Bible's profile at the Capitol touches a chord

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20060504/ts_csm/abiblex;_ylt=AtRjKDz8VBAhOHHmNUsIHY2s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-
Bible's profile at the Capitol touches a chord

By Gail Russell Chaddock, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor Thu May 4, 4:00 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Bible reading wasn't on the itinerary. But when Hun Jang stepped off a Washington tour bus this week and heard scripture coming from the west lawn of the US Capitol, he walked over to see what was going on.

Volunteers at the 17th Annual US Capitol Bible Reading Marathon invited the South Korean soldier to the podium. He began at Proverbs 5 - "My son, attend unto my wisdom ..." - using a Korean Bible, one of 84 translations on hand. "I feel really good when I am reading the Bible," he says. "I feel something full in my mind."

The 90-hour marathon, which will include readings by about two dozen members of Congress and their staffers, is a lead-up to Thursday's National Day of Prayer. President Harry Truman signed the day into law in 1952 as an interfaith event. But in recent years, evangelical Christian groups have taken the lead in organizing activities around the day, especially those located near seats of government. And in Washington, as in real estate, location counts.

Critics say that evangelical groups and their allies in Congress are staging events like the Bible Marathon near centers of power as a bid to link secular Washington to Christian ideals. Supporters say they're simply trying to remind people of the important role that faith played in America's founding.

[400Years]

1. I was wondering what ible was

[niyad]

2. important role that faith played in America's founding. pretending, of

course, that this country was founded as an xian nation, when it was not. pity that being stupid or hoping that everyone else is ignorant of our history, is not a valid reason for excluding one from public discourse.

[mrcheerful]

3. Wasn't america founded on the belief of religious freedom for all?

Where all citizens were allowed to practice the religion of their choice or not to be forced into religion? Gee talk about the blind leading the ignorant, america was not founded on christen beliefs but on the belief that religion should not be dictated by government.

[CPMaz]

4. Don't bother hardcore fundies with meaningless details....

their assertions are far more important than piddly ol' facts.

[sarcasmo]

5. Welcome to the new American Theocracy.