City designates Bible Week; Declaration questioned by leaders of many faiths

Without debate or fanfare, Apple Valley recently joined about 400 other U.S. cities that declared this week as Bible Week, an annual observance that promotes Bible-reading and recognizes the Scriptures' "unique place in American life."

Apple Valley council members said the proclamation seemed fairly innocuous when they passed it without discussion Nov. 9, as they have in years past. But Jewish, Muslim and even Christian leaders who learned of the little-known resolution say it dangerously mingles government and religion.

"The city should not be in the business of endorsing a particular tradition, unless they followed it up with endorsing the Quran of the Islamic community, or the Bhagavad Gita of the Hindus, or the Dhammapada of the Buddhists," said the Rev. John Matthews of Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley. "It's a dangerous time for a city to be endorsing a particular text over another."

Matthews was referring to religious language that has entered political discourse, from President Bush invoking God to a trend of faith-based initiatives. "The citizenry of our country is being told that particular religious persuasions are closer to what it means to be American, democratic and living in the truth," the pastor said.

Apple Valley Council Member Tom Goodwin said he didn't give much thought to the proclamation, which was approved with other items from the meeting's consent agenda. Still, he and other council members acknowledged it raised deeper questions.

"What would happen if next week someone asked us to make it National Quran Week?" asked Goodwin. "I just don't know."

The New York-based National Bible Association has asked cities and states to observe the honorary week that dates to 1941. The government proclamations are largely symbolic, but the event encourages individuals and churches to host Bible-reading marathons and organize Bible study groups in neighborhoods or workplaces.

Observance of Bible Week has been fueled by Americans' growing appetite for the discussion of values, even in the realm of government, said Bob Young, one of the honorary chairmen for this year's event. The number of proclamations, however, has not significantly increased in recent years.

"We're becoming a very value-based society, and I think that is generating more support for this initiative," said Young, who is the mayor of Augusta, Ga. "People are thirsting for something more meaningful than, 'What are my taxes and what day is my garbage picked up?' "

Despite high numbers of participating cities in some states, the Bible association knew of only one other Minnesota city, North St. Paul, to sign the proclamation this year. "For some reason, Minnesota comes up a little short," said Tamara Collins, the association's vice president for programs.

Apple Valley's resolution notes the Bible's standing as a moral guide and a source of hope for millions of Americans. Collins said the organization's purpose is to promote reading Christian and Hebrew scriptures, not to proselytize. "We're not encouraging you to … believe a certain thing," she said.

Young added that the focus on morals might prompt other religious groups to ask the city to honor their sacred texts. "I'm sure we could all learn from our spiritual guidebooks," he said.

But the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas called Bible Week "entirely inappropriate." Hassan Mohamud, imam of the Al-Taqwa Islamic Center of St. Paul, agreed that the resolution appears to disrespect people of other faith — and those who have no religion at all.

In 1998, the mayor of Gilbert, Ariz., was sued by the Arizona affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union after going forward with the proclamation. Both sides reached a compromise agreeing she could issue the declaration but could not urge residents to read the Bible.

"People who revere words of the Bible generally read it every day, and they don't need a government official to tell them to read it particularly hard for one week," said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of the Washington D.C-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

But in his mind, the proclamations don't rise to the level of planting the Ten Commandments monument on a courthouse lawn. "Frankly, this is in most instances invisible because people are not aware it's Bible Week, just as they're not aware it's National Asparagus Week."

There have been a few instances in which Lynn's group has written letters chastising government officials who have ballyhooed the proclamations for political reasons, he said.

Cities regularly accept requests from groups to designate a week or month in honor of a worthy cause. They can celebrate a resident's 100th birthday, recognize an employee's hard work or declare Taxi Driver Appreciation Day. Most go unnoticed by the general public.

Even so, they can get cities into trouble. After Eagan declared last June as Gay Lesbian Transgender Pride Month, a firestorm of complaints followed. The backlash, which evolved into a council campaign issue, prompted the city to vow never again to approve proclamation requests that don't directly involve the city.

Eagan Council Member Mike Maguire called that choice unfortunate. "Proclamations help to serve a sense a community in the suburbs, where that sometimes is lacking," Maguire said. "They acknowledge these things are important to our constituents and acknowledge these constituents are important to our communities."

But the council decided it didn't want to get in the habit of picking winners and losers, Maguire said. That just-say-no policy is one that Goodwin, of Apple Valley, said he might also consider.

"It sends a message of exclusion, not inclusion," said JCRC spokeswoman Molly Altorfer. The Jewish organization might call Apple Valley council members to make that point, she said. An estimated 42,000 Jews live in the Twin Cities metro area."

The last time I looked at my Bible (this morning) it had both the Old Testament and New Testament. How can my reading about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob possibly offend a real Jew? I have long been of the opinion that these "Jews" that protest promotion of scripture are only Jewish by birth not belief. They are just atheists.

The Bible is an important part of American History - for good or bad - depending on your view. Whatever, as long as government money is not being diverted to do this, where is the gripe? I am sick of people screaming that they aren't included. They don't want to be included, their agenda is to negate the beliefs of others.

Liberal "Reverends" are just as misguided as liberal politcians. If only people would study American history, they would find that this was a Christian nation. It's amazing to find "so called" Christian ministers that are against something like a "Bible Week."

Ps 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD..."

If Americans want God to "Bless America," they had better not banish Him, and His Word (the Bible) from this land.

Good. Fine. Go let any of those dog- and pig-religions sponsor their own [whatever book] weeks and see if popular society gives a [product of defecation].

Secularism demands that the "host" religious tradition be suppressed while "guest" religious traditions be celebrated.

This means that an official proclamation of "Bible Week" is narrow and prejudiced (not to mention a violation of the First Amendment) whereas the endorsement of a National Koran Week would simply mean we are tolerant and pluralistic.

Conclusion: secularists are hypocrites.

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