The bible to become the official book of Louisiana?

[SlowSpyder]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way...e-could-become-louisianas-official-book?sc=tw

I would be completely against my state adopting any religious text as the state's official anything. What do you guys think?

 

[PottedMeat]

i'm not religious and -

It's a symbolic designation similar to choosing a state bird or state flower.

i don't think i'd care too much. these are the sorts of junk that wind up in state promo literature - like a stack of maps you pick up at the interstate welcome center.

i'd also regard the legislators putting this forward as wasting time and money.

 

[mrjminer]

i'm not religious and -

i don't think i'd care too much. these are the sorts of junk that wind up in state promo literature - like a stack of maps you pick up at the interstate welcome center.

i'd also regard the legislators putting this forward as wasting time and money.

This. However, I think there's a pretty strong, and correct, argument against a religious book being recognized as an "official" anything by the government.

Your likeness to the interstate welcome center sparks an amusing occurrence. In one of my level-100 English courses at college, our teacher had some kind of grant to do research about the "Kickapoo" Indians. Of course, we as the lowly level-100 English students had to do the task as an assignment. Our worthless research nobody cares about is supposedly featured prominently throughout various plaques / information stations in rest areas throughout Illinois (haven't been in one, so I don't know for sure).

 

[Newell Steamer]

It's a symbolic designation similar to choosing a state bird or state flower.

I don't remember any birds or state flowers being the basis for telling women what they can or can't do with their vaginas,...

 

[mnewsham]

I wonder how everyone would act if the Qur'an were being considered for the state book.

 

[Strk]

Is LA one of the states still trying to ban evolution being taught in schools?

 

[Newell Steamer]

I wonder how everyone would act if the Qur'an were being considered for the state book.

It will be, once Common Core takes over.

 

[blake0812]

Is LA one of the states still trying to ban evolution being taught in schools?

Not at all, there's a rise of evolution being taught here in Louisiana. More schools are teaching it, my stepmom is a teacher at a local school and she has been teaching it for 7 years.

 

[alzan]

Bad bill. Not only is it a waste of money and time to debate and attempt to pass the legislation; it'll be 10x or greater waste when the bill is challenged in court.

I swear, these politicians act like it's a "we're holier than every other state" game; or a "look at us, G-d, we made your book an official state symbol".

 

[Atreus21]

I wonder how everyone would act if the Qur'an were being considered for the state book.

Given this fact from wikipedia:

Current religious affiliations of the people of Louisiana is mostly Christian of whom 60% are Protestant, 28% are Roman Catholic, 1% are Jehovah's Witnesses, 1% are Muslim, 1% are Buddhist, 0.5% are Hindu and 0.5% are Jewish. Non-religious (unaffiliated) people make up 8%.

...probably not well.

 

[Vic]

A lot of Catholics in Louisiana. I bet this doesn't happen because they won't be able to settle on which translation.

 

[moonbogg]

I can almost see it being alright for historical and cultural reasons, but its still a religious book so its really not OK. They should be able to capture the state's historical and cultural origins and do those things justice by choosing something else while staying within the law.

 

[DrPizza]

It's amusing how stupid a legislator would have to be to think, "hey, this is a good idea. Even though the Constitution says that our country is founded on the principle that there's no official religion, we'll make the Bible our official book, because, well, that's different."

The moment it passes, lawsuit to have the bill overturned in 3....2...

 

[blake0812]

It's amusing how stupid a legislator would have to be to think, "hey, this is a good idea. Even though the Constitution says that our country is founded on the principle that there's no official religion, we'll make the Bible our official book, because, well, that's different."

The moment it passes, lawsuit to have the bill overturned in 3....2...

Yeah, it's sickening how the State doesn't do anything, and when they do it's stupid crap like this.

 

[SlowSpyder]

It's amusing how stupid a legislator would have to be to think, "hey, this is a good idea. Even though the Constitution says that our country is founded on the principle that there's no official religion, we'll make the Bible our official book, because, well, that's different."

The moment it passes, lawsuit to have the bill overturned in 3....2...

But what a waste of time and money. I'm sure LA has plenty of other issues that are much more worthy of spending resources on.

 

[blake0812]

But what a waste of time and money. I'm sure LA has plenty of other issues that are much more worthy of spending resources on.

Litter, pollution, unemployment, more schools/better schooling, and crime. And all the money is being spent on that stupid bill

 

[BUnit1701]

It's amusing how stupid a legislator would have to be to think, "hey, this is a good idea. Even though the Constitution says that our country is founded on the principle that there's no official religion, we'll make the Bible our official book, because, well, that's different."

