Tennessee Adopts the Bible as the State Book

By Terry A. AmRhein

Author of “Democracy on the Edge, A Discussion of Political Issues in America”

Available at www.amrheinsbooks.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and you local book store

 

The State of Tennessee has voted to make the Bible the Official State Book?  Members of the state congress suggest that having a state book is not different then having any other state symbol, an official beverage, milk; an official wild animal, the raccoon; an official fruit, the tomato; and, for Christ’s sake, an official state rifle, the M82 sniper rifle.  Comparing the holy bible with a sniper rifle really makes me want to scratch my head.

            In reality, Tennessee’s vote is only a very thinly veiled attempt to establish Christianity as a “preferred religion”, and to place other religions on an inferior basis.  If this is not true, then why pick the Bible?  Why not the Torah or Koran?  Or for that matter, why not “Fifty Shades of Grey”, it’s more interesting than reading the Bible, easier to understand and very educational.  The religious major in Tennessee must feel completely comfortable in establishing a preferred religion regardless of the fact that this country of ours was established, in part, because people wanted to worship as they damn well please, not as others told them.  Tennesseans and other states too, must have forgotten about this freedom of religion thing.

            The actions of Tennessee’s legislature, though, goes beyond violating the United States Constitution (as well as the State of Tennessee’s constitution), it violates one of the fundamental rules of Christianity, The Golden Rule.  Those favoring adoption of the Bible as the state book violate not only the Constitution but also Christianity.  It’s really frustrating when what you want to do contradicts what you believe in, isn’t it?

            The uncompromising belief in religious freedom is particularly pungent now in the face of the masses of people who are fleeing the on-slaught ISIS and those who want to build fences to keep people out.  People who are facing religious persecution now are not welcomed by those who came to America after facing similar persecution years ago.  It seems that as time goes on, Americans are not becoming more tolerant and more respectful of others but are becoming more narrow-minded and less tolerant.  We seem to have entirely forgotten that Christianity started with two refugees seeking asylum in a small hamlet about 6 miles south of Jerusalem called Bethlehem.  As for now, Tennessee’s governor, Bill Haslam, has vetoed the legislation and the Tennessee congress has sworn to over-rule him.

 

Terry A. AmRhein

Democracy on the Edge, A Discussion of Political Issues in America