Can a religious text be endorsed by the government? One Texas lawmaker thinks so.
Texas state representative Glenn Rogers recently introduced a resolution to make the Bible the official state book of Texas. The resolution follows in the footsteps of Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi, where similar resolutions have been introduced in recent years.
The text of the resolution, HCR 11, argues that the holy text has served “as a social and cultural touchstone that has been integral to the state’s history and development,” which divorces it from its obvious religious context.
Could this legislation pass? And if so, what would it mean for other religions in Texas?
Holy or History?
Citing the Bibles carried by Texas heroes like “Sam Houston, William Travis, Juan Seguin, and Davy Crockett,” HCR 11 argues emphatically that the Bible and Texas history are simply too intertwined to untangle.
“Comprehensive recordkeeping was not carried out by local and state government during the 19th century; instead life events such as births, marriages, and deaths were written in family Bibles,” the bill argues. “Many of these cherished volumes were passed down through the generations and are now included in the state’s archives, providing a vital resource for historians.”
The resolution also points out that some 30 Texas governors have been sworn in on a Bible believed to be Sam Houston’s, calling that an “enduring inaugural tradition.”
But there’s still the pesky fact that the Bible is the holy text of the Christian faith. Because the separation of church and state prevents the governments from favoring one religion over another, critics argue this would be a constitutional violation.
Do the authors of this legislation make a convincing enough case that it's really a historical text they're endorsing?
Bible Battle
Secular groups and separation of church and state advocates say no, arguing that this resolution is a flagrant violation of separation of church and state.
One question critics had was… which Bible? The state resolution simply says “the Bible”, but there are several different translations and editions in common use. King James? NIV? The Jefferson Bible?
While some 77% of Texans identify as Christian according to a Pew poll, the resolution seems unlikely to pass if recent history is anything to go by. Despite being majority-Christian states, similar resolutions have failed in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana, generally on the grounds that it’s unconstitutional.
What do you think? Is the Bible really “a prominent element in the rich fabric of Texas heritage” that can be separated from its religious context? Or is this an attempt by the state of Texas to officially endorse one religion over another?
114 comments
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taycomama
Why does a state need an official state book?
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Rev Mark D
Why does a fish need a bicycle? Because it wants one.
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Michael K. Mac Munn
And who decides the fish wants a bicycle whether it needs one or not ?
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Pink Clover
They don't want a state book. They want the BIBLE to be front and center in everyone's life.
Not. Gonna. Happen.
As a matter of fact, because of all this crap so called christians have done, more and more people (such as myself and pretty much everyone I know) have left churches/religion and moved on.
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Dave J
Gilead strikes again. It seems that the power elite of Texas want to turn the state into a theocracy. That works so well for women in Afghanistan, doesn't it? Texas wants to be by themselves in electricity, and wants to become a christian state. Let's let them become their own country again. They can pay back their share of the national debt, and then they can stop sending tax money to the United States, and stop receiving any benefit from it as well. Gilead, here we come. Sorry, folks of Austin.
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John P Maher
THAT is WHY WE HAVE SEPERATION of STATE and CHURCH, SO AS TO SHUT THE ANGELS UP !
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Where are all you angels? That was a verse in my favorite Duran Duran song called Wild Boys.
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Daniel Gray
There IS no such thing as Separation of church and state. The constitution was ratified in 1787, the very first mention of this myth was in 1802 a good 15 YEARS AFTER the Constitution was ratified meaning that it would have to take a constitutional amendment to make this part of the constitution, not a decision by people in a black dress whos powers are clearly listed in Article 3 section 2 and not once does it say they can make a law or give weight of law (thats reserved for the Congress in Article 1 Section 1) nor can they just suddenly come up with a decision and call it a right. And also remember that under the 10th Amendment it clearly states that unless the constitution SPECIFICALLY give you an authority, you dont have it and never did.
Admit it, you failed history and government in school didnt you.
