Michael Cloud, Congressional Christian Nationalist Caucus
Michael Cloud, member of the Congressional Christian Nationalist Caucus
Learn more about the Congressional Christian Nationalist Caucus
In the US Congress, Michael Cloud represents the 27th congressional district of Texas, which includes suburbs of Austin and San Antonio, though the state’s gerrymandering keeps the district away from the cities themselves. In his job as a US Representative to uphold the rights of all Americans and to defend the Constitution, which states that there can be no government establishment of religion.
As a member of the Congressional Christian Nationalist Caucus, however, Congressman Cloud works to elevate Christians as an elite class within the United States, ignoring the rights of the 40 percent of Americans who are not Christians.
Michael Cloud is a primary sponsor of H.J. Res 118. That legislation blatantly violates the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. If passed, H.J. Res. 118 will create a federal government establishment of religion by creating a new national religious holiday: The Day Of The Bible, to be observed by all Americans every year on September 12.
Explaining his support for H.J. Res. 118, Congressman Cloud stated, “More than any other source, our Founders cited Scripture when establishing the principles of this Republic. Marking this day reminds us that the Bible is not only the bedrock of our liberty, but also the living Word of God that continues to guide us as a people.”
These words are thoroughly dishonest.
The Constitution of the United States of America is the document that founded and established the principles of the USA. The Constitution does not mention Christian scripture even once. The Constitution never mentions Christianity, Jehovah, Jesus, or any other character or idea from the Bible.
The people of the United States of America are guided by a wide variety of philosophies and religions. Only some Americans identify as Christians. Over 100 million Americans are not guided by what Michael Cloud refers to as “the living Word of God”.
The Bible is not the bedrock of liberty in the United States of America. The Constitution is.
The Bible repeatedly states that people must not be granted the liberty to live as they choose. The Bible teaches that people must not have freedom of religion. The Bible orders people to live without democracy under kings rather than living under democratically elected governments.
Michael Cloud isn’t being honest about American history, and that’s in accord with the way that H.J. Res. 118 is designed to promote pseudohistory fantasies that are unsupported by historical facts. On the proposed Day of the Bible, the federal government of the United States would use its platform to encourage state and local governments to promote Christian religious practices. The holiday would also endorse a Christian nationalist reinterpretation of history by supporting 'programs and activities that highlight the Bible’s significance in our Nation’s past and present,' inaccurately portraying the Christian Bible as a foundational element in the nation’s history from its inception.
America’s children deserve the full truth of American history, not an ideologically manufactured whitewashing designed to cater to the ambitions of powerful religious organizations.
———
One has to wonder how Representative Mike Cloud would react if his proposed National Bible Day were used to promote an alternative version of the Bible… say, The Demonic Bible. This new version of the Bible offers refreshingly honest commentary on the Christian Bible from a demon’s perspective, counterbalanced by an angel representing traditional biblical interpretation.
Would Rep. Cloud support teaching The Demonic Bible in public schools as part of his initiative to create a National Day Of The Bible, or is his support limited to conservative, right-wing interpretations of scripture?
The answer seems obvious. Michael Cloud would never back a National Day of the Demonic Bible.