The Bible And The Legislature

  • Sunday, April 12, 2015

Re:  Roy Exum: Don't Cheapen The Bible

Roy, I have been struggling to keep my mouth shut about the "wisdom" of some of our Tennessee legislators who seem to be bent on garnering notoriety by passing legislation to publicly and officially bring the Bible up from the pits and shadows to a place much closer to their own personally perceived superior domain without anyone noticing.  I agree with everything you wrote in your opinion piece this morning. 

I not only oppose the actions being pushed forward by some in the legislature but am incensed by anyone taking it upon themselves to "disfigure" the Bible by attaching a political appendage to it through a legislative process because they are either too self-serving or too ignorant to know that the Bible has existed in many forms and languages from the Moabite Stone some 800 years before Christ to the 19 Century Authorized (King James) Version.  The Bible belongs to the world.  It has always belonged to the world.  We are fortunate that our forefathers valued its contents and teachings enough to bring it with them when they came to the New World, our present-day United States of America, and eventually used it in framing our Constitution and documenting our Bill of Rights. 

The Bible is the greatest history book on our bookshelves.  For those of us who realized the significance as reports hit the news stands in newspapers, Science, National Geographic, etc., so much of the ancient and prehistoric world and happenings inferred or recorded only in the Bible have come to be facts through archaeological excavations, carbon dating, DNA, and other modern scientific techniques and equipment.  So arguments between faith and science buffs have essentially disappeared except for those few who do not, have not, and do not ever intend to accept facts that expand on or prove anything gleaned from their Bible.  To me, that means that the Bible should be required reading along with the published and proven facts in all of our public and private educational facilities.  The science and history are irreplaceable as we have learned since Nero had his final fit and burned Rome and its great library.  And a little faith never hurts anyone by increasing their knowledge base, especially when it seems to some to be all they have left.  

Having spent the past two years (thanks to EPB Fiber Optics Channel 153) watching the Tennessee Legislature in session, I have become more than somewhat concerned about whether some of those geniuses and god-like figures ever went to school based on the fact that they cannot even find their own seats, forget about their summations of their knowledge of the subject matter of the day.  To be honest, however, those who sent them there year-after-year are no better.  We all know and care, or should know and care, about how Tennesseans are viewed by the general public especially from our northernmost neighbors, many of whom do not appear to have ever had access to this most excellent historical as well as faith-based document called The Holy Bible or to have profited from its teachings through their words, actions, and conduct.  That equates into double-trouble when those same people not only control the news but also own our national news sources and run our government.  And it certainly doesn't help for Tennessee to rank in the top five worst educated states in our country according to a published report these past few years. 

I suppose it behoves us, especially myself, to remain silent and wait for "times to change."  But that makes no sense.  I've seen times change over more than a lifetime and at this thankful age I can announce my conclusion that time needs help. 

There is education to be had all around us beginning at birth using the only asset we were blessed with by the power of our Creator when we drew our first breath.  That asset is our body with all of its miraculous works and abilities to grow and develop with us as we age....and it belongs to us individually alone forever.  Not to any politician.  Not to any government.  Not to any law.  Not to any regulation.  Not to any other person.  How we use it and its abilities as we relate to other living beings and their identical personal ownerships is another matter.  That is why the Ten Commandments, together with our own required and necessary discipline and education to understand and follow those Commandments, are so critical.  Those Commandments are the foundation of our laws and governance in this country as well as most of the rest of our world as well as our major religions. 

Our elected officials or politicians are due a report card on their job performance and whether they are worth their pay.  Their grades should show up after the next elections.  What have your elected officials, politicians and appointees done for you to help make life better and circumstances easier for you to pay your bills with your own hard work and paycheck, own your home and land by frugal savings and management of your own income, raise and educate your children at your own expense, and live in a promised safe and secure environment with all required services financed by your taxes? 

Charlotte Parton
Chattanooga

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