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Amber Fry
Actually there is. If you took the time to read and actually understand it you might realize that. Use a study aid if you have to. Most of what you are spewing here is propaganda and just plain not supportable.
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Daniel Gray
Actually there isnt, and that casts doubt on the rest of your post as mine is historically accurate. Yours isnt.
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Martin L Stigleman
Actually, the wording of the 10th Amendment states that, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." This DOES NOT mean that the States only have power that the Constitution allows...in fact it is the opposite. Unless the Constitution restricts it, they are permitted...
You also seem confused about Amendments. Amendments are articles that are ratified by Congress and added to the Constitution so that the entire thing doesn't have to be rewritten any time something changes. This is how they were able to pass and then rescind prohibition...as well as outlaw slavery. EVERY SINGLE AMENDMENT was passed AFTER the Constitution was written...and the FIRST AMENDMENT (adopted by Congress on December 15, 1791...you were STILL WRONG) states that , "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."
It is apparent who "failed history and government in school", but we here are happy to help you if you decide to ask questions instead of shout falsehoods.
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Daniel Gray
Awww, mad because I am correct and you...not so much
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Anisahoni
I think, "Grimm's Fairy Tales," "The Wizard of Oz" and "Star Wars" stories are more fitting. The mythical bible is a joke wanted by a bunch of hypocrites.
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Ty Ford
What, a human-mangled fiction for the Texas state book? Everything they've been doing recently falls into that, but I think that if they do, it should be proceeded by a full secession from the USA with an appropriate border wall erected to keep us out of Texas.
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Rev Mark D
They've been doing that in Texas for 50 years with school textbooks, which because they buy them en bloc, controls the publishing nationally of school text books. And even if other states didn't pass it previously, today is a new day and definitely a possibility this time, which may then be followed by the states that failed to pass it previously. Especially evangelicals, regardless of denomination, are the MAGA of religion. Believe it.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Why not choose Harry Potter?
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Pink Clover
Indeed! Much better books (and more believable :D ).
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Thom
While I agree it is good to have a book which promotes morals, ethics, honesty and most of all, just passing on the ways of being a good person; I believe the Bible should not be the book for the State. I am a Texan and while I believe the Bible does have its positives, I do believe there should be a separation of church and State.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
My home town of Galveston is an Island right next to Texas in the Gulf of Mexico, so I don't have to claim to be part of what goes on in Texas.
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Thom
So, you are saying you don't like being a Texan? You believe another state would be better for you?
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
No Thom, I was trying to be funny. I love being a Texan. I just don't like our state government, these days. Even during the four years I lived in Kentucky I still thought of myself as a Texan. From the bottom of these cowboy boots I'm wearing, to the top of the wool felt Stetson cowboy hat on my bald head, every inch of me loves being Texan.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
I didn't say anything about not wanting to be a Texan, To him. I was making a little joke about Galveston being right next to Texas. It is an Island, you know, so urrounded by water, apart from the Texas mainland. Then again, maybe you're too ignorant to have known. However, Galveston is also the county seat of Galveston County, and includes cities on the mainland. No Thom, I've always been proud to be a Texan, but that doesn't make me have to like our current state government. And I damn sure don't! We haven't had a good governor since Ann Richards,who incidentally also lived in Galveston County. And I voted for her every time. But I never voted for asshole Abbot, and never will!
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Maximillian Martin
This should NEVER be allowed to happen!!! Not only is it unconstitutional, it's dead wrong and not necessary!!! It's just one more step towards a theocracy and that would be the worst disaster known to man!!!!
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Douglas Robert Spindler
I think it should be the Book of Mormon and the Quran. They have much nicer uplifting stories than the ones in the Bible. The God in the Bible seems to like killing the people he's suppose to love.
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Daniel Gray
You mean when the quran tells people to kill non believers?
3:85 Any religion other than Islam is not acceptable
5:33 Maim and crucify the infidels if they criticize Islam
8:12 Terrorize and behead those who believe in scriptures other than the Qur’an.
