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Should Bible Verses be Allowed on Government Documents?
KETK Viewers respond to the question from our News Partner: KTBB Radio
May 20, 2009 - 7:40am
Tyler—
Verses from scripture no longer on Pentagon Briefings. East Texans sound-off to our News Partner: KTBB and Host Garth Maier on today's question: Is there any wrong with scripture on Government Documents?






I see no reason why we cannot have something in the middle. I am a Christian but would be opposed to the government respecting my establishment of religion under the Establishment clause because it provides an unfair burden to people of other persuasions As far as Bible or Koran or BaggavadGhitta or who knows what religion book verses on government documents, I think we should all be opposed to any verse which presents an undeniably exclusively religious message as opposed to those with traditionally inspirational proverbs which have no underlying religious slant.
For instance John 14:6 which says "I am the Way the truth and the light, no man comes to the Father but through me alone" paraphrased is a verse exclusive to Christian teaching and tradition that could be considered offensive.
However, if the government is speaking against incest and says, "Thou shalt not look upon thy sister's nakedness", I can't see how anything but a very small belligerent and perverted minority could be offended.
Since we are so pro-political correctness, why don't we do away with murder laws and stealing laws and assault laws and bestiality laws, because that might offend somebody because everyone knows that's just Christian teaching forced on the irreligious masses. It is an outrage perpetrated against the American people! They are forcing their religion down our throats!
That is the slippery slope some of you are going down. Sure we cannot pass laws respecting any establishment of religion, but are we going to ignore the sound biblical truths that govern our criminal law in America, which is expressed most succinctly by the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"? The Bible was the greatest penal code of its time and setting aside all matters of doctrine and explicitly sectarian teachings, there are great moral truths and bits of advice that I would advise everyone to follow regardless of persuasion and see no reason for anyone to be offended.
Likewise, I have no doubt the Koran or Buddhist holy books have some respectable teachings, not explicitly sectarian, but recommendable in daily living. Take Confucius for example, he no Christian he no white man, but he had some good advice. Take it for what it's worth.
John
4 months agoBible verses have no place in government documents. My understanding of history is that those who came here for religious freedom were no more tolerant than those who persecuted them. Dutch colonies seem to have been the most tolerant. At any rate, this intolerance has not changed in several hundred years. I cannot see giving this intolerance more official backing despite fundamentalist rhetoric that they are still being persecuted.
Jimmy Gilliam
5 months agoNO..NO..NO..NO Its pure and simple NO NO NO!
Dick CArey
10 months agoIt does not belong there. Keep the religion (and the freedom of choice we have about that) in the pulpit. It does not belong on anything having to do with the Government. These things are separated for a reason.
polman
10 months agoour country was formed because our forfathers came here for religous freedom!!!!! why should it all be taken away???? IN GOD WE TRUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mickey vogt
10 months agoMickey:
You have a point. Yes, our country was formed because our forfathers came here for religous freedom. Here is what would concern me...If religious verses went into Goverment documents who's to say these verses would come from the bible us Americans use. Lets say initially do, then with everything else we have seen, expecially lately, would it not be likley that ALL Religions then would protest to have thier verses also placed in those goverment docs?
Personally, I say no too becasue it leaves too big of a door open..Almost as a teaser to promote christianty--all then to say, "this is not working"..and turn around and trash it once and for all.
I think the only way to protect what few rights the christians have left in the country is definitly to keep those rights far away from goverment interactions.
M. Santos
Michelle Santos
8 months agoPost new comment