Tennessee plan to make Bible 'official' book derailed

Constitutional questions under consideration

State Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, right, and other senators bow their heads during the prayer before the Senate floor session in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday. State lawmakers were grappling over constitutional and theological concerns over a bill seeking to make the holy Bible the official book of Tennessee. - photo by Associated Press

Bible Official Book Ledb — State Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, right, and other senators bow their heads during the prayer before the Senate floor session in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday. State lawmakers were grappling over constitutional and theological concerns over a bill seeking to make the holy Bible the official book of Tennessee. - photo by Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Bible usually unites Republicans in conservative Tennessee, but lately it is proving to be — as an epistle writer put it — more powerful and sharper than a double-edged sword. Legislators here are deeply divided over a proposal to make the holy text an official state book, with some saying it's far too sacred to be trivialized like the state fruit (tomato), the state amphibian (Tennessee cave salamander) and several state songs ("Tennessee Waltz" and "Rocky Top"). Conversely, others believe the Bible is an integral part of the state's history, or don't want to appear to be against it.

Associated Press

Associated Press