It is a time of fear in the face of freedom, a time for the widening of previous roads and the opening of new paths, a time of an emptying country and swelling cities, yet a time when these paths are mined by knowing algorithms of the all-seeing eye. It is the time of the warrior's peace and the miser's charity, when the planting of a seed is an act of conscientious objection.
 | The Bible For Only One Year Courtesy of Congress |
American ayatollahs, take heed: Someone in Congress is thinking of your needs. Republican Representative Todd Akin from Missouri has introduced legislation to establish a government sponsored Year of the Bible in 2008.
From the perspective of the Constitution and American law, Akin’s legislation is clearly out of bounds. What about from the Christian perspective, though?
Theologically, the idea of an official Year of the Bible turns Christian belief into nonsensical blather. How can eternal, cosmic wisdom be confined to just one year? If dedication to Christian religious practice is supposed to remain constant, developing throughout one’s life, how can there be just a single Year of the Bible? What are the rest of the years in one’s life supposed to be? The Year of the New York Times Bestseller, followed by the Year of the Encyclopedia, then the Year of the Dictionary, and then the Year of The Omivore’s Dilemma, and on and on?
Todd Akin’s resolution is a perfect example of how attempts to impose religion through legislation actually end up diminishing religion.
On the positive side, perhaps keeping the Bible contained to just one year could help to keep the theocratic ambitions of the Religious Right at bay. They could have their little Year of the Bible, and then every year after that would be, by definition, not a year of the Bible.
It’s a tempting reinterpretation of a bad idea, but no, I think I’ll stick by the Bill of Rights and the separation of church and state instead.
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How about a Year of the Torah? Or a Year of the Koran? There’s so many religions to chose from, where to start?
Comment by Damen — 5/12/2008 @ 2:02 pm
The Year of the Upanishads!
Of course, 2008 is almost halfway done now, so if Congress were to be accurate, it would have to declare 2008 the official Half-Year of the Bible. Much more appropriate to the book’s literary qualities.
Comment by Fruktata — 5/12/2008 @ 2:28 pm
Um we could call this the “year of the idiot” in honor of the President. Or more specifically - “Year Eight of the Idiot.”
Comment by AT — 5/13/2008 @ 8:36 am
How will we notice the change?
Oh—and is an “Omivore” someone who eats people while they’re meditating?
Comment by John Stracke — 5/13/2008 @ 3:18 pm