Mississippi Madness: Group Wants To Designate An Official Religion
Rob Boston printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Mon Nov 03, 2014 at 10:41:34 AM EST

A group in Mississippi is collecting signatures for a ballot initiative to change the state constitution in several ways.

The proposal put forth by the Magnolia State Heritage Campaign is pretty wide-ranging and is being pitched as a way to protect "Southern" (read: pro-Confederate) culture. It contains 12 subsections.

I suspect there is a lot in Initiative 46 that would offend people, but the part that is relevant to Americans United is this: "The State of Mississippi hereby acknowledges the fact of her identity as a principally Christian and quintessentially Southern state, in terms of the majority of her population, character, culture, history, and heritage, from 1817 to the present; accordingly, the Holy Bible is acknowledged as a foremost source of her founding principles, inspiration, and virtues; and, accordingly, prayer is acknowledged as a respected, meaningful, and valuable custom of her citizens. The acknowledgments hereby secured shall not be construed to transgress either the national or the state Constitution's Bill of Rights."

OK, where to begin? For starters, this is a huge slap in the face to anyone living in Mississippi who is not Christian. The clear implication is that Christians who love the "Holy Bible" are the real, bona fide residents of the state. Everyone else is just some kind of lesser, second-class citizen who will be tolerated - maybe.

Secondly, this is the sort of embarrassing thing that keeps a poor state like Mississippi mired in the 19th century and does nothing to address the real issues facing the state. Really, folks, the country is changing. There is a lot of religious diversity out there. Many of us consider this a good thing and celebrate the fact that our Constitution established a framework for freedom of conscience that has sparked an amazing array of religions and philosophies. All of this talk about your Christian heritage, culture and traditions is just more pining for the bad old days when governments enforced theology. It's kind of pathetic.

Finally, there is no way to proclaim - even in a quasi-official manner - an official state religion without running afoul of the U.S. Constitution. If the people of Mississippi are foolish enough to pass this monstrosity, there's little doubt it would be immediately challenged in court. And the state will lose.

Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has given the group the green light to proceed. To get the measure on the November 2016 ballot, backers will have to collect at least 125,000 signatures.

It looks like they have some work to do to shore up support. The organization's "Business Brigade" consists of one medical doctor, a consulting company and a firm that sells t-shirts and bird baths.

The list of endorsers also leaves a bit to be desired. It consists of Susan Akin, who was Miss America in 1986; former state representative Mark DuVall and Julie Hawkins, described as a novelist, blogger, singer and songwriter. (Her books are self-published; one of them won an award from a group that idolizes Confederate leaders.)

I tried to cut these people some slack, but you don't have to spend much time researching them to realize that they are a bunch of crackpots. Their Facebook page contains a graphic attacking "Dishonest Abe" Lincoln and asserting that President Barack Obama is a Muslim; it links to several conspiracy-themed "birther" websites.

These people have no credibility, and they should be kept far away from the constitution of any state. Their cause is truly lost. If they had any sense, they'd go back to drooling over "Birth of a Nation" and save the state a lot of heartache.

I know there are a lot of folks in Mississippi who appreciate the separation of church and state and who realize why proposals like this are bad for the state. I urge them to speak out. They need to help their fellow residents understand that it's time to stop pining for a culture that promotes Christian supremacism and church-state union.

Those are bad things. The country should move away from them. That includes Mississippi.   

 




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Unfortunately, proclaiming a state religion allows people who fear and hate change to express their disdain for the people who have different beliefs. I also wouldn't count on the current United States Supreme Court majority to defend constitutional prohibitions against state establishment of religion. They are indeed the most cracked of crackpots.

by khughes1963 on Tue Nov 04, 2014 at 06:30:10 PM EST
How true. Justice Thomas has said that states may, indeed, establish a state religion. It's his reasoning that the Constitution's establishment clause applies only to the federal govt.
We can't think of these people as crackpots. The six part series about Dominionism, was wonderful as far as it went. But the  part that was missing is key. The fervor that drives these people is an end-times theology, of which Reconstruction/Dominion is a part.
The individuals who fund and organize this movement include some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in this country. They believe they are the chosen (Calvin); their money and position are gifts to be used to ready this country for Jesus' return. Oddly enough, they are a mixture of Catholic and Calvinists all working together.
Don't think, because you hear some backwoods nobodies say some crazy things, that these are the Dominionists. The ones in charge use everyone they can. Think back to Ralph Reed's plan to paint his face and travel in darkness. They have an agenda; get as much support and as many votes as they can for the Republican Party. Don't think the Tea Party is benign.
Remember they use everyone. SMALL GOVERNMENT EQUALS
NO GOVERNMENT EQUALS THEIR GOVERNMENT. Their goal is to dismantle our government piece by piece.  How many more election cycles will it take?
I see all the wack-a-mole court cases that our groups are winning. What will happen, when there are fewer and fewer judges who will side with the Constitution? They serve no other law but Gods. They are working to control what people think, what they believe, what their children are taught. What will happen when we are not free to speak? Even as quietly as we are now.
They are bringing on the Kingdom.

by WabiSabi on Wed Nov 05, 2014 at 02:45:54 AM EST
Parent


The atheists are coming! This appeared on their Facebook page 12 hours ago. "Atheist individuals and atheist organizations are strongly opposing the Magnolia State Heritage Campaign's Initiative 46 (the Heritage Initiative). Help us defeat the ungodly political preferences of these anti-heritage atheists, by working with us to get the Heritage Initiative onto the statewide 2016 Mississippi ballot!" The last refuge of these scoundrels: scream atheism.

by Harold F on Wed Nov 05, 2014 at 11:21:06 AM EST

I wanted to weigh in in this since I live in Mississippi. The initiative probably will make it onto the ballot. The fact that the personhood amendment was  voted down may be a good sign that this one will be as well. Young people in Mississippi are by and large becoming more moderate; the problem is the hard core theocrats have a lot of power still.
I alternate between hope and despair for my home state. If we can avoid catastrophe for a few more years, maybe the change of guard will bring an end to the stranglehold that dubious characters have upon our state government.

by COinMS on Wed Nov 05, 2014 at 12:50:07 PM EST
involving worship of the state / World tree, the Magnolia. Chief officiants to be the Ole Miss football team and cheerleaders. Ceremonial feast to be a pig roast with beer libations. (/silly)

by NancyP on Wed Nov 12, 2014 at 11:08:12 AM EST
Parent


Your articles are so illuminating and are a great reference to us.  California Health and Human Services Agency The way you explain each topic like this Mississippi Madness: Group Wants To Designate An Official Religion is brave. I appreciate your knowledge of subjects like politics and theology.

by MariyaDorothy on Fri May 06, 2022 at 12:49:20 AM EST


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