Tennessee governor vetos law to make Bible the official state book

[tomm2thumbs]

Source: The Guardian

The governor of Tennessee has vetoed legislation that would have made the Christian Bible the state’s official book, saying it would violate the US constitution, but lawmakers vowed to hold a vote to overrule his decision. In a letter notifying top state lawmakers of his intent to veto the legislation, Governor Bill Haslam, himself a Christian, said the proposal violated religious freedoms enshrined in both the US constitution and the Tennessee constitution. <snip>

Had Haslam signed the bill, Tennessee would have become the first US state to designate the Bible as its official state book. The lawmakers who sponsored the measure vowed to hold a vote that would overrule Haslam’s veto. A simple majority in each legislative chamber would render his decision null and void. “According to polling, 62% of all Tennesseans favor making the Holy Bible the state book in order to recognize its significance from a historical, economic and cultural standpoint,” the house sponsor, Representative Jerry Sexton, said. “Senator [Steve] Southerland and I are prepared to move forward with a veto override and we plan to do exactly that.”

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/15/tennessee-governor-bans-bible-as-official-book-of-state

---

I guess they want this to go to the Supreme Court, which it will, which will only waste taxpayers money in a battle they are certain to lose.

[joshdawg]

1. State book? Seriously?

They might as well have designated "My Pet Goat" as their 'state' book for all the worth it is.
The crackpottiness (is that a word?) runs rampant in republican circles.

[Hugin]

2. Which Bible? New or Old Testament?

I always thought declaring those "state things" was when they wanted to highlight something unique about their state.

Oh, silly me... Of course, it's the old testament! I'm sure I've read all of the references to Tennessee in there and there's no way they'd have that dirty hippy infested new testament.

Good on Haslam for vetoing it.

[melm00se]

3. even if you decide

for the New Testament, which version? I have counted no less than 20 English versions of the Christian Bible.

[Hugin]

5. I bet they choose the one that talks the most about guns.

And maybe a holy hand grenade or two.

Twenty? I had no idea.

[melm00se]

6. Twenty is way low

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_Bible_translations#Complete_Bibles

[Hugin]

7. Thanks.

I'll have to peruse this list.

[nxylas]

12. They're still the same book (well, collection of books really) though

Lots of books exist in multiple English translations. Would you consider (to pick an example more or less at random) the Rosemary Edmonds translation of War and Peace to be a separate book from the Aylmer and Louise Maude translation?

[melm00se]

14. that would depend from one's perspective

To some, the Bible is considered to be the literal Word of God rather than an allegory teaching the tenants of the Christian faith.

So those who believe it is the literal Word of God, darn tootin' which translation being used is critical.

To those who view it as a collection of allegorical tales (or, as one of the most educated men I know, who happens to be a priest, puts it: the Bible is a a code of conduct with examples), exactly which version/translation is not as important (of course as long as their are no glaring omissions).

[nxylas]

15. I take your point

I was thinking from the perspective of a rational person rather than a fundie. Of course, the whole debate is academic, since the proposal is so glaringly unconstitutional that I can't imagine it being upheld in court.

[melm00se]

16. Absolutely agree

it would not pass Constitutional muster.

the ONLY argument I could see someone trying to apply, namely that it is a book of great historical and social significance only, would be anathema to the religious types who brought this kind of legislation forward for reasons I pointed out earlier.

[nxylas]

18. They're trying to overturn the Establishment Clause

The "historic and social significance" argument would only apply if the Bible had any geographical connection to the state beyond being the sacred text of its majority religion. There might be a case for making the Book of Mormon the state book of Utah, for example. (Edited to add: not that I would support such a move, just to be clear, but it is at least intellectually defensible).

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. This version

[Hugin]

13. Sure enough... The leather bound amplified easy-to-read annotated word-in-pictures version bible.

DUZY!

[milestogo]

4. Atlas Shrugged is the state book in Wisconsin

[maindawg]

8. Didn't king James already try this?

How did it end again?

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. This governor really has guts

By vetoing this bill, he will probably not get re-elected. It reminds me of when Ann Richards vetoed the right to carry law here in Texas.

[elephant hunter]

19. He's already in his second term

and can't serve more than two terms consecutively.

[TacoD]

10. in TN a veto can be overridden by simple majority? Lame.

States should follow the example of the US Constitution where 2/3 majority is required.

[Taitertots]

17. Almost no one reads it and even fewer people follow it

why not make it something whose content influences people's lives like Harry Potter or 50 shades of grey?