Louisiana's state book to be the bible?

[Geilinor]

Louisiana, the state where convicts can legally own firearms and now the Republicans are trying to backdoor abolish the Separation of Church and State along with abortion.

What would really take the piss out of this campaign was if a bunch of Louisiana Muslims organized a campaign to make the Qu'ran the state book instead.

The separation of church and state phrase was from a letter Jefferson wrote. There isn't any mention in the Constitution of the phrase "separation of church and state"
.

The Constitution establishes the same principle. It doesn't have to use those exact words.

[Grinning Dragon]

The separation of church and state phrase was from a letter Jefferson wrote. There isn't any mention in the Constitution of the phrase "separation of church and state"



I am neither for nor against the proposal here in Louisiana, many more important things to worry about than a state book, imo.

You have the time to google that letter, quote it, and post it, but not to decide which side of this issue you come down on? Bollocks. You're purposefully trying to minimize and dismiss this issue, and thus can only be supporting the anti-constitution Christians who want the Bible to be Louisiana's state book.

Kinda hard to be a "anti-constitution christian" when I side more with agnostic/atheist views. I also believe the intent of what Jefferson was getting at in this letter was that the Federal govt be barred from interfering or abridging a religion. In the case of Louisiana making the Bible as a state book, is it of your frame of thought, that this will somehow be used as a backdoor to enforce some of the things in the Bible as law or set as a state religion, even though the state is heavily catholic?

[Geilinor]

You have the time to google that letter, quote it, and post it, but not to decide which side of this issue you come down on? Bollocks. You're purposefully trying to minimize and dismiss this issue, and thus can only be supporting the anti-constitution Christians who want the Bible to be Louisiana's state book.

Kinda hard to be a "anti-constitution christian" when I side more with agnostic/atheist views. I also believe the intent of what Jefferson was getting at in this letter was that the Federal govt be barred from interfering or abridging a religion. In the case of Louisiana making the Bible as a state book, is it of your frame of thought, that this will somehow be used as a backdoor to enforce some of the things in the Bible as law or set as a state religion, even though the state is heavily catholic?

Making the Bible your state book is awfully like claiming that your state religion is Christianity. It's almost exactly the same.

[Liberaxia]

I'm one of the strictest church-state separationists around and I don't really have too much trouble with this for some strange reason. It just seems kind of pointless.

[Geilinor]

I'm one of the strictest church-state separationists around and I don't really have too much trouble with this for some strange reason. It just seems kind of pointless.

Should we really be so complacent when Louisiana is espousing the Bible as its "official" book?

[Railana]

I'm having difficulty seeing how making the Bible the official state book of Louisiana isn't a violation of church-state separation, unless the Louisiana government can come up with a really good secular reason for it.

[Occupied Deutschland]

I'm having difficulty seeing how making the Bible the official state book of Louisiana isn't a violation of church-state separation, unless the Louisiana government can come up with a really good secular reason for it.

The Bible is a book.
Seperation of church and state isn't actually an axiom that must be followed. States just must refrain from establishing a religion.

Making the Bible the state book doesn't establish a state religion. Hell, it doesn't even do all that much to encourage religion, with how much attention people pay to the state animals/flowers/etc. that are made.

[Railana]

Seperation of church and state isn't actually an axiom that must be followed. States just must refrain from establishing a religion.

Actually, per the test established by Lemon v. Kurtzman, in order to comply with the First Amendment, all government action:

• must have a secular legislative purpose,
• must not have the primary effect of either advancing or inhibiting religion, and
• must not result in an "excessive government entanglement" with religion.

I'm having difficulty seeing how making the Bible an official state book would pass this test.

[Desmendura]

No. Church and State are supposed to be separated amirite?

[AiliailiA]

I'm one of the strictest church-state separationists around and I don't really have too much trouble with this for some strange reason. It just seems kind of pointless.

Should we really be so complacent when Louisiana is espousing the Bible as its "official" book?

Also, the KJV has a dedication to an English king (James I of England etc).

Should the Republic be worried about this?

[Greed and Death]

I'm having difficulty seeing how making the Bible the official state book of Louisiana isn't a violation of church-state separation, unless the Louisiana government can come up with a really good secular reason for it.

The bible they are making the official book is the oldest book housed in the state library.

[Railana]

I'm having difficulty seeing how making the Bible the official state book of Louisiana isn't a violation of church-state separation, unless the Louisiana government can come up with a really good secular reason for it.

The bible they are making the official book is the oldest book housed in the state library.

Not anymore, it seems:

Rep. Thomas Carmody, R-Shreveport, originally filed a bill to declare a specific copy of the Bible, found in the Louisiana State Museum system, the official state book. But by the time he presented the proposal to the committee, he changed language in his legislation to make the generic King James version of the Bible, a text used worldwide, the official state book.

[Benuty]

Since they are using a historical bible one I do not think is in use by a religious sect it might be fine.

