Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, a Republican who never misses an opportunity to promote Christianity while in office, released a video last night encouraging students to bring their Bibles to school on Thursday.

It’s part of an effort by Focus on the Family to encourage young Christians to do something they’re allowed to do every single day already.

But Bevin went even further, talking about all the problems that could be solved if only everyone had a little more Jesus in their lives.

… I want to draw your attention to an event taking place on October the 5th. It’s called “Bring Your Bible to School Day.” This is a student-led initiative. It actually has been taking place for four years now. I think this is the fourth year. Last year, kids in 50 different states brought their Bible to school to celebrate not only some of the foundational principles of this nation, but the importance of this document. You look at all the division, and all the vitriol and all the animosity that’s striking us in this nation, how fragmented people are. If we followed biblical principles like treating others as you would want to be treated, loving your neighbor like yourself, simple stuff. This is the kind of thing we should celebrate. I love the idea that young people are bringing their bibles to school. I want to encourage every young person in Kentucky, on October the 5th, to bring their Bible to school. Use it as a point of conversation, in conversation with other students. This is absolutely your right to do this. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise…

First of all, no one was ever telling students otherwise. That’s just Christian fear-mongering right there.

He also suggests that following biblical values would put a stop to our nation’s problems. Because all the animosity and vitriol is stirred up only by Jews, atheists, and Muslims… Being a decent person isn’t a uniquely Christian idea, and it certainly isn’t adopted by many Christians.

Bevin’s biggest lie, though, is the notion that the Golden Rule originated with the Bible. As if treating people the way we want to be treated was an idea that didn’t exist before Jesus came around. That’s just not true. Variations of the Golden Rule existed thousands of years before Jesus supposedly lived. The Bible’s authors, as they so often did, just co-opted other groups’ traditions for themselves.

It’s also weird for a governor to tell “every young person,” not “every Christian,” to bring a Bible to school. I can’t imagine he would be encouraging young Jesus-lovers to bring a Qur’an to school if a Muslim group promoted a similar event.

In any case, I agree with him. Young atheists should absolutely bring a Bible to school. Make sure it’s highlighted with all the contradictions and disturbing passages. It’ll make those conversations with believers all the more entertaining.

(Thanks to Brian for the link)

