Tennessee House votes to name Bible as official state book

[G_j]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/state/tenn-lawmakers-to-restart-debate-on-bible-as-official-book_24616555_

The Associated Press
6:05 AM, Apr 15, 2015

NASHVILLE — The state House has passed a bill to make the Bible the official state book of Tennessee, despite opposition from Republican leaders and an attorney general's opinion that the measure would violate the state and federal constitutions.

The chamber voted 55-38 on Wednesday to approve the measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Jerry Sexton, a former pastor from Bean Station.

Sexton argued that his proposal reflects the Bible's historical, cultural and economic impact in Tennessee.

But several opponents raised concerns about putting the Bible on par with other more innocuous state symbols like the official salamander, tree and beverage.

The measure would need to be approved by the Senate before heading to the desk of Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, who opposes it.

[JaneyVee]

1. That'll create jobs!

[itsrobert]

2. Do they have an official non-fiction book too?

Or just the fiction state book?

[okaawhatever]

3. Good God. Do I really live here? nt

[shenmue]

4. I think you are allowed to leave

[Lars39]

5. Hi, okaawhatever!

Fellow TNeean here.
Ayup, definitely gets surreal here at times.

[okaawhatever]

8. No kidding. I'm in Franklin outside of Nashville so it's not so bad for me. Thank God I don't live

in a rural area.

[Go Vols]

9. I'll take rural over Franklin

I hate all the traffic,plus here in Manchester there are a good number of Union jobs and good Dems.

I do like the pie store in Triune tho,but that is rural Williamson Co.

[okaawhatever]

10. That's good to hear. I wouldn't have thought that about the area. Of course, what do I know Marsha

Blackburn is my rep.

[Lars39]

13. Franklin has its moments. :-)

I go shopping there a bit, but I still seem to be in a "who's your daddy, what church do you go to?" kind of rural area.

[immoderate]

6. "Tennessee official state book." What a put down.

It does put the bible on a level with "the official salamander, tree and beverage." appropriate.

--imm

[Go Vols]

7. :/

[Fred Sanders]

11. The Koran and Torah and Book of Mormons, etc, etc., would be officially what, then?

[ladjf]

12. Dominionists lurk everywhere, constantly looking for "footholds" they can acquire. nt

[gratuitous]

14. Nothing else going on in Tennessee?

They have the luxury of wasting time on nonsense like this, sure that a veto is coming their way if the bill gets through the Senate somehow. No other pressing matters facing the Tennessee lege? Really?

I seem to recall the Bible has some pretty hard words for people who make a big show of their faith so that they can be noticed by others. Can any of the 55 "yes" votes honestly say that there's a some crying need for this bill other than a chance for them to show off how much they love them some God?

[hatrack]

15. Next: "Inherit The Wind" - official state movie! "The Handmaid's Tale" - official state novel!

Battle of Franklin - official state Confederate defeat!

Knoxville Unitarian-Universalist mass shooting - official state politically motivated massacre!

Benton Fireworks Disaster - official state mass-fatality industrial accident!

Ducktown - official state environmental toxic mining site!

[beam me up scottie]

16. Great. Now the idiots will spend millions trying to defend this decision.

Like we have nothing else to spend money on.



They're just jealous that Indiana's getting all the attention.

[Stuart G]

17. I wonder what Jefferson and Madison would think about this one?

Didn't they write the original rules?...What about the "Bill of Rights"..."No establishment of religion"

Amendment I

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

It doesn't say one law about the bible..........it says...

no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: ....

Now..do the people who proposed this law and passed it, understand the word "NO"

Is that a word that is too hard to understand...no..NO..?

[MisterP]

18. does this mean they'll read it?