General Assembly of Pennsylvania, H.R. 535 —
Declaring 2012 as the “Year of the Bible” in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The Bible, the word of God, has made a unique contribution in shaping the United States as a distinctive and blessed nation and people; and
WHEREAS, Deeply held religious convictions springing from the holy scriptures led to the early settlement of our country; and
WHEREAS, Biblical teachings inspired concepts of civil government that are contained in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States; and
WHEREAS, Many of our great national leaders, among them President Washington, President Jackson, President Lincoln, President Wilson and President Reagan, paid tribute to the influence of the Bible in our country’s development, as exemplified by the words of President Jackson that the Bible is “the rock on which our Republic rests”; and
WHEREAS, The history of our country clearly illustrates the value of voluntarily applying the teachings of the scriptures in the lives of individuals, families and societies; and
WHEREAS, This nation now faces great challenges that will test it as it has never been tested before; and
WHEREAS, Renewing our knowledge of and faith in God through holy scripture can strengthen us as a nation and a people; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives declare 2012 as the “Year of the Bible” in Pennsylvania in recognition of both the formative influence of the Bible on our Commonwealth and nation and our national need to study and apply the teachings of the holy scriptures.
Atheists everywhere don’t know what to do with themselves over State Rep. Rick Saccone’s proposed House Resolution declaring 2012 as “The Year of the Bible” in Pennsylvania. The usual suspects such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation could barely control their disdain for the unanimously passed resolution in this letter (riddled with errors) to the House Speaker and House Minority Leader condemning the effort.
I don’t think actions such as this is as detrimental as religiophobes would like us to believe, even if it is unnecessary. There is no obligation placed on the citizens of PA by this resolution. And in fact most likely represents the convictions of the vast majority of the voters in the state. For a resolution to garner 193-0 support, both Democrat and Republican legislators recognize the contents of the bill accurately represents their constituents.
At least one state acknowledges the Biblical foundation of the United States of America. The Federal corporation, created by the States, became a monster when it began a war of conquest over life outside of it’s defined and specified commission. T%hat war against the Natural Law continues, to this day.
The Bill of Rights is supposed to protect us from the mob rule of the majority.
Interesting how your conservative constitutional values wither when the majority serves your desires.
Maybe you should read a copy of the bill of rights. They are in place to protect the people from the government. Should I delete your comment u til you’ve had a chance to browse the constitution?
As a pastor and one who has spent time in PA, I would not vote for this. It’s meaningless. Might as well put up a resolution to claim it to be “The Year of the Dragon.” It’s a meaningless vote-grabbing resolution and it is shameful.
Now to put Biblical ideals into law and declare, I dunno, the “Year of the Jubilee” or “Year of Anti-Sex Trafficking” or even putting federal funding back into social programs like the United Way would help alleviate the burdens placed on churches.
I think it was quite obviously productively meaningless, in that it doesn’t really do anything. People’s hearts and desires need to change. Governmental proclamations don’t do that.
But is nice to see the sentiment.
Love the MLK quote: Laws may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.
Sentiment is vanity, meaningless, and chasing after the wind. It serves no purpose only to rally the voting base and anger the “other” which is why you love it and Sabio hates it.
Why anger the other when you should be serving him?
Does this mean that every other year is the “Year Of Not-The-Bible”?
Awesome!