Have you heard the latest from the bible belt. Tennessee is on the verge of a "state book"?
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Yes, that was in the Atlanta papers. Dumb idea.
Basically harmless, but still rather stupid. I see “state book” as something akin to “state rodent” and “state fossil” and “state flower” – they make some people happy. But remember that Tennessee is that state that brought you the Scopes Monkey 90 years ago. Some things never change.
The interesting questions will be when it gets to court (and it will, believe me!).
Is the bible a book of literary interest, or is it a book that promotes a particular religion? Would the same issues arise if the suggested book were “1984” or “Brave New World” or even one of the Harry Potter books?
and which edition of the bible? Would it be the King James version? The New Revised Version? The Tanach (published by thew Jewish Publication Society)? There are probably 500 different editions of the bible, each pushing one or another interpretation or translation. How will the august lawmakers in Tennessee decide this?
IF this passes, it will die in court.
Imagine the stink if it had been a Koran.
JIHAD! SHARIA! ISLAMISTS!
But apparently Theocracies are fine as long as it is their own religion.
If they vote it in, they vote it in. Who cares if the Bible is the state book?
There’s always gotta be something religious to hate on doesn’t there? Q Q
Sounds pretty stupid to me. I can only assume that this is an ill-conceived plan to start a fight with the secular progressives with the sole intention of trying to claim victim status. It’s obviously unconstitutional and frankly irrelevant. A battle they have no chance to win and wouldn’t provide any benefit even if they did. I find it surreal to be on the same side with secular progressives but in this case there is not other side.
fuck the state I reside in.
In Tennessee, you don’t need a First Amendment as long as you have your Second Amendment.
I just don’t see it as the same drama-filled saga that’s being portrayed here. It’s usually just peachy to remove a Bible from any place at all. But adding one is suddenly an uproar. Slant much?
@Apparently_Im_The_Grumpy_One Yep, because in America we believe that the government shouldn’t promote religion, and guarantee that everyone has the right to their own religious freedoms. How would you feel if the state you lived in choose the Satanic Bible as it’s official book? The constitution exists to protect you from this, just as it protects people who aren’t Christian from the Bible being chosen as it’s official book.
Look I didn’t mean to piss on your flag or anything. I’m just saying if it’s going to go to court (and it will) and lose (and it will) then what’s the big hubbub?
I didn’t mean to go into the Queens neighborhood of “the left” here. I’ll put on the correct colored sweatshirt and show myself to another question. Holy crappola. haha
As a resident of Tennessee for the last 22 years, what bothers me the most is the amount of time and money that politicians have, are and possibly will be spending on this bill instead of on more important topics.
If there is a hope for the best, it’s that it gets denied and sets a precedence for keeping religion out of government-related matters.
@Apparently_Im_The_Grumpy_One
It doesn’t have to be a “drama-filled saga” for someone to express disagreement with.
Ironically the only dramatic comments in this thread have been yours.
The bill has been killed in the senate already.
The thing even requested $100k in taxpayer money to defend the bill from the inevitable constitution challenge. They even knew it was a bad bill so what was the point, more histrionic self-victimization?
@sinscriven According to the link provided, I wouldn’t call the bill killed but postponed for now in order for it to be reconsidered next year. Maybe that is just the pandering response given by one Republican representative in order to not upset the apple cart in his district.
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