Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs bill making the Aitken Bible an official state book

Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean

The Aitken Bible, along with nine other works, including George Washington's "Farewell Address" and Alex Haley's "Roots," became Tennessee's first officially-designated state books under legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Bill Lee.

Lawmakers last month passedHouse Bill 1828, sponsored by Sen. Paul Rose, Covington, and Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood, making the Aitken Bible — the first edition of the Bible printed in the United States during the Revolutionary War — an official state book, along with the nine works with varying degrees of connection to the Volunteer State. Legislation passed along party lines, with Democrats objecting with constitutional concerns.

The Aitken Bible is now the only religious text designated by law as an official state book. With Lee's signature, it joins the exhaustive list of state symbols, including the state amphibian (the Tennessee Cave Salamander), the state rock (limestone), and the state dog (bluetick coonhound).

Separate legislation that would designate November as "Christian Heritage Month," and "encourage citizens to learn more about Christian heritage in this state" is on the governor's desk awaiting his signature.

Bibles from the Nashville Public Library.
Bibles from the Nashville Public Library.

While the legislature has repeatedly voted on proposals to make the Bible a state book, this is the first bill to be successful. In 2016, then-Gov. Bill Haslam vetoed a bill designating the Bible as a state book, citing state and federal constitutional concerns. Lawmakers sought to override Haslam's veto, but the House of Representatives fell short.

Lawmakers who previously had objected to designating the Bible as a state book alongside other more trivial symbols in the past, supported this legislation.

The bill makes the following designated state books:

  • "Farewell Address to the American People," George Washington (1796)

  • "Democracy in America," Alexis de Tocqueville (1835 and 1840)

  • Aitken Bible (1782)

  • Papers of President Andrew Jackson

  • "Roots," Alex Haley (1977)

  • "A Death in the Family," James Agee (1958)

  • "All the King’s Men," Robert Penn Warren (1947)

  • "American Lion," Jon Meacham (2009)

  • "The Civil War: A Narrative," Shelby Foote (1958-1974)

  • "Coat of Many Colors," Dolly Parton (2016)

“Tennessee does have a rich political and cultural history dating all the way back to its founding on June 1, 1796,” Rose said last month when presenting the bill. “Together, these works help Tennesseans understand American identity, politics and culture.”

But the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which promotes the separation of church and state, criticized the Bible bill and "Christian Heritage Month" legislation on Tuesday.

“Secular rights and principles in America, not just Tennessee, are truly under attack,” the group's co-president, Annie Laurie Gaylor, said in a statement. “We’ll continue to oppose these sorts of laws that trample on the rights of non-Christians in Tennessee and in every state.”

Tennessee has already designated a host of state symbols. In 2009, lawmakers designated milk as Tennessee’s state beverage. In 1999, the legislature adopted an official state tartan. In 2014, the legislature designated “Sandy,” an ancient sandstone statue of a prehistoric Native American kneeling as the official state artifact. In 2016, lawmakers adopted the Barrett .50-caliber as the official state rifle.

Already this year, lawmakers have designated hot slaw as an official state food of Tennessee, and Cleveland, Tennessee, as “the hot slaw capital” of Tennessee — and are considering adding Brenda Lee’s classic "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree" to the list of official state songs.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN Bible bill: Legislation making Aitken Bible official book signed

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