Dear Editor,

I would like to share some thoughts with our Ohio Valley neighbors regarding West Virginia Lawmakers introducing a bill to acknowledge the Holy Bible as a foundational document.

There are many who believe this is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which guarantees religious freedom. It is not.

But while opposition to the bill proclaims secularism, make no mistake, the Bible had a huge influence on our great country.

A Google search will reveal that the most cited book in the founding era (1760-1805) was the Book of Deuteronomy which was often referenced for establishing laws. More importantly, the Bible had been used to teach people how to read for centuries and if there was only one book in a home, it was the Holy Bible.

Arguably, this treasured document influenced American culture more than any other single literary source.

Why is this important? Because ignoring the Bible is ignoring the biggest influence on our history. This is not meant to advocate for a theocracy, just an acknowledgment of our rich Christian heritage, a heritage which continues today through state constitutions.

Every state constitution except one, Hawaii, acknowledges and expresses gratitude to Almighty God. The Preamble in West Virginia’s Constitution states, “Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia, in and through the provisions of this Constitution, reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God.” Ohio’s Preamble states, “We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution.” While these may seem universal, where does the reader think the founders’ belief in God came from? The Holy Bible.

Philip A Parenti

Mount Pleasant