While it is good that this group wants a more traditional and more word-for-word translation, the people doing this work seem to have missed the point on a couple of things. First, certain translations like the Message are written to give a style believers may be more open to. For example, the Message's story style may be preferred over the KJV's thees and thous. Also, the word vulgate means common or vulgar. The Latin Vulgate was written for the common man, not the sophisticated aristocrats. So I am puzzled as to why "dumbing down" is an issue.
As for historical accuracy of the Bible, I'll be happy to answer questions people may have. Also, what bad advice does the Bible give?
Dr. Shadeof NC10:09PM October 07, 2009
If true, this story but reaffirms what many of us have known for scores of years (in my case, many scores): there's a sucker born every minute. The Bible is a book full of good and bad advice, factual and fictitious stories, and a tremendous amount of questionable history. Trying to "correct" it to its original meanings and intentions is a snipe hunt without hope of game in the bag when the hunt's over. There's no game there.
Those who CHOOSE the Bible over, say, Bhagavad Gita or Rig Veda are guessing without knowing it. They're searchers in the dark like everyone else.
Finding God does not require religious commitment. It requires minds open to possibilties, eyes turned to the universe around us, hopes funneled to doing good without expectation of reward, and, above all, recognition that all of us are in this together, none better or worse than the other.
The American poet Edwin Arlington Robinson said it best: "The world is a spiritual kindergarten, all the children in it trying to spell God with the wrong blocks."
Ron W. Smithof UT8:14PM October 07, 2009
I have been constantly disgusted those hate-mongering Conservatives posing as "Christians". They hate illegal immigrants, they hate minorities, they hate the poor and they most DEFINITELY hate the President. Is this what being a Christian is all about? That's funny, because I thought Christ (whom Christianity is named after ironically) taught us to "love thy neighbor as thyself" and that "he who is without sin, should cast the first stone". Well I guess the answer they have come up with is to change the Scriptures to fit their own particular interests, much as they wish to change our Government to reflect their selfish, bigoted views. Why stop at changing a few words and passages--let's just scrap it! Forget about the Constitution and the Seperation of Church and State! That can be easily deleted! Forget about Christ telling us to love thy neighbor, we can just change it to say: Love thy neighbor, unless he/she is a minority, can't afford health insurance, is an illegal immigrant or is on some form of Public Assistance. Then we can have a hate-fest and not feel guilty about it at all! (Not that we did in the first place.) That definitely works better, right? Maybe next we can work on the Liberatarian Bible that disavows God's ability to make us pay for our sins and states that HE should just leave us all alone!
Robertof MA7:59PM October 07, 2009
My comment is for Prolife working women. Obama recently changed the law so bosses must pay women the wage as men for the same work. Did you know that Phyllis Schlafly had a lot to do with defeating the ERA that would have equalized wages? She was rich. I still have a copy of her Eagle Forum Insiders' Newsletter. She said if the ERA became law, churches that don't ordain women would LOSE TAX EXEMPTION. For that selfish reason, she helped to postpone fair pay all these years. With 1/3 niore pay, you would have a bigger Soc. Sec. retirement account, a better car & wardrobe and even $ for college to get better work. As for changing the Bible, the 10 Commandments start by reminding Jews God saved them from slavery in Egypt. Then I searched "Is there proof Jews were enslaved in Egypt? Answers were mostly "No." For fun, try it and see.
auradawn veirsof CA7:56PM October 07, 2009
It would appear to me that the biggest problem of Christianity in this allegedly 'christian' nation is conservatism--it's become a religion.
The folk that proclaim loudly about God this, God that, our God-given whatevers, don't appear to ever get around to reading what God says in His Word about not adding or subtracting from His Word, or how we are to co-exist with our neighbors.
My pastor and some other pastors--ones who never hit the talk show circuit, write bestsellers, hold court in megachurches or appear on the campaign trail with "family values" types--seem to have it right: RELIGION is Christianity's greatest enemy. All it does is distract us from what the Word really says. If we'd pay any attention to what the Word actually says, we wouldn't have half the debates, let alone the controversies OR conversations we have, because some things are already settled, and not up for debate. Why is THAT so hard to understand--especially for the ones who claim God is on their side? Is it any wonder we can't get our act together?
Just what WOULD Jesus think and do about this one?
tlynetteof IL7:27PM October 07, 2009
This news is amazing! If you read the article they are not planning on doing a new translation. This would require starting from the Hebrew and Greek. They are intending to "update" the KJV to remove so-called liberal bias in a paraphrasing process like what was done with the the Living Bible by Ken Taylor back in the 70s. There is absolutely nothing conservative about this venture.
Jim Christophof FL10:26AM October 07, 2009
Hmm. If it's not an Alan Abel hoax, it should be. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Abel
Rick Evansof MD7:06AM October 07, 2009
"So then only those who can read Greek can truly understand the word of God?"
Not at all. However, your less than honest characterization of my remark leads me to conclude that further discourse with you is not worthy of my time.
Richard Blaineof GA11:20PM October 06, 2009
Mr. Schlafly and his associates are just crying for more attention. I should know, I've been laughing at them for the last year. His website is slowly dying. They said at the beginning that they would overtake Wikipedia in 5 yrs, and now have just over 50 regular editors.
Oh, and in case you didn't know, Mr. Schlafly is a homeschool teacher in New Jersery. If you DO, go over to Conservapedia, check out some of his lessons and homework assignments. Those are the really scary bits.
Thanatos of Rationalwiki9:57PM October 06, 2009
There are quite a few modern translations and this is only the latest. The NLT is probably one of the best for Americans because it has modern language but the translators took care to retain as much of the true meaning as possible. A good translation is not from English to English, but from the original languages to English. Anything else is just a paraphrase. There are different methods used to translate into English. Some translators have tried to use very exacting, literal translations but often there is not an equivalent word or phrase from the Aramaic to Englih. Other translators use a method whereby the meaning and the spirit of the word is the translation. In other words, one Aramaic word may have several English equivalent, so they will choose the best word according to context. The best translations can combine both of these techniques. It's also helpful to have footnotes that tell what the differences are.The advantage is that a person can read the Bible in his own language and they don't have to rely on someone to tell them what it says. The reader can then discuss it with Bible scholars and ask pertinent questions.
Reader Comments
Back to blog
Dr. Shade of NC 10:09PM October 07, 2009
Ron W. Smith of UT 8:14PM October 07, 2009
Robert of MA 7:59PM October 07, 2009
auradawn veirs of CA 7:56PM October 07, 2009
tlynette of IL 7:27PM October 07, 2009
Jim Christoph of FL 10:26AM October 07, 2009
Rick Evans of MD 7:06AM October 07, 2009
Richard Blaine of GA 11:20PM October 06, 2009
Thanatos of Rationalwiki 9:57PM October 06, 2009
L of NH 6:21PM October 06, 2009