[deepFR]

A bit long, but worth the read. This is a pure and simple case of attempting to "sex-up" the Bible to market Kinsey to Christian children.

[The Duke]

"Mommy, what's a h-a-r-l-o-t?"

[Lucky2]

Emma goes on to claim that oral sex "is not even sex," but Ashley disagrees, saying, "God's definition of sexual purity covers much more than intercourse."

Sounds like the scripture as written by BJ clinton. That filthy man has infiltrated every part of our lives, even the Bible! Ugh!!!

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

If more people would read the bible rather than reading about the bible, we'd be a whole better off.

[codyjacksmom]

My girls have teen study bibles. I have gone through the bibles with them and know what they are reading. Just because it says "Bible" on it, doesn't mean that humans haven't put their 2 cents in. We, as Christian parents, need to be fully aware of everything our kids are putting into their minds.

[bahblahbah]

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
-- Matthew 5:28

I'd figure that would be reflexive across the sexes so oral sex would be a big no-no.

[kpp_kpp]

it's a good thing the bible, even modernly translated, is a bit archaic. if people actually read it and understood what many of the stories (esp in the o.t.) are saying, they might be shocked.

and i'm not just referring to the incest, rape, and dismemberment stories... there's also the likes of esther who moved from the house of maidens to the house of concubines after a night with the king in which she greatly pleased him. and don't get me started on the dripping verses in s.o.s...

anyways, i'm not at all advocating this 'true images' bible, i'm sure there is a target market for it and it isn't the conservative wing of christianity.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Sounds like they're addressing current issues in light of God's word. I have no problem with that. The end message regarding the sex thing is that it is NOT okay to do it.

[Revelation 911]

ok campers - maybe pro has a point - this aint right

[CatoRenasci]

I haven't read this 'edition' of the Bible, and I generally don't favor modern translations -- preferring either the Authorized Version ("King James") or Jerome's Latin Vulgate (which is a struggle).

That said, I suspect those evangelical Christians who sponsored and/or produced this Bible are less trying to "sex up" the Bible than to give teens a Bible in which the situations they meet in their daily lives (if not on a daily basis) are explored from a Christian perspective. The fact is that in many places, and not just the sinful cities and suburbs, teenagers are engaging in risky sexual behavior at ages that shock even those of us who grew up during the '60s. And, thanks to BJ Clinton, many kids do argue oral sex is not sex. So, I think this Bible edition may actually be useful if it is used intelligently with adult pastoral support.

[dread78645]

This is a pure and simple case of attempting to "sex-up" the Bible to market Kinsey to Christian children.

No need to "sex-up". consider the Song of Solomon

1 I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

3 I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?

4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.

5 I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.

6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

[unlearner]

Defending this book, a Zondervan spokesman said," 'Again and again and again, the issues that repeatedly came up were a lot of issues related to sex. Today's teens are just bombarded with … highly suggestive, highly sexual media messages every day'."

Yeah, and now they can be bombarded with this pornography while they go to church or study their "Bibles" at home.

These watered-down, bible peddlers are in big trouble with the Lord.

[jude24]

Whoa. Re-read the article. The articles in that Bible don't encourage young girls to engage in sexual activity; very much the opposite, it conveys that the Bible says that its wrong outside of the bounds of the marriage relationship.

The simple fact of the matter is that teenagers these days talk about sex, and are engaging in it. They are ceaselessly bombarded with sexual images and messages in their media. It must be forthrightly addressed. Getting young girls to read what the Bible says about sex - and being frank about it in the contexts in which they are likely to be pressured - is only a good thing.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP

[cspackler]

I think that where a parent wants to address these issues with their child is a personal choice, be it through a work such as this or not. In that light, I would argue that this work's worthiness is up to the interpretation of the parent.

Insinuating that this work is an attempt to "sex up" the Bible seems way off base to me, however. I believe that it is a genuine attempt to offer a useful tool to those that wish to use it.

[EdReform]

Bump & Ping

What's up with Zondervan?

[r9etb]

Mr. Strom is in deep denial about what's going on among teen-aged girls.

[reagan_fanatic]

I don't see a problem with it. I am the Father of a 14 year-old girl - they will discuss this stuff regardless of whether or not it's in a Bible.

Frankly, I would prefer she read about it in this context rather than with a bunch of teen-aged girls in school.

[Diddle E. Squat]

This is a pure and simple case of attempting to "sex-up" the Bible to market Kinsey to Christian children.

Except the message is that unmarrried oral sex is wrong, is really sex, and is against God's will.

Isn't your freepname a reference to oral sex? Were you just trying to 'sex up' your freep name when you came up with that? I guess you won't be answering, seeing as how you've been banned.

[The Red Zone]

I don't think you can say Bible and nonjudgmental treatment of sexual topics in the same breath. Does the angels' side always win out in these discussions? If it doesn't then shame shame SHAME on Zondervan.

[farmer18th]

"The story is that she had oral sex with a guy friend of ours last week. Just for fun. They're not dating, although they've always flirted with each other a lot. Emma took one look at my face this morning, and she knew I knew."

No, no, no. That's not how you get the point across in fiction. This is how you do it:

Emma, sitting alone behind the low brick wall on the south end of campus heard familiar voices above her, coming her direction. She could tell that voice anywhere, but she was too late to scurry away. Too much had already been said, and they would see her. Prentice Smith, future Yalie, had begun to speak:

"I was sad to hear it; I kind of hope it isn't true."
"Total slut," the other voice said. "Skanky little tramp got herself some knee pads."
"I always thought she was sort of an old world, Joan of Arc type, at home with herself. Saintly, kind of, in a fetching way. You know?"
"Me too. I feel like my dream girl got sold to the sex trade."

"Emma Parker," Prentice said, sighing. "Who would have thought it."