ATLANTA (AP) The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit arguing that a state law exempting only the Bible from sale taxes is ``discriminatory.'' The federal suit filed yesterday in Atlanta on behalf of a metaphysical bookstore owner says the tax exemption should be extended to all publications dealing with the meaning of life.

Store owner Candace Apple says if the state is not taxing one holy scripture, it should not be taxing any. Apple and Thomas Budlong, former president of the Georgia Library Association, sued State Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham in federal court yesterday. They ask that the tax break be suspended until the law can be reconsidered by state lawmakers. The law was enacted in the 1950s.

Graham's office didn't immediately return a message seeking comment today. The law exempts from sale taxes the Bible as well as ``similar books commonly recognized as being Holy Scripture regardless of by or to whom sold.''

Apple argues that the phrasing is too vague to be restricted to Judeo-Christian publications, or even to books reflecting major religions.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)