Bible Bending Special:
What observers had to say about the Bible after U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison's
decision to take his congressional oath over the Quran:

Columns and Blogs:

• Dennis Pranger: Ellison's choice is an act of hubris. U.S. congressman must agree to uphold the same values--specifically, biblical values. After heavy criticism (see articles below), Pranger apologized for some comments but maintained that he is still concerned about the decline of the Bible's influence on American values.
• USA Today: The swearing-in ceremony only requires the elected representatives to raise their right hand.
• Steve Benen: American civilization has survived congress persons refusing to take the oath with the Bible before.
• Eugene Volokh: Prager misses the multicultural intentions of the U.S. Constitution.
• Stephen Bainbridge: No one gets to dictate American's faith.
• Rick Reidel: Taking the oath over the Bible does not insure that a congress person will be honest. To suggest it does is Islamophobic.
• Deborah Weiss: The Bible is morally superior to the Quran. Allowing a Muslim into Congress puts the nation at risk.
• Devvy Kidd: Ellison is not obeying Islam by representing a Christian nation.
• Leonard Pitt: The conservative response is a shameful remainder of the strain of intolerance still active in the America.
  

Opinion columns and Letters to the Editor:

• Star-Gazette (NY): In America, the Bible should come before the Quran.
• Gulf News (United Arab Emirates) : Is the outrage following Ellison's decision isolated or an indication of widespread Islamophobia?
• International News (Pakistan): Pakistani officials should take their oaths over the Quran.
  
• Arutz Sheva (Israel): The real issue that concerns Israelis is whether or not Ellison is sympathetic to the Jewish cause.
  
• Payvand (IRAN): Thomas Jefferson (who owned the Quran that Ellison used) would be proud to see freedom of religion prevail.
• Bismark Tribune (ND): Ellison's decision was about American values: the freedom of religion.
• The Breeze (VA): The nation should take of Rep. Virgil Goode's (VA) xenophobia.
• Middle East Online (UK): The worst of America responded to Ellison: the bigots and the ignorant.
• Mississippi Daily Journal (MS): The Bible is morally superior to the Quran.
• News-Leader (MO): In choosing the Quran over the Bible, Ellison honored the memory of slave captors, rather than abolitionists.
• Capital Hill Blue (VA): Muslim countries should take note of the American sense of tolerance.
• Appleton Post Crescent (WI): The Bible is just an American fashion, not an American tradition.
• American Chronicle (CA): What Americans need to know about the Quran.