> BOOKS
> Author Q&As
> Browse categories
> Browse most recent
> Most popular
> Login/Register
> Sign up!
> FAQs
> Follow us on Twitter!
Categories
Home > Society, Social Issues > Beliefs, Religion > Release of Controversial Bible[s]
Release of Controversial Bible[s]
Submitted by: Nancy L. Young-Houser

Presently, a Bible-publishing boom is going on in the United States which really should surprise nobody in the world. Already one Bible translation has been published in the Netherlands which eliminates parts about money, possessions, and economic justice—in an attempt to make the Christian gospel easier to understand and acceptable. Also, U.S. evangelicals are divided over a "Green Bible" which not only embraces environmentalism but exhibits a need to protect Earth. This Bible is being endorsed by secular groups like the Sierra Club and the Humane Society to show the people of the world that "God is calling us to care for the world around us." Those against the Green Bible are concerned it really has no religious focus but instead are using the Bible to spread their personal environmental message, even though over 25,000 copies have been from HarperOne.
But prior to these recent updates of the Bible was the one in Berlin, Germany, when 52 biblical specialists decided to develop a Bible which was considered to be "politically correct". They replaced some of the more divisive Christian teachings in order to present a more proper language for feminists and homosexuals. Called "The Bible in a More Just Language", the sacred scriptures have been revamped to such things as Jesus is no longer referred to God as "Father", but instead as "our Mother and Father who art in heaven." Several other changes in the German Bible refer to Jesus as the child of God instead of the Son of God, with Lord replaced with God or the Eternal One. One thing has not changed, and that is the Devil who is still considered a "he" or "him".
The Jesus Freaks sect has also made some minor changes with their "Volksbibel" or The People's Bible in order to make Christianity more accessible to the masses. Instead of the body of Jesus being resurrected, he simply returns. And the multiplying of fish and loaves for the masses is changed to the multiplying of hamburgers, even though no such thing was available during these early times. And worse yet in the parable of the prodigal son, the younger son actually squanders his inheritance at dance clubs and ends up cleaning bathrooms at McDonalds. Duh. Many are forgetting that true believers feel papal tradition overrides scripture, so translations really do not matter a lot unless the sacred traditions of the church are unimportant. Those who do not believe will shed no tears unless their personal beliefs no longer match the eternal word of God.
In the country of Sweden, a modern and glossy magazine adaptation of the Bible has been printed under the name "The Book". When exported to the United States, many images were removed due to cultural differences, according to the publisher of the magazine, Dag Soderberg. "Sex is very sensitive in the USA," he stated. Printed with 286-pages, the adaptation of the New Testament was released under the name to the US as "Bible Illuminated: The Book" minus the images. The Old Testament adaptation is being prepared for exportation to the US in the spring of 2009.
* * * * *
Nancy L. Young-Houser is a professional writer and illustrator, in addition to providing a home for dogs on all levels of need with her best friend, Sandra Marquiss. Her writings include controversial subjects as part of the soapbox she has carried around since childhood, never leaving home without it. Part of this soapbox is her website WayCoolDogs.com filled with lots of four-legged information!
