By Finnleigh Gould

On Wednesday October 16, 2024, two men handed out Bibles to La Roche University students. The men handed out the free Bibles in front of the Palumbo entrance to La Roche University. Students described receiving either an orange or a green Bible labeled, “New Testament Psalms Proverbs.” 

The Bibles were nothing out of the ordinary. These texts were something you might see handed out anywhere. The small faux-leather books were produced by Gideons International. A short bio in the Bibles’ pretext describes The Gideons International association’s identity and mission.

All photos by Finnleigh Gould

The Bibles contain one graphic, an American flag. Under the simple sketch of the flag reads Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” The image is stuck with the reader as they flip through the thin pages. In the beginning of the small Bibles are placed “God’s Help in Crisis” and “Help With Life’s Problems,” followed by headings and page numbers. Some of the headings include “Abortion” and “Future?” 

The Lord’s Prayer and verse John 3:16 are also present in the pretext of the Bibles. John 3:16 is translated in several languages within these little Bibles. The verse says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Being handed a Bible at the entrance to a Catholic university is not strange by any means, though some students, including myself, found it so. Why the two different colored Bibles? Why were the vendors so insistent? Students, who will remain anonymous, described the experience as forceful. Being forcefully handed a Bible guided me to the realization of how harmless the book is, until misused.

I went around asking students about the Bible vendors. Some said the vendors seemed sneaky or shy. Some students also said that they couldn’t get to their dorms without seeing one of the vendors.

La Roche University is a Catholic institution, but very inclusive to other religions. The university recognizes and allows clubs to celebrate other holidays outside of Christian views like the predominantly Hindu holiday Diwali. In an interview, La Roche student Krista Keene asked,“Where does that leave all of the other religions?” This question led me down a long rabbit hole of research that led me to recent national events, specifically, the presidential election. The research revealed what follows:

As a result of the assassination attempt earlier this year on former President Trump, politicized Bibles, donning his name, were printed in China. This caused controversy, due to Trump’s anti-China oratory. He accused China of unjust trade and stealing American jobs. Trump said, “We can’t continue to allow China to rape our country, and that’s what we’re doing.”

The Bibles are King James editions. The Bibles’ additional contents included the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Bible also included lyrics from a country hit song, “God Bless the USA.” 

As of October 9, 2024, Lee Greenwood, country singer, received $300,000 in royalties from his partnership, announced March 26, with Trump. Greenwood’s song, “God Bless the USA”, also rests on the Bibles’ covers. In response to negative backlash, Greenwood said, “I think it’s just from the Trump haters. I don’t even believe people on the left hate religion. It’s just the Trump haters is all.”

“This Bible is a reminder that the biggest thing we have to bring back in America, and to make America great again, is our religion.” Trump said. He insisted that Judeo-Christian values of the United States were in danger, as he promoted these Bibles. Signed copies by Trump were selling for a thousand dollars. However, the website primarily selling Trump’s Bibles did not claim affiliation with the former president’s campaign efforts.

Sources estimate 120,000 “God Bless the USA” Bibles were shipped to the United States. The Bibles’ faux-leather cover states, “The Day God Intervened July 18, 2024,” across the cover. The politicized Bibles’ three separate shipments were valued at $342,000, the approximate of three dollars per Bible. However, they are being sold for $59.99 per book. This means if all the Bibles are sold the revenue would equal $7 million, about twenty times the price of the initial shipments. 

The “God Bless the USA” Bibles’ existence warrants various concerns. “It says to me that it’s more about the love of money than it is the love of our country,” Baptist minister and Bible review YouTuber, Tim Wildsmith said. Other sources are concerned about the Bibles’ institution into school curriculums. Ryan Walters, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction, expressed that “Trump Bibles” are the only texts that met curriculum criteria. 

After a brief explanation,I asked previously mentioned student Krista Keene her opinion on the politicalization of Bibles.

Keene said that she was raised Catholic, but no longer practices or considers herself one. When asked about the pertinence of Bibles being instituted into school curriculums Keene said, “The same parents that would want that would be mad if they started teaching the Torah.” She expressed her concern that politically charged Bibles are being used to sway the masses in this year’s election. She also said that a public education is for everyone, and that it is unfair to use one’s own opinion to dictate others’ lives. “They are worshiping a politician, I think that shows that people in this country are willing to believe anything,” Keene said, “as long as it comes from someone they worship.” She said that if someone is going to use others’ money for a political campaign they should be open about it. Keene said that she takes pride in America being a melting pot. In her final comments she said, “People are tired of those values being used to govern the country.” 

Keene’s input opened my mind to many different thoughts. However, a later interview with La Roche University professor and author, Dr. Joshua D. Bellin gave an equally interesting outlook. I conducted the interview by email, the questions and answers are as follows.

Interview with Dr. Bellin

Q: Regarding Trump’s anti-China rhetoric, how does this make you feel as a voter? What concerns might you have for the upcoming election?

A: “Trump is a grifter. He has no actual political convictions; he just goes where the money goes. He was opposed to electric cars until Elon Musk poured millions into his campaign, so I’m not surprised he’s selling bibles made in China.”

Q: Is it wrong to politicize the Bible? Why or why not?

A: “The Bible has been politicized as long as it’s existed. Trump’s use of it may offend some Christians, but to me, the issue is less what particular item Trump uses to swindle people, and more why the country would consider putting a huckster like him in the White House. Twice.”

Q: What does this tell about the state of our country?

A: “I think it’s most unfortunate that roughly half the country supports such an obvious con man.”

Q: Do you think schools should have the Bible, even the “Trump Bible”, as part of their curriculums?

A: “I believe in the separation of church and state. Religious schools can have bibles if they want, but not state funded schools.”

The red and blue divide in the country seems constantly present. University students feel it in small everyday actions, like an interaction with a Bible vendor. Sacred texts are unsafe within a polarized nation. Whether the Bible is misused is up for discussion, but it is evident that there is irony in its use to fund campaigns. One of the little green Bibles, which I have in my possession, reads, “It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.” The quote refers to the purpose of the Bible. Has its sacred texts, U.S. principles, been trifled?