Pennsylvania declares year of the bible

The house of representatives of Pennsylvania have unanimously declared 193-0 that this year 2012 is the “Year of the Bible” in Pennsylvania.  There are a large number of complaints about this resolution of course.  Some of them asking why is the bible being given preferential treatment to other “holy” books like the Koran.  The simple answer lies in the resolution itself.  The bible has played a major roll in the shaping of the United States.  The Koran very simply put has not.

A RESOLUTION

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.

That’s all for now...