Should Obama designate 2010 - as 'The National Year of the Bible'?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. CON. RES. 121

Encouraging the President to designate 2010 as ‘The National Year of the Bible’.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 7, 2009

Mr. BROUN of Georgia (for himself, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. FORBES, Mr. PENCE, Mr. GINGREY of Georgia, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. JORDAN of Ohio, Mr. WAMP, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. CARTER, Mr. AKIN, and Mr. MCGOVERN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Encouraging the President to designate 2010 as ‘The National Year of the Bible’.

Whereas the Bible has had a profound impact in shaping America into a great Nation;

Whereas deep religious beliefs stemming from the Old and New Testament of the Bible have inspired Americans from all walks of life, especially the early settlers, whose faith, spiritual courage, and moral strength enabled them to endure intense hardships in this new land;

Whereas many of our Presidents have recognized the importance of God and the Bible, including George Washington; Franklin D. Roosevelt; Harry Truman; John F. Kennedy; Ronald Reagan, who declared 1983 as ‘The National Year of the Bible’; and especially Abraham Lincoln, whose 200th Birthday Celebration in 2009 highlighted freedom for the slaves;

Whereas shared Biblical beliefs unified the colonists and gave our early leaders the wisdom to write the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, both of which recognized the inherent worth, dignity, and inalienable rights of each individual, thus unifying a diverse people with the right to vote, and the freedoms of speech and vast religious freedoms, which inspired courageous men like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to lead the Civil Rights Movement;

Whereas the Bible has been the world’s best selling book since it was first published in English in 1526, and has influenced more people than any other book;

Whereas the Bible has been a cornerstone in the development of Western civilization, influencing the nations in the areas of history, law, politics, culture, music, literature, art, drama, and especially moral philosophy;

Whereas the Bible, used as a moral guide, has inspired compassion, love for our neighbor, and the preciousness of life and marriage, and has stimulated many benevolent, faith-based community initiatives and neighborhood partnerships that have healed and blessed our families, communities, and our entire Nation, especially in times of war, tragedy, and economic and social crisis;

Whereas the Bible has inspired acts of patriotism that have unified Americans, commemorated through shared celebrations such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; and

Whereas 2010 is an appropriate year to designate as ‘The National Year of the Bible’: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the President is encouraged--

(1) to designate an appropriate year as ‘The National Year of the Bible’; and

(2) to issue a proclamation calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message of the Holy Scripture which has profoundly influenced and shaped the United States and its great democratic form of Government, as well as its rich spiritual heritage, and which has unified, healed, and strengthened its people for over 200 years.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=hc111-121

[Nagishkaw 510]

They are fighting a lost cause. But all in all, good for them.

[Otto 83]

Can't have a national "Day" - they simply must have an entire "Year"... sheesh...

[Peikko 1,575]

I hope not.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... to issue a proclamation calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message of the Holy Scripture ...

I found the part in bold (above) particularly amusing.

[PlatyPius 5]

As long as we also have a National Year of the Qur'an, a National Year of the Torah, a National Year of the Eddas, etc....

[c_and_a 0]

Fine by me, as long as 2011 can be the year of the Toah and 2012 the year of the Koran.

What a waste time.

Edited May 10, 2009 by c_and_a

[Sofiyya 1,687]

National Prayer DAY was this week. Despite tradtion, he did not much to acknowedge that, so a year for the Bible? I don't see that in his future.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

As long as we also have a National Year of the Qur'an, a National Year of the Torah, a National Year of the Eddas, etc....

word

[Ban Hammer 13,400]

As long as we also have a National Year of the Qur'an, a National Year of the Torah, a National Year of the Eddas, etc....

why do you hate obama?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Why do people like him?

[jundp 191]

I like Obama and I'm a Democrat and I'm a Christian. However:

As long as we also have a National Year of the Qur'an, a National Year of the Torah, a National Year of the Eddas, etc....

because instituting a Year of the Bible only recognizes Christianity because Judaism doesn't follow the New Testament. And I do believe there's a reason that the separation of church and state aspect exists in our Constitution: so our government won't designate one national religion. This is a direct result of separating from England (and that whole pesky Henry VIII thing). If our constitution guarantees no designated national religion, then why should we have a Year of the Bible? Doesn't make sense.

[scandal 951]

Fine by me, as long as 2011 can be the year of the Toah and 2012 the year of the Koran.

What a waste time.

Well just to be a nitpicker, if you want 2011 to be the Year of the Torah, it should really be the Hebrew calendar year ה'תשע"א) 5771 ) which overlaps approximately with the Gregorian year 2011 (it would run from Sept 2010 to Sept 2011).

[scandal 951]

I like Obama and I'm a Democrat and I'm a Christian. However:

(and that whole pesky Henry VIII thing).

I like Obama too.

I think you mean that whole pesky George III thing.

Henry VIII was king more than 200 years before the American Revolution.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Fine by me, as long as 2011 can be the year of the Toah and 2012 the year of the Koran.

What a waste time.

Well just to be a nitpicker, if you want 2011 to be the Year of the Torah, it should really be the Hebrew calendar year ה'תשע"א) 5771 ) which overlaps approximately with the Gregorian year 2011 (it would run from Sept 2010 to Sept 2011).

And after that it's the end of the world.