Should government officials be using their official posts to "recommend" that people read a specific holy book, or embrace a religious ideology? That's what takes place during National Bible Week. You can help call attention to this abuse of state-church separation!

he US Constitution states that government and its agents have no proper role in "establishing" religious beliefs or institutions. The Supreme Court, in the historic LEMON v. KURTZMAN (1971) case, interpreted that to mean that government could take no action which was not primarily secular in its intent, promoted one religion over another or belief over non-belief, or resulted in the "excessive entanglement" between church and state.

    Across the nation, though, from Friday, November 20 to November 27, state governors, mayors, and even US federal representatives will be urging the nation's citizens to read and contemplate the Judeo Christian holy book as the National Bible Week again takes place.

    In many communities, this annual ritual still attracts little notice and is celebrated only by local Christian business leaders and political interests. Mayors from several hundred towns with populations over 10,000 regularly issue Proclamations calling upon citizens to revere the Bible and celebrate the week long event which includes dinners, sermons and other activities. Over half of the state Governors also issue official statements. The rise in religion- oriented political activism, though, has turned the National Bible Week event into another feature of the "culture wars," and in some communities it is seen as way of affirming the view that Judeo Christianity and its textual sources serve as a foundational basis for the United States. Similarly, as the American demographic profile changes and atheists and other separationists stand up for their rights, National Bible Week is becoming a point of contention in the contest for First Amendment separation.

    As in previous years, the 1998 event is being promoted by an ecumenical group known as the National Bible Association. The organization has the backing of major financial and political interests; the 1998 effort is chaired by Nicholas G. Moore, Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers firm. Previous chairmen have included heads of Chase Manhattan Bank, Amway, Equitable Life Assurance Society, Gulf Oil, AT&T, J.C.Penney, Chryler and General Motors. Each annual campaign also relies on special committees to encourage states, municipalities and even the US Congress to issue proclamations in support of National Bible Week.

    The 1998 NBR lists Glenda E. Hood, Mayor of Orlando, Florida as "Mayor's Chair." An NBA broadside notes, "She is inviting the mayors of more than 3,000 cities and towns to proclaim National Bible Week in their respective municipalities..." Heading up the Governor's Chair is North Carolina Gov. James Hunt who "invites all Governors to Proclaim Bible week in their States." On Capitol Hill, Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) acts as the group's National Cochairman, along with US Rep. Bob Clement (D-Tenn). President Clinton, like every other President since 1941, will be issuing a "Presidential Message for National Bible Week," a tradition which began with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

    While National Bible Week is clearly a social anachronism -- as well as another example of how state-church separation is often breach in the effort to "recommend" belief to the American people -- its origins and role date to an explosive time in the nation's history. Indeed, it is no accident that the social promotion of Bible reading and religiosity was a tool adopted by certain political and financial elites in the 1920s, when the country was wracked by economic dislocation, the beginnings of strong union movements, and demands for social reform. The Protestant movement was splitting into "modernist" and a larger "fundamentalist" wing, the latter taking up the crusade on behalf of Sabbatarianism, creationism and Biblical literalism.

    In 1940, business interests met in New York City to form the National Committee for Religious Recovery. Their purpose was to "encourage belief and faith in God, daily reading of the Bible, religious education, attendance at houses of worship and Sunday Schools, and to strengthen religious life in America as the basis for national as well as individual living." The following year that organization morphed into "The Laymen's National Committee," and organized the first National Bible Week event from December 8 to 14. The festivities were preempted, though; a nationwide radio broadcast on the evening of December 7 was interrupted with news that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. The group later evolved into the National Bible Association.

   Throughout the 1950s and 60s, National Bible Week maintained its cozy relationship with financial and political elites. Representatives from the National Association of Manufacturers, the New York Stock Exchange, Armco Steel, National Gypsum, Texas Bank and Trust, Holiday Inn and US Rubber Corporation served as chairs. In 1966, W. Clement Stone of Combined Insurance Corporation -- a major GOP backer who contributed over $1 million to the campaign of President Richard Nixon -- headed the group. More blatant ties to the country's religious right were established in 1988 when Richard M. DeVos of Amway Corporation took over. The DeVos family has underwritten several key religious right groups including the "Third Century" movement. Through the Richard and Betsy DeVos Foundation along with the Prince Foundation, family money has subsidized several state campaigns to enact so-called "Parental Rights" legislation. And at the 1996 GOP National Convention, DeVos picked up a $1.3 million tab to televise events over Pat Robertson's Family Channel.

