2010: The Year of the Bible

Washington comPost ^ | 5/26/2009 | Brad Hirschfield

[markomalley]

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-Georgia) is trying to get his so-called Bible bill made into law. And while it's not likely to happen any time soon, it's a wonderful idea...at least in theory. What's wrong with a law which would declare 2010 the "year of the Bible"? Given that we already have days for secretaries, months for reading and have parsed the calendar for just about every other purpose and cause from artichokes to zebras, it's almost silly that we have not already done this.

Would it really be so wrong to honor the most influential book, for better or worse, in America? Comfortable or not with that reality, that is the way it is. And for that reason alone, the year of the Bible should be a good idea.

Let's face it, the bible is the 800-pound gorilla in American political, literary and cultural life and it needs to be addressed in ways that rescue the conversation from both the rabid secularists and the coercive religionists. And a year honoring the good book could do just that. In fact, the year of the Bible should be a no-brainer. But because we are so divided as a nation and so stupid in our approach to religion in American public life, we can not even have an intelligent conversation about the bill itself, let alone about how to acknowledge the importance of the Bible in our culture and in our politics.

The language being used by politicians taking sides in this debate, demonstrates both why this idea should move forward and why it can not. Witness the language used by Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Gerald Nadler (D-N.Y.) who oppose the bill, and Rep. Broun who is leading the charge for its passage into law.

[markomalley]

I was actually surprised with how this commentator treated the topic (pleasantly).

[KevinDavis]

Bad idea.. What next 2011 the year of the Koran??

[Alex Murphy]

Let's face it, the bible is the 800-pound gorilla in American political, literary and cultural life and it needs to be addressed in ways that rescue the conversation from both the rabid secularists and the coercive religionists.

I wonder who he means by "coercive religionists"?

[dfwgator]

Then 2012 the Year of ‘Dianetics’?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

How about this:

The Coercive Utopians: Social Deception by America's Power Players (Hardcover)

[markomalley]

I wonder who he means by "coercive religionists"?

I think it's the caricature of the fundamentalist (I am going to impose my variety of Christianity on you. If you don't go to Church at MY Church, you're going to h-e-double toothpick).

Reminds me of the old joke,

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said "Stop! don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said.

I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"

He said, "Like what?"

I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?"

He said, "Religious."

I said, "Me too! Are you christian or buddhist?"

He said,"Christian."

I said, "Me too! Are you catholic or protestant?"

He said, "Protestant."

I said, "Me too! Are you episcopalian or baptist?"

He said, "Baptist!"

I said,"Wow! Me too! Are you baptist church of god or baptist church of the lord?"

He said, "Baptist church of god!"

I said, "Me too! Are you original baptist church of god, or are you reformed baptist church of god?"

He said,"Reformed Baptist church of god!"

I said, "Me too! Are you reformed baptist church of god, reformation of 1879, or reformed baptist church of god, reformation of 1915?"

He said, "Reformed baptist church of god, reformation of 1915!"

I said, "Die, heretic scum", and pushed him off.

Don't worry, we have our own variety of that type: some of them follow Pope Pius XIII or Pope Michael or any host of others...

The common mark is that they reject the Second Vatican Council.

[Alex Murphy]

Don't worry, we have our own variety of that type: some of them follow Pope Pius XIII or Pope Michael or any host of others...

There are Pope Michael followers on FR??!??

Bawden believes that after 1958 (after the death of Pope Pius XII) the Catholic Church lost its way. He belives that the changes of the Second Vatican Council fundamentally changed the Catholic Church and the true Catholic Church shifted to those who recognized and rejected this change, and therefore all Popes after Pius XII were not elected legitmately. In the 1980's, Bawden recognized the need to elect a Pope (like many others did) and decided to act. He and others called for an election in Bellevue, Kansas in 1990. 6 people were present, and they elected Bawden as Pope. He has since worked on spreading his message from his home in Delia, Kansas, with his mother, Tickie.

Related thread:
‘Pope Michael’ Performs Duties in Kansas Plains

Pope Michael official website
Pope Michael - The Documentary

[markomalley]

I was talking the Catholic Church generically (not about on FR in general). On the other hand, I’ve seem some folks who have, in times past, quoted Lucian Pulvermacher’s website (don’t know if they have known what they were doing when doing so), but not Pope Mikey Deux.

[Alex Murphy]

I can't resist posting my favorite Pope Michael photo, from his pages on the Vatican in exile website...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

What...LOL...In Bellevue, Kansas ...

I think the correct spelling might be...Belvue, Kansas..that seems to be close to Dahlia...both in counties around the Topeka Ks area....

There is a Bellevue in Nebraska...I think,..and in other states...

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Truly a Pope only a mother could love.