Christian lawmakers in the Tennessee House of Representatives are intent on shoving the bible down everyone’s throats. So intent, it seems, that they recently voted to make it the official book of the Volunteer State.
“I know that (the bill) causes people to be divided,” said Rep. Jerry Sexton, the freshman Republican representative who sponsored the bill declaring Andrew Jackson’s Bible the book of the land. “It shouldn’t, but it does. And that’s OK.”
During debates, Rep. Ron Lollar said he supported the bill, telling his colleagues: “I am what I am because that book made me what I am. The morals, the values. Everybody that talks about diversity: in this country, they’re here because of that book and that constitution.”
Rep. Bud Hulsey added that supporting the bill is important “now more than ever.”
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But other Republicans weren’t so keen on the idea.
“If we pass this,” Rep. Martin Daniel warned, “we’re going to be ridiculed.”
“It threatens to reduce our sacred Scripture to nothing more than a secular symbol, and that’s a slippery slope,” noted Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris.
A slippery slope, indeed.
Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery III said making the bible the official state book would be unconstitutional, adding “I am quite confident that the bible’s distinguished place in history will not be diminished in the absence of a state’s endorsement.”
He then reiterated that the state’s constitution specifically states that “no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment or mode of worship.”
But that didn’t stop state House members from voting 55-38 in favor of the bill anyway. It will now go to the state Senate, where Republicans hold 28 seats to five for Democrats.
If the state Senate approves the bill, it must then be signed by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, who has already said he won’t support it, calling the bill “disrespectful.”
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Knarf Yahzie
doesn’t belong there! it should actually be on the banned list, it causes too many hatred, killings, etc bad things. A book that causes that is not something to be looked up to. burn it!
Calebspapi
I love this! The argument we need to make is that if that book is to be the true decider of law and policy, even for non christians, all of the tenants need to be followed by all. With the Christians first. Don’t single out the gays. What about adultry, DIVORCE, cheating, stealing, eating shellfish and so on.
I’ll follow that Damn book, right after they do FIRST.
stranded
So should we nominate The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster or the Quran
Low Country Boy
What are the first words of the First Amendment? “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . . ” The First Amendment was “incorporated” to the States. I guess Tennessee wants to spend taxpayer money to fight something clearly unconstitutional.
DCFarmboi
I want to do an amendment to make the Blessed Virgin Mary the official Mother of the State of Tenn.
Xzamilio
I love it… more new atheists and anti-theists need to start being as vocal and as aggressive as some of us already are. Some of you pussies can continue thinking that we should be “loving” and “tolerant”, knowing full and damn well that “tolerance” does not mean allowing intolerance to continue, especially religious nonsense. This crap doesn’t help anyone, no matter how many times people try to claim “Oh, that’s not the real message of ‘Christianity’… they aren’t real Christians.” It’s all fun and jokes, now… but enough of these Teavangelicals get into Congress and this country will go three full centuries back in time.
Dale Landefeld
haha
Giancarlo85
Something that violates the first amendment so flagrantly will be demolished in court. These teapublicans don’t know anything about government or democracy.
polarisfashion
@stranded: I like The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Talk like a pirate day is one of their sacred holidays.
Giancarlo85
Where all the self hating log cabin types? Chaddyboy (aka bobna, bj, onthemark)? I can’t believe these stupid self hating LCR types aren’t in here defending these phonies. The log cabin type needs to defend any politician with “Republican” next to their name.
Not a fucking word from the self hating bigots!
McShane
@polarisfashion:
He boiled for our sins. #al dente
Realitycheck
@McShane:
I can’t make up my mind Jesus all Carbonara, or Bible Matriciana?
LAman
Why don’t some people understand that there is freedom of religion and freedom from religion. Everyone has different beliefs and philosophies, and never one belief should constitute for everyone else.
Billy Budd
The founding fathers of America determined that State and Religion should be separate entities. They should not and cannot mix. No No No.
jwtraveler
@Calebspapi: What do people renting homes have to do with this?
jwtraveler
90 years since the Scopes Monkey Trial and the people of Tennessee still have not evolved. I guess the creationists were right–evolution doesn’t exist, at least not in Tennessee. God created them stupid and stupid they shall remain.
Leonard Woodrow
It is quite astonishing how the myth of Christianity has destroyed many otherwise intelligent people’s ability to reason and think clearly. 🙁
Realitycheck
@LAman:
Because most religions are 100% about indoctrination, why?
To collect more money and power.
@Leonard Woodrow:
The saddest people are those that choose to be stupid by choice.
callenstewart
It’s ridiculous. I swear they do these things, knowing it will be contested just so they can say they are being persecuted and oppressed.
1EqualityUSA
Vectors.
Daniel-Reader
Notice how lawmakers don’t talk about the people murdered because of the christian bible. They don’t talk about women raped, black people lynched, lgbt people stabbed, children abused, because of the bible. Why? Because those victims are dead and have no voice. Lawmakers don’t want to talk about how merchants have taken over the church and turned it into a business, even though the one time Jesus is violent in the bible it is to get the merchants out of the temple. It is pathetic the hypocrisy that arises from religion – hypocrisy Jesus condemned outright.
Bob LaBlah
I am not surprised, considering how it was eighty years after the Civil War that the god fearing, white christian state of Mississippi celebrated the Fourth of July (1945). What I am surprised about is how few people are aware that had the south won their plan was to CHANGE the wording of the bible to justify slavery (as was their plan to seize ALL of Central and South America as well, actually using black troops, believe it or not to help throw out what was left of the Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese colonies, or influence, shall we say. I wondered if any of them believe their hypocrisy is the reason why they lost.
One last note, Mississippi nor Tennessee never formally surrendered either. Texas waited two years to tell blacks they were no longer slaves. There is nothing these God fearing white christians nor Mormons could do to shock me.