found this on yahoo............ Victoria McGrane Victoria Mcgrane Fri May 22, 5:40 am ET

When the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, 2009, Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) hopes youll be ringing in the Year of the Bible.

Its probably just wishful thinking.

Brouns simple congressional resolution aimed at honoring the Good Book has produced a push-back of biblical proportion in the blogosphere, with critics dismissing it as either unconstitutional or a waste of time. Jews in Congress and atheist activists are dismissing the resolution, while none of the many Democrats in Congress who are Christian have bothered to sign on as co-sponsors.

According to GovTrak.us, the resolution is among the most-blogged-about pieces of legislation, with most posts less than complimentary in nature.

Does that mean 2009 is not the year of the Bible? mocked Rep. Barney Frank ­(D-Mass.), who is Jewish. What is 2012 the year of? The Quran?

Thats an endorsement of religion by the federal government, and we shouldnt be doing that, said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), even though he has introduced his own legislation dealing with religion.

Republican lawmakers with apparently too much time on their hands and no solutions to offer the country are pushing a resolution that will not address the nations problems or advance prosperity or even untangle their previous governing mistakes, blogged the Progressive Puppy.

Broun rejects the critiques leveled at this effort.

This doesnt have anything to do with Christianity, he said in an interview with POLITICO. Rather, he says, it seeks to recognize that the Bible played an integral role in the building of the United States, including providing the basis for our freedom of religion that allows Muslims, Hindus and even atheists to vocalize their own beliefs.

And even as Nadler criticized Broun, he has done his own share of mixing religion and legislation.

Last year, he introduced a bill that would overturn a federal appeals court ruling an idiot decision, he says that a condominium board in Chicago had the right to ban Jews from installing mezuzahs, which consist of a piece of parchment inscribed with a specific religious text put inside a case and hung on a door frame.

Condo boards shouldnt be able to interfere in an individuals right to practice his or her religion, Nadler said.

But he himself declined to install a mezuzah on his congressional office door when asked by a rabbi, even though he does so at home.

Thats my religious symbol, and the office does not belong to me; it belongs to the people of the congressional district, and no one should feel uncomfortable walking into the office if its not their religion, Nadler said, describing his feelings on religion and Congress.

Same thing with the Bible. ... Its not everybodys religion. And the federal government should not be imposing religious viewpoints.

Atheists, who might feel themselves a particular target with the declaration of a biblical year, arent even worried about Brouns effort.

Right now, were seeing atheism on such a rise, said David Silverman, vice president and national spokesman of American Atheists, a group dedicated to fighting for the civil rights of atheists.

We are seeing Christianity on such a dramatic decline that were not particularly worried about it. Were thinking that this kind of old-style George W. Bush Republicanism is about to go away, Silverman said, referring to the latest Pew Forum survey of American religious life, which showed nonreligious Americans as the fastest-growing group.

And it may be the best-selling book of all time, as Brouns resolution points out, but the Bible isnt such a popular legislative topic.

A search of Thomas, the online congressional database, for Bible yields just one other bill: a resolution to have the Lincoln-Obama Bible on permanent display in the Capitol Visitor Center.

The resolution specifically asks the president to issue a proclamation calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message of the Holy Scripture which has profoundly influenced and shaped the United States and its great democratic form of government.

As for the economy, health care, global warming and all the other issues on Congress plate?

While we must focus on fiscal policies that provide relief to families during these tough economic times, an endeavor I have been working tirelessly towards in this Congress, we must also not forget to protect and celebrate our fundamental freedoms that the Bible has influenced, Broun said.

Broun has gathered 15 co-sponsors, all Republicans, but says hes looking for more and hopes Democrats will sign on, as well.

This is not a partisan issue, he said. I want it to be bipartisan.

Whether hes successful or not the same measure didnt go anywhere last year at least Broun and his fellow supporters can take heart in one fact: They already had a year of the Bible.

Ronald Reagan designated 1983 as one, with Congress blessing.

and we wonder why our government runs like a one legged man! the year of the bible? of all the fuckin cockamamie things to be worrying about right now they squeeze out this gem? oh oh wait and THIS comment:

This doesnt have anything to do with Christianity, he said in an interview with POLITICO. Rather, he says, it seeks to recognize that the Bible played an integral role in the building of the United States, including providing the basis for our freedom of religion that allows Muslims, Hindus and even atheists to vocalize their own beliefs."

ARE YOU FUCKIN JOKING ME?!?!??!!??the bible and christianity as the basis for our country? Thomas Jefferson WROTE HIS OWN BIBLE taking out all the magic and the stupid shit and leaving only the most intelligent teachings. this made his book EXTREMELY small by the way. and don't dismiss it as solely Jeffersons viewpoint because the constitution was debated and agreed apon by a group of people including James Madison. Here is a quote from Mr.Madison:

"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution."

and just merely ONE of the many Jefferson quotes concerning religion(specifically christianity here):

"I have examined all the known superstitions of the world and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology. Millions of innocent men,women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, to rtured, fined, and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the earth."

so, if two very prominant figures that were instrumental in the birth of our nation had these types of feelings, what are the odds that they were in the majority and not the minority?? and if you had men that felt that strongly about religion do you think they would base a countrys government on the teachings of one?