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The area in Pennsylvania between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh is sometimes jokingly referred to as “Pennsyltucky.” Last week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a resolution that indeed seems more fitting of a Bible-belt state than one that has sided with the Democratic nominee in the past five presidential elections.

In a 193-0 vote, the House unanimously passed resolution No. 535, declaring 2012 the “Year of the Bible.” The resolution, which refers to the Bible as “the word of God,” argues that Biblical teachings “inspired concepts of civil government” on which the United States was founded.

Regardless of one’s opinion on religious matters, it is undeniable that the currently fashionable idea that the United States was founded on explicitly Christian teachings is historically inaccurate. Furthermore, official government recognition of this belief is politically pernicious and ought to be condemned.

The U.S. was founded on rationalist, enlightenment ideals, with minimal reference to a deity and with no clear reference to a Judeo-Christian god. Thomas Jefferson wrote that when an amendment to the Constitution was proposed to make reference to Jesus Christ, “the insertion was rejected by a great majority.”

Moreover, many of the founding fathers were deists — that is, they believed in a “clockwork universe” in which a supreme being created the universe and set it into motion but has not intervened since. Such a philosophy is obviously incompatible with the Bible. James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and even Penn founder Benjamin Franklin, among others, subscribed to this belief.

More significant than the historical accuracy of the resolution (or, in this case, historical inaccuracy) is the message it sends. Proclaiming the Bible as the “word of God” implies that Christianity is the officially endorsed religion. Not only does this violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, it marginalizes non-Christians. If 2012 is the official Year of the Bible in Pennsylvania, the clear implication is that non-Christians are somehow against the state.

Despite a denouncement by the Philadelphia Daily News, the resolution has received little attention due to its non-binding nature. Regardless of its official status, however, such a declaration is antithetical to the goal of an open, tolerant and truly free political community.

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