9:5 When opportunity arises kill the infidels wherever you catch them
9:123 Make war on the infidels living in your neighborhood.
Yea Islam is real peaceful now isnt it.
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Gerardo Salazar
Or the Bible?
Allowing Slavery - Genesis 37 - 38 Encouraging Human Sacrifice- Judges 11 Murder of an Interrracial Couple - Numbers 25-27 Killing Sinners - Isaiah 13:9–16 Punishing Those who work on Sabbath Exodus - 31:15 Stoning Those Who Worships other Gods - Deuteronomy 17:2-5 Dead to Homosexuals - Leviticus 20:13 Stoning Women who are not virgins on their wedding night - Deuteronomy 22:20-21
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JaZe
but Gerardo, didnt the new testament supersede all that?
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Gerardo Salazar
I would agree but as in any policy book the text is still there and has not been deleted thus making it mandatory for everyone unless, of course, one decides what applies and what doesn’t. I know that Jesus message is one of love and comprehension so I would suggest to discriminate between both books, taking the Old Testament as a narrative of the Hebrews, except, of course, for the Ten Commandments while taking moral guidance only from the Gospel. My best regards to you. Keep well.
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JaZe
may I suggest Erick von Daniken's books as an alternative?
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Or how about "On the Origin of Species" by Chuck Darwin? Or the Book of Mormon or the Quran? But first we need to teach the students how to read.
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MIKE
That's ok by me. Don't want to read it, then don't!!
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Thom
Do you see what the Devil has brought us? Biden and his Oligarchy.
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Nathaniel Robert Hunt
Oligarchy started under Bush jr........ oh and trump wanted to be king for life
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Cindy L Edgar
No state or government or anybody should have the right to tell anybody what kind of religion they want to follow I I am a pagan High Priestess ordained minister I follow my own beliefs when some high official or government official wants to change laws they can stick it in there freaking ear that goes back to Julius Caesar where Julius Caesar had control of everyone and everything so no do I believe that Texas should have that right no they should not have that right that goes Argos to constitutional rights of people
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Minister Chuck
The only place a Bible should be mandatory to be read is in a religious school! Not everyone belongs to the same religion, some are Agnostia, Wiccan, Muslim, Athiest, so what makes Texas think that there is only one religion & book of fables! it seems as if Texas is trying to become a Totalitarian or Authortian run state!
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Michael Paul Gadoua
To maintain an inclusive society, all religions must be respected for as long as no tenets violating malum pro se laws. To do this, the State must be secular. The Separation of Church and State has been recognized within the U.S. Constitution as interpreted by the SCOTUS. If you argue that this doesn't exist, then you can also argue that the Right of Privacy does not exist as there is no language specifying such a right in the Constitution. However, the Court has interpreted that there are a number of protected rights implied by the Bill of Rights.
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Rev. Raven Cutrere (Geoffrey Middleton
If this happened, Texas officially becomes The Republic of Gilead.
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Reverend Gary
When you look at the deep and wide corruption of organized religions worldwide you would not want to have any of that, vast, centuries old, corruption incorporated into your government. The fact that we are seeing, as revealed by President Donald J. Trump’s historic attempt to “drain the swamp” and reduce and even eliminate corruption in the US Government in recent years, how vast and how deep the corruption is in the United States government. And the connections, also dating back centuries as this corruption is closely and deeply associated with the corrupt leaders of the catholic organization.
It puzzles me to think you would actually want to add to that corruption, that malfeasance, by openly joining two of the most corrupted organizations in the world. Have you not done your due diligence and researched the most changed publication of the world, the bible? Read the book you can buy right here on The Monastery web site, “Misquoting Jesus The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why” by Bart D. Eherman and dig deep to find other similar publications and research available. It is not a book I would endorse and/or freely circulate in any population.
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Minister Carlos Ricardo Walls
The majority of people follows man's laws.That's why the worlds's in total chaos.