The moment it passes, lawsuit to have the bill overturned in 3....2...

Fascinating. You honestly believe declaring the Bible the official state book is tantamount to forcing the entire population to worship under a state religion? I suppose you think this means everyone is required to eat the state bird too? Just looking for a little bit of equivalence here.

Litter, pollution, unemployment, more schools/better schooling, and crime. And all the money is being spent on that stupid bill

How much do you think it costs to declare an official anything? About the legislators and staff salaries for a week, big woop. Do you live in this state? If so, elect smarter politicians. If not, STFU.

 

[blake0812]

How much do you think it costs to declare an official anything? About the legislators and staff salaries for a week, big woop. Do you live in this state? If so, elect smarter politicians. If not, STFU.

Yes, I do live in Louisiana, but I never voted because both we're pretty bad and because I was under 18.

 

[DrPizza]

Fascinating. You honestly believe declaring the Bible the official state book is tantamount to forcing the entire population to worship under a state religion? I suppose you think this means everyone is required to eat the state bird too? Just looking for a little bit of equivalence here.


How much do you think it costs to declare an official anything? About the legislators and staff salaries for a week, big woop. Do you live in this state? If so, elect smarter politicians. If not, STFU.

No, I don't believe it's tantamount to forcing the entire population to worship under a state religion. What I believe is that if it passes, there will almost immediately be a lawsuit filed to have it overturned. Do you think it's free to the state to fight lawsuits? I'd bet on the lawsuit, and I'd bet that the lawsuit is successful. In other words, passing this bill would be about as smart as investing the same time and money into a perpetual motion machine. You're arguing that "well, it doesn't cost a lot" without realizing that 100% of the costs are guaranteed to result in additional costs & that 100% of the investment will be lost.

edit: I take it back. It won't be a 100% loss of investment. It's investing the taxpayer's money for reelection. "Hey ya'll, we all tried to make the Holy Bible the official book, but those heathens, the ACLU, sued our state and made us lose a lot of money. I'm with ya'll, so reelect me."

 

[BUnit1701]

No, I don't believe it's tantamount to forcing the entire population to worship under a state religion. What I believe is that if it passes, there will almost immediately be a lawsuit filed to have it overturned. Do you think it's free to the state to fight lawsuits? I'd bet on the lawsuit, and I'd bet that the lawsuit is successful. In other words, passing this bill would be about as smart as investing the same time and money into a perpetual motion machine. You're arguing that "well, it doesn't cost a lot" without realizing that 100% of the costs are guaranteed to result in additional costs & that 100% of the investment will be lost.

edit: I take it back. It won't be a 100% loss of investment. It's investing the taxpayer's money for reelection. "Hey ya'll, we all tried to make the Holy Bible the official book, but those heathens, the ACLU, sued our state and made us lose a lot of money. I'm with ya'll, so reelect me."

Hmmm, its not forcing a state religion, yet you think the courts will strike it down on that basis? Doublethink much?

 

[Mursilis]

It's amusing how stupid a legislator would have to be to think, "hey, this is a good idea. Even though the Constitution says that our country is founded on the principle that there's no official religion, we'll make the Bible our official book, because, well, that's different."

The moment it passes, lawsuit to have the bill overturned in 3....2...

And it's just sad to think how stupid an electorate would have to be to think electing such a clown was a good idea.

 

[emanresUa]

Hmmm, its not forcing a state religion, yet you think the courts will strike it down on that basis? Doublethink much?

Establishing an official state religion != forcing the population to convert to the state religion.

You could easily interpret the adoption of the Bible as their official book to be an official endorsement of Christianity.

 

[Jaskalas]

I'm glad we have States, and this wasn't a fight over a "Federal book". So this fight can happen locally and Louisiana is free to learn a lesson from this.

 

[smackababy]

Hmmm, its not forcing a state religion, yet you think the courts will strike it down on that basis? Doublethink much?

It is not forcing a state religion, but it is recognizing, and therefore supporting, one in an official capacity. They might as well make the state's official religion Christianity.

 

[Oldgamer]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way...e-could-become-louisianas-official-book?sc=tw

I would be completely against my state adopting any religious text as the state's official anything. What do you guys think?

Louisiana is a back ward ass state. But so is Texas and most of the other southern bible belt states. If they had it their way we wouldn't be teaching science in schools, we would be teaching the bible in school, and everyone would be dumb as rocks. So much for the separation of church and state. Old England here we come...