Group of U.S. conservatives rewrite the Bible

hairyheretic

Just a sort of 'news of the weird' post, but I thought some of you might find it interesting

The fact its coming from the people responsible for Conservapedia probably explains a lot

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/group-of-us-conservatives-rewrite-the-bible/article1319247/

After all these years, one could assume the Bible has held up pretty well, but a group of conservatives in the United States thinks it needs a rewrite.

The folks behind Conservapedia, a right-leaning version of Wikipedia, have launched the Conservative Bible Project, aimed at getting rid of what they call liberal bias, wordiness, emasculation and a general dumbing down of the Old and New Testaments.

A dozen or so users, led by Conservapedia founder Andy Schlafly – the son of conservative political activist Phyllis Schlafly – are tackling the 27 books of the New Testament and 39 books of the Old Testament. Anyone can offer suggested changes.

Mr. Schlafly is a Princeton- and Harvard-educated lawyer and home-school teacher in New Jersey who began Conservapedia in 2006 because he felt Wikipedia was too liberal and anti-Christian. He believes the project will restore the Bible to its original intent.

“The trouble is, new translations of the Bible are done by professors at liberal universities who overwhelmingly voted for Obama,” Mr. Schlafly said. “Their political bias seeps into their translations and we felt it necessary to counteract that with one that uproots and eradicates any liberal bias.”

In Mark 3:6, for example, they have changed “Pharisees” – the Jews who were regarded as antagonists of Jesus – to “Liberals” though one user helpfully suggested “self-proclaimed elite.” The “girl” who danced in the Gospel of Mark, causing King Herod to behead John the Baptist, is more accurately referred to as a “temptress,” Mr. Schlafly said. And “hell” isn't used nearly often enough, conveying liberal permissiveness.

News of the project emerged on the blogosphere this week. The reaction is predictably sardonic, with Rachel Weiner of The Huffington Post quipping, “Lo and behold, the Bible has gotten too liberal. ... Yes, even scripture is not orthodox enough for the modern conservative.”

Conservapedia writes on its website that one benefit of the effort is that while “Liberals will oppose it, they will have to read the Bible to criticize it, and that will open their minds.”

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow told viewers that when she first heard about the Conservative Bible Project, she “couldn't quite believe it isn't a joke.” On Wednesday night, comedian Stephen Colbert challenged viewers to join the rewrite effort and add him as a biblical figure.

Mark 6:3 is lyrical in the King James Version: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.”

The rewrite takes a less poetic tact: “Isn't this a mere carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joses, Juda and Simon? Don't we also know his sisters here? The public was not open-minded about Jesus.”

James McGrath, associate professor of religion at Butler University in Indianapolis, said the translators don't appear to have any knowledge of the text's original meaning.

“If it's an attempt at humour, it's hilarious, but I have a sinking feeling it's something else – that conservatives are realizing the Bible does not always serve their interests, something the rest of us have known for some time,” he said.

“But some element of humour should be part of a healthy response to this, because there's a danger that taking it too seriously gives it credibility it wouldn't otherwise have.”

robindch

Schafly wiki's the bible -- wow -- can't wait!

PDN

Bizarre and stupid, but not new. There have been attempts to rewrite the Bible from feminist perspectives, from communist perspectives, and now from a 'conservative' perspective.

All such rewrites are unacceptabe from a Christian perspective, because our political and ideological views should be shaped by the Bible, not vice versa.

However, since 'The Land of the Free' is also at times 'The Land of the Eye-Wateringly Stupid' here is another example of transatlantic barminess:

A Baptist Church in North Carolina is having a 'Halloween Book Burning'. I clicked on the link wearily expecting to see they were burning copies of Harry Potter or Richard Dawkins or some such moronic silliness. To my amazement I see that they will be burning all translations of the Bible other than the KJV, burning all 'Satanic' music (including contemporary Christian music), and burning books by 'heretics' such as Billy Graham, Rick Warren, and Mother Theresa.

http://amazinggracebaptistchurchkjv.com/news.html

They call themselves 'Amazing Grace Baptist Church'. They don't appear to have much grace - but they've certainly amazed me! :eek:

pts

Sounds like fun! l'd like to "interpret" Luke 3:11:

"He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise."

as:

"He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that can pay the most; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise."

as that is the true meaning of the Bible, without those pesky liberal slants, with their taking care of others nonsense

EDIT: It's amazing how a group so fervently opposed to evolution by natural selection (or "Darwanism" as they like to call it) are so in favour of "Social Darwinism"

wolfsbane

pts wrote: »

EDIT: It's amazing how a group so fervently opposed to evolution by natural selection (or "Darwanism" as they like to call it) are so in favour of "Social Darwinism"

You make a great point. It is supreme irony that some Christians have been persuaded that 'right-wing' values are in line with Christianity.

For example, the desire for increasing state control in the form of heavy 'law and order' - they trust the State with their liberty, if it protects them from their enemies. Anyone with any knowledge of the Bible should know men cannot be trusted. Man's heart is naturally corrupt and he will pervert any office he gets, if left unchecked.