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Amber Fry
Actually a fair amount of people attempt to get around man's laws by thinking of themselves as special and exempt. THAT is why the world is in chaos. It would be one thing if the laws were repressive. People should rebel for those. The problem is when the laws are about health and safety and keeping some groups of societies from taking advantage of less fortunate groups are the ones being broken.
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Lionheart
Thank goodness it’s not your gods laws. He condoned stoning someone to death just for picking up sticks on the sabbath. Your genocidal, and infanticidal, god was a complete whacko, and yet people still worship it.
🦁❤️
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
That is wackos still worship it, don't you mean, Lionheart?
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Stacey Owens
God has to be official. Not the book. The letter kill but the spirit gives life.
Acknowledging Christ Jesus first should be official. If you acknowledge the book only as God, then it becomes the law of sin and death.
The bible is the inspired word of God. Not by the will of man did prophecy come, but by the Holy Spirit ( Jesus Christ) did God speak.
You see, Abraham believe God and it was counted to him for righteousness.
No books was involved ( the blood of Jesus Christ), because faith come by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Jesus said, Father, I have revealed your name to the men you have given me.
The word (spirit of life) is God.
IF you have the spirit to hear, hear what the spirit is saying. Praise the Lord.
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Anisahoni
"The law of sin and death"??? "Blood of Jesus Christ"?? How canabilistic! Yuck, what awful things to believe. If anyone believes they are "hearing the word of god" someone needs professional help with their hallucinations.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
It just depends on how you season it, Catherine. Have you ever read The Joy Of Cooking by Hanibal Lechter?
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Anisahoni
Oh Carl, you are too funny but it is a great analogy for Lord Jealous the god of the bible, worst piece of literature in all of human history.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
That Christian Brothers so-called blood of Christ they give at Communion isn't nearly as bad as the body of Christ, which tastes like a plain wafer, Catherine. Matzos even taste better than that! It ought to taste meaty, and go good with A1 steak sauce.
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Stacey Owens
You believe in hearing your options. You act on your thoughts. Your untitled to believe in yourself.
Why is it hard to believe someone else is speaking in another name?
Is it possible what you hallucinate could be a real hallucination?.
Every person has a spirit in them. The problem is what spirit are they listing too.
Just by reading your post I notice your conscious is polluted. It's polluted because you responded in your nature of hostility.
It's okay tho, you don't reject me, you reject the Christ in me.
I let you slap my face because you don't know know better. Your untitled.
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Anisahoni
Excuse me, perhaps you should read your so called holy book which is filled with the words and actions of Lord Jealous, murderer, child killer, racist and misogynist. It is hard to face the truth of what you christians refuse to acknowledge. Rather than pick up your book of horror which Stephen King could never compete with and really study it, you rather criticize those of us who shine a light on ignorance and brainwashing. The cannibalism of blood, murdering your own adult kid is pretty sick and twisted too. All versions of the bible have the same demented and twisted genocide stories perpetrated by and in the name of Lord Jealous. Read and study hard, then come back here for enlightened discussion. I left that bible craziness a long time ago after studying it for years.
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Rev Mark D
Could pass today, with the current politics.
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Daniel Gray
Dont see why not. They have a state bird and they have a state story teller and they have a state poet. So even if they make it into the state book they are not endorsing anything and it has no official capacity nor can it be used in any official capacity.
So why all the rabid misinformation and fuss over a small anthill?
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Ty Ford
Your anthill has a slippery slope.
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Daniel Gray
only in your mind
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Asa William Sprague, II
Creating a state law that would declare one specific book to be the "official" book of that state is absolutely an endorsement. And there are a lot of real-world benefits (including cash money) that follows when a person, animal, plant of thing is established as a state's official something.
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Daniel Gray
so what your saying is the book On Golden Pond that is the State Book of main and all the crap by Garrison Keillor being made official by the State of Minnesota is now them endorsing one book over another?
Your logic falls very flat.
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Asa William Sprague, II
Your information is faulty.
