Jumping Jehoshaphat!
After thirty minutes of discussion, Tennessee lawmakers voted 19 to 8 to make the "Holy" book (yeah, right there in the title, guys) our official state book.
Before you balk at the ridiculousness, consider that Steve Southerland, the Senator who introduced the bill, stated that this is a history book. In fact, he said we would be honoring the text that has made great historical and cultural contributions to our state.
If the reason to pass a law to honor this book due to all it has done for our state, are we saying The Bible is responsible for Tennessee being:
- 36th in education?
- 17th in teen pregnancies?
- 4th in violent crimes?
We also have incredibly high illegal and legal drug abuse, poverty, obesity, pretty much all those things addressed in our future state book. One thing we are winning at is citizens who state they are Christian (Protestant, to be specific. Sorry hell-bound Catholics). We rank number 4 on that list.
Maybe our lawmakers should crack a book themselves. They can choose the Bible, specifically Romans 13:1-7, which talks about submitting to the authority of the land. "He who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."
That authority is the Constitution. Feel free to grab the Tennessee Constitution, if it is closer by, senators. Read, even if your lips have to move, "that no preference shall ever be given, by law, to any religious establishment or mode of worship."
Even Christians have their reservations about their sacred book becoming an official representative for the state. Some think it will trivialize it.
But there is a lot more at stake than trivializing, especially for the religious. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Careful of the church moving in on the government because it will make room for the government to move in on your religion.
The South is already the focus of dunce jokes. Our lawmakers continue to justify that characterization. It makes the fact that our state bird is a Mockingbird, seem more appropriate.
Please sign This Petition to let Tennessee know that separation of Church and State should be upheld by our elected officials.