No state has tried more often than Tennessee to make the Bible its state book.
And now legislators are trying again. But that doesn’t mean they ought to be successful.
A resolution designating the Bible as the official state book passed the state House 55-28 earlier this week and now goes to the state Senate for consideration.
The arguments for and against the measure haven’t changed since it was proposed in 2015, 2016 and 2020. Supporters say the book has historical and cultural significance. They say family Bibles contain histories of families that predate modern statistical records. And they say the state is home to a number of Bible publishing companies.
All true.