"On Golden Pond" is not the state book of Maine. If you meant some other state when you typed "..the State Book of main.." please include all the letters for that state's name.
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Daniel Gray
You do know what an "example" is right?
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Asa William Sprague, II
I do know what an example is. Sadly, your grammar and spelling did not make your example clear.
But now that you have clarified what you meant, I can fully respond and say: Yes. When a state declares that something is the state's official (insert item/person's name here), they are endorsing that item or person above all other related items or individuals.
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Daniel Gray
Sorry but I made myself perfectly clear, only someone with low intelligence and nothing to fall back on to try and prove me wrong would stoop to being a grammar nazi to try and back up their myths
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Asa William Sprague, II
I also made myself perfectly clear: When a state declares that something is the state's official something, they are endorsing that thing (item or person) above all other things with similar characteristics.
On the other note: Apologies for hurting your feelings. It never occured to me that an expectation for the most basic level of spelling skills would be taken as a sign of low intelligence.
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Daniel Gray
No Asa, you just want to argue with the most stupid reasoning. The Buckeye is the official nut of the state of Ohio, but that does not stop them from cutting these trees down for wood. Now if it is as you say then each and every buckeye tree would constitute a violation of state law. I mean really do you actually READ your posts before posting as if you did over 99% of them would never see the light of day
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Asa William Sprague, II
Nope, I did not say anything even remotely close to that.
So, FYI - Just because a tree, flower or bird are declared the official State tree, flower or bird does not mean you can't cut it down, pick them for your table or shoot them out of the sky. It sounds like you have confused an "endangered species" declaration with a "favoritism" declaration.
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Daniel Gray
Never said you said anything. What I DID say was that you implied it and as such was trying to scare people. And sorry but it didnt work
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Asa William Sprague, II
I never "implied" that cutting down a Buckeye tree in Ohio would be a violation of their state law.
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Daniel Gray
Proves that you are not all there, I used that as an EXAMPLE. You do know what an EXAMPLE is dont you? if not grab a dictionary and look it up
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CB Cuff
When their state animal is an ass, it's understandable that a book of fables provide guidance.
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Daniel Gray
why are you speaking ill of the Democrats? I mean their symbol is an ass isnt it?
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Antonio L Figueroa Santiago
I think the time has come to allow the bibles back in school. There allowed in jail. Why wait until the kids end up in jail. To teach them morals and the right way to live. God is Good. Revival is Coming there is no stopping it. And there is no stopping what is written in the bible.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
Hey Santiago, I've heard that they want people who feel like you, to move to Mexico. They don't have enough people there, an will welcome you with open arms.
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Anisahoni
So you want kids to have nightmares? Stop pretending it's a book of good. It's not. It's filled with stories of Lord Jealous and his campaign of repeated genocide, murdering of specific tribal people in the middle east, diseases, pests, floods, revenge, fear mongering, as "punishment" Who would want an evil father like that who set people up for failure? And poor Ezekiel, poor slob either lost his mind or was on drugs. Paul was a misogynist who was hated by his brother who claimed he was a madman and a liar. No thanks. Read and study then come back.
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Anisahoni
Oh my, another brainwashed Mexica. Tonantzin? Who is she? Do you remember? Those evil invading Spaniards got to you, enslaved your people until Our Lady of Guadalupe came along. There is no white guy in the sky.
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James Pace
This person is a government official? So they're familiar with the concept of separation of church and state, right?
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
James, I think a lot of fools run for office without knowing anything about the office they're running for. It's well documented that more than all Texans are functioning illiterates. So don't be surprised if the only book that fool has ever read is that goddam, worthless bible. It might not have ever even heard of the U.S. Constitution. Believe me, having lived in Texas 54 of my 58 years I know how stupid our politicians can be. The only good one we e had was Ann Richards, and I voted for her Everytime she ran for office.
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
The Android poltergeist changed the wording in my above comment, again. It was supposed to state that more than half, not more than all of all Texans are functioning illiterates, so I have read. Please make this correction for me.
