government to tell your pastor what to preach?
Religion is like a penis. It’s fine to have one and it’s fine to be proud of it, but please don’t whip it out in public and start waving it around…”
Tom Hood – Thomas Jefferson is not a man to be trusted. He supposedly was against the expansion of the United States, yet he bought the Louisiana Purchase. And let’s not forget, his comments about separation of church and state have to do with church and the United States government.
Paul C. Schulte
I love it when you talk like this, it’s sooo exciting – Thomas Jefferson should have been burned at the stake with all those witches 😉
Tom Hood
Organized Religion is nothing like a penis. It is used to Minister to people that don’t have as much as others and to go on missions to other Countries and here to teach, certify and heal and give medicine to people that can’t afford it. It is used to build shelter for people that can’t afford it. Many of us worship interdenominationally and give concerts praise benefits for simple joy,
If you find Religion to be like a penis, I suggest that you go find something else to do as you don’t enjoy edifying activities.
I do understand many evangelicals are pushy and will drive you to secularism because of their reactionary ways to change but that is just nothing unusual. We are going through changing times and I hope that some Churches do survive like mine that are more adaptable and changeable.
Happypappies
If you study or simply pay attention to history you will see man evolving in a societal manner going: with the teachings of religion, without the teachings of religion, against the teachings of religion, perverting the teachings of religion, ignoring the teachings of religion, and so on. It becomes apparent when history is analyzed that religion serves mankind as mankind so decides. This is because religion is a tool or device of mankind.
The New Testament, or the development of Christianity, took hundreds of years to write. That Christ was not married, that Mary was a virgin-or not, all that stuff was worked on by early religious scholars to fit the mold that was a perspective, at the time, of how man should comport himself. This does not diminish the events. Religion is mankind ruling mankind using the supernatural and the unknown for authority.
In most of the world to day, mankind uses the law it has developed along side of religion, sometimes unique to itself, sometimes paralleling religion, and sometimes only inspired by religion. This is the direction society is taking. Society has never been so safe, so advanced, so rational, so balanced, despite the faults that glare at us through the media.
After growing up in a Christian world, rebelling against that Christian world, and eventually understanding that a good person regardless of religion is still a good person, I have come to think, not believe, that if there is a god it would want us to do this on our own using our own powers to live together in peace and justice. So far, these days the ones that are causing all the trouble are the ones who believe otherwise.
Reblogged this on From the Mind of Tom Lehner and commented:
Great Idea finally somebody who commits to the Bible
Appropriate for a Christian majority state. Do we question the Qur-an being the official book at any Muslim majority nation?
apollodr
The United States is not comprised of little Christian Theocracies – that is the difference between our Country and the Middle Eastern Countries that are Islamic
This did not pass in Mississippi and it will not pass in Tennessee. It is a ridiculous idea and waste of time and money.
When you realize the word “religion” means “I rely on God”, thus it excludes all worldviews, philosophies, and rituals that have no God or a god that cannot be relied on, then it only applies to Christian denominations plus the church. So it is entirely reasonable to unite the state under the Bible. All state should do it and further unite under the true church based entirely on Jesus’ Gospel instead of groups that bait with Jesus then switching to other ministries. Check out Jesus Gospel Church website after clicking my name above.
Sounds weird to me.
What morons! Make the Bible the official book and violate one of its commandments, at the same time. Catfish have no scales.
Leviticus 11:12King James Version (KJV)
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
With all this talk about what our forefathers intended, right to bear arms blah blah blah, doesn’t anyone in the Tennessee government remember they also believed in the seperation of state & religion?
Well, Connecticut has struck back! One of Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s cronies is introducing a resolution to make this the State Book of Connecticut:
http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9781555835439_p0_v1_s260x420.jpg
What is this world coming to??? 🙂
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
THank you Isaac for your intelligent comment.
Our country is so screwed.
not all people who live in the state of Tennessee are Christians. I for one hope that this does not stick! This makes me sick! what happened to Freedom of Religion???
” what happened to Freedom of Religion???”
Ummm….. You are free to join the Christian denomination of your choice?
Tri – I am one am not happy that the official tie of Arizona is the bolo tie, but I don’t have to wear one. I listed all the different things that the state has as official icons. It appears to have several songs.
Which version of the Bible?