Bush got virtually unqualified support in his War against Terror, and Obama may expect the same. Both the Left and the Right swallow the need for a Homeland Security that gives a blank cheque to the President. Even the framers of the Constitution knew better than that.

Same applies to the love of the free-market - as if one can trust big business to deal fairly, not to monopolize, etc.

Democracy, with its checks and balances, is more in line with a Christian understanding of man than any right or left dictatorship.

Zombrex

wolfsbane wrote: »

Anyone with any knowledge of the Bible should know men cannot be trusted.

Meh, we have been telling you guys that for years :pac:

Though I imagine you mean some men cannot be trusted, and some can be trusted unconditionally

JimiTime

Wicknight wrote: »

Meh, we have been telling you guys that for years :pac:

Though I imagine you mean some men cannot be trusted, and some can be trusted unconditionally

How so?

wolfsbane

Wicknight wrote: »

Meh, we have been telling you guys that for years :pac:

Though I imagine you mean some men cannot be trusted, and some can be trusted unconditionally

No, I mean none but the Man who sits on His Father's throne.

One may give more weight to one sinner's word than to another, but never unconditional trust.

Zombrex

JimiTime wrote: »

How so?

Wolfsbane believes he "just knows" that God has touched his heart, thus confirming he exists and is the god of the Bible, despite having no ability to test this outside of his own personal assessment and judgement, nor does he apparently have any recognition that this should even necessary to do this.

Last time I checked Wolfsbane was a man.

Thought this is probably going off topic, I think my point has been made. To rail about the infallibility of man while basing his religion position on the infallibility of himself is some what inconsistent.

PDN

Wicknight wrote: »

Thought this is probably going off topic.

You would be correct.

I think my point has been made

You would be incorrect.

To rail about the infallibility of man while basing his religion position on the infallibility of himself is some what inconsistent.

Now you're trolling. Wolfsbane has never declared himself to be infallible.

Kindly avoid littering this forum in similar fashion in the future.

Thank you.

PDN

Let's keep this thread reasonably on topic, guys.

The discussion is about people rewriting the Bible to suit their own agendas.

Anyone trolling, or feeding the trolls, will have their posts deleted.

postcynical

PDN wrote: »

A Baptist Church in North Carolina is having a 'Halloween Book Burning'. I clicked on the link wearily expecting to see they were burning copies of Harry Potter or Richard Dawkins or some such moronic silliness. To my amazement I see that they will be burning all translations of the Bible other than the KJV, burning all 'Satanic' music (including contemporary Christian music), and burning books by 'heretics' such as Billy Graham, Rick Warren, and Mother Theresa.

http://amazinggracebaptistchurchkjv.com/news.html

They call themselves 'Amazing Grace Baptist Church'. They don't appear to have much grace - but they've certainly amazed me! :eek:

There's no smiley can summarize the response to that. Would they burn Greek or Hebrew Bibles?

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

Fanny Cradock

PDN wrote: »

A Baptist Church in North Carolina is having a 'Halloween Book Burning'. I clicked on the link wearily expecting to see they were burning copies of Harry Potter or Richard Dawkins or some such moronic silliness. To my amazement I see that they will be burning all translations of the Bible other than the KJV, burning all 'Satanic' music (including contemporary Christian music), and burning books by 'heretics' such as Billy Graham, Rick Warren, and Mother Theresa.

http://amazinggracebaptistchurchkjv.com/news.html

They call themselves 'Amazing Grace Baptist Church'. They don't appear to have much grace - but they've certainly amazed me! :eek:

Dear Lord! Why is it that so often the case that the most vocal mouthpieces for religions, various movements and any old cause under the sun do the most damage to the thing they trying to promote. Scary stuff!

I recently saw a Manga (Japanese style animation) version of the NT. I didn't necessarily see much harm in it, but then again I assume that it was never intended to be a substitute for the real thing.

philologos

In Mark 3:6, for example, they have changed “Pharisees” – the Jews who were regarded as antagonists of Jesus – to “Liberals” though one user helpfully suggested “self-proclaimed elite.”

The Pharisees were anything but liberal. This translation is going to look very strange when it is done!

Soul Winner

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

Dear Lord! Why is it that so often the case that the most vocal mouthpieces for religions, various movements and any old cause under the sun do the most damage to the thing they trying to promote.

Because whether they know it or not they are the true sons of the devil, they are his best weapons. They not only twist scripture to make it fit in with their warped world view but they turn people off the subject of Christianity who would otherwise have turned to it. Scum of the earth would be a compliment for the likes of those self righteous asses.

Caoimhín

PDN wrote: »

To my amazement I see that they will be burning all translations of the Bible other than the KJV, burning all 'Satanic' music (including contemporary Christian music), and burning books by 'heretics' such as Billy Graham, Rick Warren, and Mother Theresa.

They are serving BBQ chicken though.

PDN

Caoimhín wrote: »

They are serving BBQ chicken though.

Ach they'll probably manage to burn that too!