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Woodrow
Awesome
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Can we please give Texas, it's independence?
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Antonio L Figueroa Santiago
Thank You Lord. For our brothers and sisters in Christ are starting to awaken worldwide. More power to the state of Texas. For being different and take the bible as a state book. The bible has power. The word of God will never die. In Jesus name amen.
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Stacey Owens
The word is God not the bible. There are millions of people who read the bible. But do they acknowledge the word they have received as God.
That's the question.
Making the bible as a state book means nothing.
Jesus was prophesied and they still did not believe that he was to come.
(He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world new him not. He came unto his own and his own received him not. But as many as received him to them gave he power to become sons of God, even to them that believed on his name. Which was born, not by blood nor or of the flesh, nor of the will of men, but of God.)
The word is made flesh and dwells among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.
But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal body by his Spirit that dwells in you.
But if you don't have the spirit of Christ, you are none of his.
So I say in conclusion, the spirit quickens (moves you) the flesh profited nothing.
To God be the glory.
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Lionheart
Even though there is no demonstrable evidence any god exists, thank you for your very religiously indoctrinated comment. All comments are welcome, even though there is a lot of parrot phrasing from a book with very dubious writings from people decades after any said events.
🦁❤️
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Stacey Owens
Hello Lionheart,
Just to let you know, the demonstration of God is being demonstrated in you. Anytime you help someone or show that you care for them by giving them comfort in time of pain your demonstrating the goodness of God. Whether you believe in him or not.
God is in you regardless. He is going to get the glory.
As for you, your denial and hostility, well, that part is you.
Your conscious mind is at war with your unconscious mind. Your in captivity to your unbelief. This is why you reject God.
He has revealed Himself many times in your life but you did not comprehend him, you hardened your heart.
So the Father gave you over to your own mind. You will only see whats in front of your face.
Have a good day!
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Lionheart
Thank you for your reply Stacey. I do have to say though that with the greatest respect you are actually only saying things you believe to be true with no evidence whatsoever to support your statements. I do understand why you say what you do because I’ve been where you currently are, saying exactly the same things I used to preach to my congregation whenever they had any doubts. Eventually, I came to realize I couldn’t attempt to indoctrinate them any longer with tales, stories, anecdotes etc,. written by people who in many instances were not even born to witness the events they wrote about.
Telling someone that their conscious mind is at war with their unconscious mind, with the type of assurity that one would expect from a psychiatrist, is actually mental abuse by the uneducated.There are emotionally unstable people on this earth that would believe you. I’ve met these type of people, two of them were contemplating suicide because they felt they were “unworthy” from a religious perspective. Please be very careful what you tell people, especially if you have no education in psychological, or psychiatric, sciences. Their death could end up being on your hands. Children are in particular very susceptible to believing anything you tell them, as evidenced by their belief in Santa Clause, and the Tooth Fairy. Mental abuse of children is on the rise, especially with regards to religion telling them they will go to Hell if they don’t believe what you believe. This is one of the worst type of mental abuse statements anyone can tell a child.
Please take a look at everything you said and recognize that there is no testable evidence that any peer reviews by anyone could accurately demonstrate to be true. Everything you stated was coming from pure indoctrination of your own beliefs structure, which is no different from anyone else with a firm belief that their own religion is true.
I will not “only see what is in front of my face” as you stated, I will see other peoples points of view, which clearly you don’t due to the cloud of indoctrination that is in front of yours.
You too have a good day. 🤗
🦁❤️
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Stacey Owens
Comment removed by user.
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Stacey Owens
Lionheart,
I truly understand I need to be careful with what I have expressed on this post. So I deleted my comments because the my sentences were not quite complete.
That being said, it is fruitless to continue when you see things in the physical. I understand your not receiving things in the spirit, I understand.
The conscious mind I was referring to you was the physical mind, seeing what is in front of you. This is what I meant when I said, seeing what is in front of you.
