PA House Resolution 535: 2012 is "Year of the Bible" (Freedom: public schools, live)

[Mr Yuk]

Originally Posted by susquehannock

I'd would also like to know what happened to it !

I've read the Constitution and Bill of Rights many times and I just can't find it anywhere!

Somebody show me before I spend one more second looking!

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[susquehannock]

Originally Posted by Mr Yuk

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

That's right. No law establishing a 'state ' religion. I didn't see anything like that in the bill.

[couldntthinkofaclevername]

This is such an unbelievable insult to William Penn.

[mancat100]

Originally Posted by susquehannock

I'd would also like to know what happened to it !

I've read the Constitution and Bill of Rights many times and I just can't find it anywhere!

Somebody show me before I spend one more second looking!

See. You're making a common and very silly error. Although the phrase "separation of church and state" isn't in the constitution, the CONCEPT is clearly embedded starting with the first amendment and continuing in subsequent laws and court interpretations. It is bedrock American law.

A similar thing would be the Historic Christian doctrine of the Trinity. It's taught by most all major denominations (Catholic, Orthodox, most Protestants and Evangelicals). Yet, the word trinity does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Christians accept what they believe is clearly taught without the actual phrase appearing.

In like manner, Americans accept the concept of separation of church and state without the actual words appearing in the constitution.

[Geeo]

Sounds like it was an easy way for the pols to suck up to the christian right. They can pull it out at election time. I'm sure that next year they shall declare it the Year of the Koran.

[Clint.]

I'd write to my state rep with my dislike for the 'noncontroversial resolution' as it's called, but at the moment I don't seem to have one. It was Chelsea Wagner, but she ran for another office and is no longer the Rep. According to Find Your Legislator my rep is currently Doyle from District 14, but his name doesn't appear in the vote count so apparently my district was not part of this nonsense.

However, I am a little annoyed there is no clear Rep for my district. Oh well, I guess the Bible will provide this year.

BTW, I learned of this gem in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, here.

[Mr Yuk]

Originally Posted by susquehannock

That's right. No law establishing a 'state ' religion. I didn't see anything like that in the bill.

Really? The state legislature declaring this "The Year of the Bible" is not the state declaring a religion? Unless they're also going to devote years to every other faith that exists in the state, this is the government promoting one specific religion.

The whole "Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between" is still proving to be true. If you took out Eastern and Southwestern PA, I think PA would make Mississippi and Alabama look downright progressive.

Even if you believe in the Bible, do you really need the state wasting their time and taxpayer money on this nonsense?

[Boompa]

Originally Posted by Mr Yuk

Really? The state legislature declaring this "The Year of the Bible" is not the state declaring a religion? Unless they're also going to devote years to every other faith that exists in the state, this is the government promoting one specific religion.

Even if you believe in the Bible, do you really need the state wasting their time and taxpayer money on this nonsense?

Next the year of the Koran, followed by the year of the Kama Sutra, I hope

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by Mr Yuk

The whole "Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between" is still proving to be true. If you took out Eastern and Southwestern PA, I think PA would make Mississippi and Alabama look downright progressive.

I think that's a bit extreme. The legislature wasn't too boisterous about this for a reason. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop some representatives from wearing the religion on their sleeves for pure pandering to the few right-wing theocrats amongst us.

[susquehannock]

Originally Posted by Mr Yuk

Really? The state legislature declaring this "The Year of the Bible" is not the state declaring a religion? Unless they're also going to devote years to every other faith that exists in the state, this is the government promoting one specific religion.

The whole "Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between" is still proving to be true. If you took out Eastern and Southwestern PA, I think PA would make Mississippi and Alabama look downright progressive.

Even if you believe in the Bible, do you really need the state wasting their time and taxpayer money on this nonsense?

Where in it does it say you have to follow it?

Where does it force a religion on you?

Where does it force you to attend a government sponsored religious event?

That clause is in the Constitution to prevent the government from establishing a quasi "Church of England."

I agree it's mostly nonsense but it's also benign.

I see no threat of a government religious bogeyman hiding behind every rock and tree. It's apparent some people do.