The King James Version is still used by some.

If the English can use it to teach lessons in traditional forms of English language and can be endorsed by Richard Dawkins while doing it I really don't mind if they use the actual form from 1611. Maybe they should give Richard Dawkins a call?

[Benuty]

Should we really be so complacent when Louisiana is espousing the Bible as its "official" book?

Also, the KJV has a dedication to an English king (James I of England etc).

Should the Republic be worried about this?

Only if your a puritan.

[Ifreann]

You have the time to google that letter, quote it, and post it, but not to decide which side of this issue you come down on? Bollocks. You're purposefully trying to minimize and dismiss this issue, and thus can only be supporting the anti-constitution Christians who want the Bible to be Louisiana's state book.

Kinda hard to be a "anti-constitution christian" when I side more with agnostic/atheist views.

Fortunately one need not worship their god in order to support their political positions.

I also believe the intent of what Jefferson was getting at in this letter was that the Federal govt be barred from interfering or abridging a religion. In the case of Louisiana making the Bible as a state book, is it of your frame of thought, that this will somehow be used as a backdoor to enforce some of the things in the Bible as law or set as a state religion, even though the state is heavily catholic?

Of course not. It is nonetheless a violation of the establishment clause.

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I'm having difficulty seeing how making the Bible the official state book of Louisiana isn't a violation of church-state separation, unless the Louisiana government can come up with a really good secular reason for it.

The Bible is a book.
Seperation of church and state isn't actually an axiom that must be followed. States just must refrain from establishing a religion.

From respecting an establishment of religion. If the establishment clause just prevented the states from establishing a religion, then Texas could declare its official religion to be Christianity and that would be fine, since they weren't establishing a religion, just making an already extant one the official religion of Texas.

---

I'm having difficulty seeing how making the Bible the official state book of Louisiana isn't a violation of church-state separation, unless the Louisiana government can come up with a really good secular reason for it.

The bible they are making the official book is the oldest book housed in the state library.

Blatant lies from greed and death? Surely not!

[Greater-London]

First of all surely this is unconstitutional?

Secondly it doesn't really matter. Say your state book is the Bible, what does it actually mean in practical terms? NOTHING.

[Scholmeria]

America was originally founded as a Chrstian nation, so in many rural parts the tradition has remained.

[Ifreann]

America was originally founded as a Chrstian nation,

No it wasn't.

[Scholmeria]

America was originally founded as a Chrstian nation,

No it wasn't.

The declaration of independence has a reference to God, there is even today a biblical quote on US money... I could go on.

Also, isnt Louisiana a place where French is spoken?

[Olivaero]

No it wasn't.

The declaration of independence has a reference to God, there is even today a biblical quote on US money... I could go on.

Also, isnt Louisiana a place where French is spoken?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Tripoli

Third paragraph of the article:

As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen [Muslims],—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan [Mohammedan] nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

[Ifreann]

No it wasn't.

The declaration of independence has a reference to God, there is even today a biblical quote on US money... I could go on.

And you would continue to be wrong for as long as you chose to do so, because despite those things the US was not founded as a Christian nation.

Also, isnt Louisiana a place where French is spoken?

With a city called New Orleans, I'd imagine so. Why?

[Scholmeria]

And you would continue to be wrong for as long as you chose to do so, because despite those things the US was not founded as a Christian nation.

But the Declaration of independence has a reference to God. There is said that the Lord created all people equal, and it uses this argument for promoting equality of people.

Also, what is wrong if America is a Christian nation? It shows that it cares about its civilisation and heritage.

With a city called New Orleans, I'd imagine so. Why?

I saw this article, so I got interested. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Creole_French

Is this widely spoken?

[Ifreann]

And you would continue to be wrong for as long as you chose to do so, because despite those things the US was not founded as a Christian nation.

But the Declaration of independence has a reference to God. There is said that the Lord created all people equal, and it uses this argument for promoting equality of people.

That's nice. Doesn't make America a Christian nation.

Also, what is wrong if America is a Christian nation? It shows that it cares about its civilisation and heritage.

Quite the opposite, since America has never been a Christian nation.

With a city called New Orleans, I'd imagine so. Why?

I saw this article, so I got interested. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Creole_French

Is this widely spoken?

I wouldn't know. Why are you asking me?

[AiliailiA]

I saw this article, so I got interested. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Creole_French

Is this widely spoken?

I wouldn't know. Why are you asking me?

You speak Creole. Not French/English creole admittedly, and I'm not a linguist but I'm guessing English/Drunk creole?

[Boomhaueristan]

I will only approve if they also agree to make Brown Sugar the official state song.

Everybody!

Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields,
Sold in a market down in New Orleans.
Scarred old slaver know he's doin alright.
Hear him whip the women just around midnight.

Ah brown sugar how come you taste so good
(a-ha) brown sugar, just like a young girl should

You're the best.