I wasn't trying to insult you.
The spiritual mind which is your subconscious mind that's where where God dwells. This is the part of the person that is in the image of God.
I understand you can not comprehend. Again, I'm not trying to insult your intelligence.
I find on this post there are no true believers.
So I'll just move on. Be blessed.
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Richard Lee Cornell
For those who have a 501 (c) (3) number your only a non-profit because of that number. If you lose it you lose a lot. God is the IRS, law maker is the IRS not that Texas lawmakers or or any church. The IRS can walk into any church including the Catholic Church and ask to see the books. They can audit the books. Texas lawmakers might think they have some sorts of power, but since the State of Texas is and have a IRS number they are not truly in power. If they lose that number they are in a big pile of DODO. If you look at the number of Catholics in that State who see King James Bible is a book of the Devil they might want to not make their version of the Bible the State Book. The last thing the State of Texas wants to do is make Catholics whose belief comes from God and the Pope mad.
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John P Maher
TOO, TOO MUCH LAW and ITS the LAWMAKERS SAME THAT BREAK and RIDICULE the LAWs, EXAMPLE tRUMP ! and THE G O Pigs !
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Luke Lukas
Blessings all. The Bible is not religion. It is the word of God. And no where in the Bible does it sanctify a religion. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. All the other junk is man's interpretation of the Bible. True interpretation only comes from the Holy Spirit and it ain't in no religion.
What we really need to concentrate on is where are we going to spend eternity?
Oh... and Christianity is not a religion. It is a description of the souls that follow Christ.
Only Jesus saves.
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Richard Lee Cornell
Keep the Christian Bible in your home or at Church. If you put your Bible in it, it better be what the Catholic Church says it is and not that pagan Protestant Bible. Most standard Christians have their own version of the Bible from the original one. It could is theory lead to a religious war between many Christian faiths. My Church is better than your Church and we are bless by God, this is what we believe in and if it is not our Bible then it is war. Remember that the original Jesus was born a Jew, lived as a Jew and die as a Jew. It was the pagans that made him into a God.
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Pastor Barton
This is one instance where, although this website is pushing the Democrat's Agenda, the Gov. can't push one religion over the others. They all get equal protection. The Bible may be quoted from time to time by Politicians, and it can't be an official text sanctioned by the Gov.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
If the law maker expects kids to read the bible, don't we need to teach kids how to read?
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
No, no, no, no, no!
Can we please give Texas their independence?
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Carl A. Hankins
In the constitution of the United States it says freedom of religion. ALL that was considered as such was the belief in one God and one Savior. This part was and still is being ripped apart by atheists and different God holders. The Spirit was never to be worshipped.It's just another pagan way to add to the mess. I believe all states should consider the Bible but the mandatory concept should be left at home where it was told to be taught. Even a state bird can't make itself to stay in one place.
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Angel
IT will never pass seperation between church and state...
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Michael K. Mac Munn
In reading the article above it lists some individuals that carried a Bible that were Texas heroes as many Texans are well aware not all heroes of Texas carried a Bible or follow that bibles religion but yet are still considered heroes of Texas to say that it represents all Texas history first would be incorrect second there is a reason why there should be a separation of church and state the forefathers did not want church being able to be a part of government because they saw their own history from where they came from and originated from that there's too many times that there was corrupt churches corrupted church officials it served their own interests whether it was for the best interests of the people or not.
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Stacey Owens
Why make the bible as the book when those who make the bible official won't follow the official book as the official word of God.
It's sounds kinda stupid. The Texas government would all have to be anointed by God to fulfill it. That's not going to happen when they all have a corrupt nature. They would be condemning everyone.
The letter Kills, but the anointed spirit in the person gives life.
The whole thing would be mingled in blood.
