Word has it that Rep Paul Broun (GA) has introduced new legislation called National Year of the Bible Resolution a.k.a. the Bible Bill making the year 2010 the Year of the Bible. The Bible Bill panders to Rep. Broun’s bible base, but it isn’t really an American endeavor. Since the beginning, our country has been intently pluralistic (not atheist mind you, but pluralist) and celebrating the Bible would be fine if we were to have the Bhagavad Gita Bill in 2012.
A few years ago, I wrote an op-ed that ecouraged an interfaith caucus in the congreess. In Rep. Broun’s misguided bill there might be something that would work. There is a new movement of people of different religious traditions reading one another’s sacred texts as a means of better understanding the tradition, the moral principles and world vew held within. Even Evangelicals are getting involved. If Rep Brown were to team up with other members of congress from different faiths (Keith Elison of Minnisota comes to mind) to declare a year of sacred texts then this might be more American, and would be a very worthwhile bill.
But my guess is that he is not interested in a true recognition of the plurality of sacred traditoins in America and that this is just a small ploy in the “America is a Christian Nation” effort. I’m sure it will die a timely death.
posted May 22, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Well maybe a year was too ambitious. Maybe just a month, week or day would be better for a start? Follow Hawaii’s example of creating Islam Day but have Bible Day which is far more inclusive terminology.
posted May 22, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Something tells me he’s not talking up the Catholic version.
posted May 22, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Is Rep. Broun simply out of step, or is he trying to misdirect the nation’s attention? What benefit would he gain from such a seemingly benign bill? Which Bible does he have in mind? Would he include the Apocrypha? What about the gnostic books? Why not include other Holy Writ from other religions?
All in all, this seems to be not merely a useless bill and a waste of legislators time – it is another attempt to drive a wedge between religious communities. In many ways this seems to be a suspicious move. It certainly will benefit no one except Bible publishers – and even they might not make much.
posted May 22, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Is Rep. Broun simply out of step, or is he trying to misdirect the nation’s attention? What benefit would he gain from such a seemingly benign bill?
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He represents a district in Georgia. Easy political points without having to do anything with actual substance.
posted May 23, 2009 at 1:15 am
As I have noted elsewhere, one when I was driving through the honorable Representative’s home district in Georgia, I saw too billboards obviously made by the same company side by side. One read “Jesus saves,” and the other listed a street address under the caption “Totally nude.” That’s the depth of Christian faith in Georgia.
posted May 23, 2009 at 8:15 am
I think it is a ridiculous bill. Even if we had a “Year of the Koran” and a “Year of the Dhammapada” and so on, I doubt that anyone would include a “Year of Ingersoll’s Lectures” for Freethinkers. This would be necessary to balance things out and hitting every group and book would take forever. Let’s just compromise now and skip the whole thing.
posted May 23, 2009 at 9:39 am
Just what translation or denominational bible is to be honored? Hmmmmm……? I vote for the Jeffersonian bible.
The U.S. Congress should be doing relevant legislation not passing “Year of the bible” bills. Bible bills are a violation of the First Amendment separation of church and state.
posted May 24, 2009 at 12:15 pm
LOL…why don’t we just bring back the Holy Roman Empire! Haven’t these baffoons learned anything these past 8 years? When an entertainer dare voice an opinion about something in politics everybody wants to call them out. But this love affair with sneaking a state sponsored religion into our government is just fine with the same smarmy deceived people. You want a state sponsored religion move to Cuba or Venezuela. I think you will feel right at home.
posted May 25, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Howzabout a ‘Let’s Re-name America Jesusland Once and For All’ Bill?
Sheesh!