Democratic representative Tom Miles has proposed a similar bill, with the support of Democratic representative Michael Evans. "The Bible provides a good role model on how to treat people," Miles told the Associated Press this week. "They could read in there about love and compassion."

Miles pointed out Mississippi has a state flower, bird, and recently named the teddy bear the state toy in honor of Theodore Roosevelt. So why not a state book?

“Come on, that’s absurd,” American Atheists Organization Public Relations Director Danielle Muscato told Fox News.

“He doesn’t care about kindness or compassion. He cares about promoting his religious views and he doesn’t care if he has to abuse his authority as a government official to do that,” she lamented.

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Fox News reports many people in the state support the bills. "The lawmakers said it wasn't their goal to force Christianity on anybody but to teach people to treat others with dignity," native Zac Tucker noted.

”But honestly, this won’t make the state of Mississippi read it any more than they already do,” he concluded.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com