Both the House and the Senate in Mississippi have passed a bill that would require all public buildings in the state to post the Ten Commandments, "In God We Trust," and excerpts from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. It's an obvious promotion of religion and religious beliefs, but Governor Haley Barbour is likely to sign it.

The Decatur Daily reports:

Rabbi Debra Kassoff called the bill a "flagrant and vain use of God's name for political gain."

"I am offended by the Legislature's disregard for separation of church and state, a principle that has allowed religious minorities of every creed to live and flourish in this country for over 200 years, largely without fear," Kassoff wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Lawmakers shrugged off questions about the constitutionality of the bill and how it could possibly be viewed as offensive to people who are not of the Christian faith. "I'm in favor of that bill without equivocation," said House Speaker Billy McCoy, D-Rienzi.

This bill is, obviously, not supported universally among all religious leaders — not even those who are part of the religious traditions that the government would be promoting. Why? Because the government doesn't have the authority to get involved with religion in this manner. The government doesn't have the authority to require the promotion and endorsement of Christian doctrines but not Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, or Muslim doctrines. That's a fact and it's simply not a subject of debate.

Lawmakers in Mississippi, however, don't care. Why?

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Church and State News
• Secularism 101