    Are proclamations issued by elected officials on behalf of National Bible Week constitutional? Unfortunately, that question has yet to be decided. A case is brewing in Arizona, however, where there is opposition to a proclamation being issued by the Mayor of Gilbert. Since 1994, the City has openly supported NBW. Eleanor Eisenberg, Arizona ACLU executive director, says that the group will be urging Mayor Cynthia Dunham to break precedent at next week's city council meeting where the matter will be under discussion. Dunham told reporters that "The community is very supportive" of the proclamations, and that National Bible Week "recognizes the important role churches play in our communities." Should the proclamation be issued, ACLU may take the matter to court.

    Unfortunately, many atheists -- and even some separationists -- might view National Bible Week as a relic of earlier times, or even a harmless activity which simply "recommends" religious ritual. More coercive religious practices, however, such as regimented prayer in public schools, even the use of tax monies to directly or indirectly subsidize religious groups, depend on legal precedent. Despite the strict state-church separation guidelines found in the First Amendment, and interpreted in cases such as LEMON, governments still engage in a wide range of activities which have been upheld by courts, and which violate both the intent of separation and the rights of non religious. This "gray area" includes everything from prayers to open government meetings to the posting of religious icons such as the Ten Commandments in courtrooms or other government buildings. The bottom line: stopping the more egregious violations of state-church separation requires a vigorous defense in stopping the public promotion of religious ritual.

   ¶    Across the nation, there will be hundreds of National Bible Week dinners to celebrate this event. While public officials may participate at such activities, there is no real violation of the establishment clause as long as public funds or other resources are not used free of charge to host the event. Private churches and other religious groups will also be celebrating National Bible Week. As separationists, though, we should distinguish this sort of activity from clearly flagrant abuses. This latter category includes: "proclamations" issued by Mayors or Governors which support NBR; efforts to distribute Bibles or other religious materials in government office buildings or public schools; and using public auditoriums or other facilities free of charge, or without reasonable fee, for National Bible Week events. Efforts to coerce employees to participate in Bible Week activities, either on or off the job, may violate labor laws and should be protested. Public employees should not be compelled to participate in any NBW activities either.

   ¶    If the governor of your state,or the mayor of your community is going to issue a Proclamation in support of National Bible Week, we encourage you to convey your views on the subject through a thoughtful visit, phone call or letter. Consider a letter to the editor of your local paper as well. Point out that government proclamations on behalf of NBW may be challenged in the courts, and that this particular public officials is leaving the state or community vulnerable to potential litigation. Be polite and concise.

   ¶    Those who have actually taken time to read the entire Bible -- and even few Christians have! -- know that it is a collection of disparate texts gathered from diverse sources. Contradictions abound, and even many religious argue that any "truth" in its pages is symbolic and metaphorical. Bible literalists often dwell on select passages having to do with creation, or adultery, while ignoring other verses which recommend everything from death by stoning to slavery and wholesale oppression of women. These sorts of verses can be good "talking points." The American Atheists web site includes a number of resources you may wish to familiarize yourself with.

   ¶    One message which we urge atheists and separationists to convey in letters to media and public officials, is that National Bible Week is an inappropriate and constitutionally suspect activity to be promoted by any branch of government. Under LEMON v. KURTZMAN, government is to remain "strictly neutral" in respect to any religion, or religion in general. National Bible Week supports a particular religious creed, that of Judeo Christianity, which is not shared by everyone in America's cities and towns. How would Christians feel if a governor declared "National Koran Week"? Such practices are divisive, and deal with matters of religious belief which should be left to private individuals. Besides, in an era marked by concerns of "big government," why should city hall, the state capitol, or even officials in Washington be recommending or promoting beliefs in any area which is deeply personal?

[text only]