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Ilmenheru Terikson
You are confused about Jefferson so here are his words from Jan 1 , 1802 “ Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. [Congress thus inhibited from acts respecting religion, and the Executive authorized only to execute their acts, I have refrained from prescribing even those occasional performances of devotion, practiced indeed by the Executive of another nation as the legal head of its church, but subject here, as religious exercises only to the voluntary regulations and discipline of each respective sect.] Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties. “. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. The originator of the phrase
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Reverend Kurt
Doesn't anyone see the obvious? As can be seen on the Lone star States flag. Texas openly proclaims it's affiliation with Satan .Proud for all the world to see. So what is the real issue here? Why do Satanists want to embrace the bible?
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Weldon Joe Horton
Unfortunately, we have a large number of complete idiots in the Texas Government. They come up with mindless rubbish like this, instead of fixing problems like the Texas power grid that is in desperate need.
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Separation of Church and State benefits everyone. The Church has little power to make laws that aren't agreed to by a majority of citizens. The State cannot interfere in the Church's activities beyond criminal activity and public safety. If you want to see the result of merging Church and State check out the Taliban.
Creeping religion into our government doesn't help and may provoke a backlash--are you ready for "tax the churches?"
To maintain an inclusive society, all religions must be respected for as long as no tenets violating malum pro se laws. To do this, the State must be secular. The Separation of Church and State has been recognized within the U.S. Constitution as interpreted by the SCOTUS. If you argue that this doesn't exist, then you can also argue that the Right of Privacy does not exist as there is no language specifying such a right in the Constitution. However, the Court has interpreted that there are a number of protected rights implied by the Bill of Rights.
DO YOU SEE WHAT GOD HAS WROTH, tRUMP !!!
Sorry but there IS NO such thing as Separation of Church and state. Its not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution and the ONLY thing the Constitution says about religion is that you cant make a law that would violate one. You really need to stop with this myth as SCOTUS cannot make a law, they can only say if one is constitutional or not and that is clearly stated in Article 3 (powers of the judiciary) in the Constitution
The U.S. Constitution actually says "“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
You could interpret that to mean: Congress shall make no law that respects an established religion; but generally it is understood to mean Congress shall make no law that establishes one religion as being above any of the other religions.
You'd have to do some serious linguistic gymnastics to say it means ".. you cant make a law that would violate one (a religion)."
generally accepted by WHO? Thats not what the constitution says.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution literally says:
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.
If you are trying to imply that the words "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" means government cannot make a law that would violate a religious practice, you would be wrong. If your religion requires that an innocent human be killed for the sake of glorifying your god, the U.S. government is allowed to enforce the law that says killing people is illegal.
So how is this violating anything?
Texas wants to create a law that would elevate one religious text above all others.
says WHO? You? By making a book the state book of Texas is no different then them doing it for a flower or a bird. Just because they make it the official state book does not mean or say that the State Assembly has to base all their decisions on it. You are just trying to build a problem when one does not and never has existed.
Are you on drugs? I never said anything about the State Assembly having to base their decisions on the Bible if they made it the official state book. Check our discussion; you're seeing something that isn't there.
My point has only been that the State of Texas would be expressing official favoritism towards Christianity if they made The Bible the official state book of Texas. ie: making a law respecting an establishment of religion.
No but you must be. So tell us if they are just making it the book of the state and they are not going to use it to make any laws, then what the heck are you fussing about?
Favoritism.
Making the Bible the official State book of Texas is an example of government favoritism towards one established religion: Christianity.
So using your logic (and I am insulting logic when I said that) then by making an animal or a tree or a song or a plant the state's first, then they are showing favoritism against all the others in that category. Do you see hoe ridiculous your claim is?
If my claim sounds ridiculous, the fault lies with the actions of state government.
Do some research and you will find that everything I've said here is true.
No if your claim sounds ridiculous, its the fault of the poster who's ego just cant stand it when he is proved wrong with the facts.
Due your own research and you will find everything you have just said is a fantasy of your own making
Daniel Gray if there is no separation then my Pagan church gets to praise Baal and other Gods at city council meetings and state meetings
yes they do.