Tennessee lawmakers are poised to make the Holy Bible the official state book.
This past week, a proposal introduced by Senator Steve Southerland (R) naming the Bible Tennessee's official state book was approved in Senate committee by a vote of 7-0 with 2 abstentions. A similar bill, this one proposed by freshman Representative Jerry Sexton (R), was passed in House committee by voice vote shortly afterwards. The proposals now move to the House and Senate calendar committees, the last step before presenting the measures to the full legislature for a final vote.
Mr. Southerland, who also serves as the Republican Caucus Chaplain, said he believes it will pass in the full Senate. "It's got 19 co-signers on it; it takes 17 people to vote for the bill."
Both Mr. Southerland and Mr. Sexton contend they mean to recognize the Bible's historical value only and claim they don't mean to promote Christianity above other religions.
what eye thynk: In cause you're wondering, it is the Christian version of the Bible that they are proposing, not the Hebrew scriptures used by those of the Jewish faith. But it's all good, 'cause they don't mean to promote Christianity above other religions. And, yes, they said that with a straight face.
David Fowler, former Republican Tennessee Senator and current president of the conservative Family Action Council of Tennessee spoke in favor of the legislation during the Senate committee meeting. In an interview with The Associated Press, Mr. Fowler said the legislation is not in any way meant to be belittling, but simply to highlight "there is no book that has played the role in the history of Tennessee equal to that of the Bible. This book has had more practical use, more historical use, and more economic impact in our state than any other book."
Representative William Lamberth (R) defended his support of the measure by saying, "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."
No, you don't have to believe--unless you want to hold public office in Tennessee. Article IX, Section 2 of the Tennessee State Constitution reads: "No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments shall hold any office in the civil department of this state."
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled such laws unconstitutional way back in 1961. Just this past fall, the Tennessee legislature drafted and passed some amendments to their constitution. Deleting Article IX, Section 2 was not one of the changes approved.
The no non-believer law is unenforceable, but leaving it there is an acknowledgement that those Tennessee lawmakers who do believe, would prefer that those who don't refrain from seeking public office, Oh, and don't forget, they want to honor the Christian Holy Bible only for its historical value. No religious prejudice intended...honest...hand to
shaking my head ... it's unconstitutional.
ReplyDeleteWonder if, even hope, the ACLU will get all over this. Wait a minute, that won't work either... They'd have to argue the case before the (owned by the Koch's) United State Supreme Court. This country is eating itself.