Washing your feet? Jail! Do not steal? Jail! Praying? Jail! Helping the poor? Jail! (Well, at least that last one is consistent with GOP doctrine.) The Republicans are having a national competition to see who can be the most ridiculous and offensive.

A proposed Tennessee law would make following the Islamic code known as Shariah law a felony, punishable by 15 years in jail. State Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, and state Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, introduced the same bill in the Senate and House last week. It calls Shariah law a danger to homeland security and gives the attorney general authority to investigate complaints and decide who’s practicing it.

“What do you mean, really, by saying I can’t abide by Shariah law?” he said. “Shariah law is telling me don’t steal. Do you want me to steal and rob a bank?” The Attorney General’s Office had no comment.

Tennessee is also debating a bill that would force school teachers to address “controversies” such as evolution, climate change and other “science” issues. One can only imagine.