Effort renewed to make Bible official book of Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The state Senate sponsor of a proposal to designate the Holy Bible the official book of Tennessee is trying to persuade colleagues to set aside their concerns and revive the effort.

“It’s a wonderful thing,” Chris Garner said. Garner said he considers the Bible as something much more than  words on paper.

Republican Sen. Steve Southerland of Morristown tells the Chattanooga Times-Free Press that he will renew his push for the measure during Tuesday’s meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“I think it’s the best book we got to live by anyways so why not,” Travis Grimsley said.

The House passed the bill on a 55-38 vote last year, but the Senate sent it back to committee amid constitutional concerns raised by the state attorney general, effectively killing the bill for the year.

Some Tennesseans said they are concerned lawmakers would want to tweak some of the text later down the road. “We need to stick to God’s words and it will forever stand,” Eddie Campbell said.

While supporters argue the Bible is an integral part of the state’s history, some opponents say it’s far too sacred to be trivialized like the state fruit, amphibian or rock.

“I pray they will think about that and whatever decision they make,” Campbell said.