The suit centers on one passage in scripture -- 1 Corinthians 6:9 -- and how it reads in Bibles published by Zondervan.
Whether the federal civil rights suit will stand up in court is unclear.
Bradley Fowler filed it. He says Zondervan Bibles published in 1982 and 1987 use the word homosexuals among a list of those who are "wicked" or "unrighteous" and won't inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Fowler says his family's pastor used that Zondervan Bible, and because of it his family considered him a sinner and he suffered.
Now he is asking for an apology and $60 million.
"To compensate for the past 20 years of emotional duress and mental instability," Fowler told 24 Hour News 8 in a phone interview.
He claims the company is misinterpreting the Bible by specifically using the word homosexuals. Fowler admits that every Bible printed is a translation, interpreted in some way, but he says specifically using that word is not a translation but a change.
"These are opinions based on the publishers," he said. "And they are being embedded in the religious structure as a way of life."
Fowler says he came across the discrepancy while researching a book. He says Zondervan Bibles published in the 1980s use the word homosexuals in the Corinthian passage in question, but earlier and later ones don't.
24 Hour News 8 went to a library to do some research of our own, and found Zondervan Bibles published both in the 80s and post-2000 use the word homosexuals in the passage. Some other Bibles, like the New American Standard, also use the word.
Others don't.
The (regular) American Standard version uses the phrase "abusers of themselves with men." The King James says "abusers of themselves with mankind." Still others, like the New American Bible, use the word "sodomites."
Fowler says the idea that those phrases are another way of saying homosexuals is a misinterpretation as well.
Zondervan released a statement saying it "has not been served with a lawsuit and therefore cannot comment on it. However, it is important to note that since Zondervan does not translate the Bible or own the copyright for any of the translations we publish, we should not comment on the merits of how a word should or should not be translated. We rely on the scholarly judgment of the highly respected and credible translation committees behind each translation and never alter the text of the translations we are licensed to publish. We only publish credible translations produced by credible Biblical scholars."
If he was offended by 1 Corinthians 6:9, then he’d really flip if he read Leviticus.
Frivolous lawsuit.
All that concern for one verse? Has he read the rest of it?
Sad, sad... what a shallow fellow.
jw
oh right.............
I've lived to long. I remember when there was a modicum of sanity in this country.
When your religion does not agree with my way of thinking then I get to take you to court!!!
Stupid, stupid, stupid............
It seems like the First Amendment might have a thing or two to say about this lawsuit.
I’ve said before that gays would sue God if they could. Well, this comes close.
I don’t believe the word ‘homosexual’ was used in the Genesis account of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19). I seem to remember they got nuked because they of their rampant homosexuality.
Homosexuals should get over themselves.
It’s the bastardization of our legal system. This crap should be thrown-out and the lawyer handed the bill. Everything is being tested by our “Judicial” system and the more they “hear” these cases the more the plantiffs find ways to destroy the fabric.
Oh Good!
A U.S. Court is going to settle a disagreement regarding an interpretation of a Bible verse!
When this gets to the USSC, I hope Kennedy gets his coin toss correct.......
But a company spokeswoman says Zondervan doesn't translate the Bible or own the copyright for any of the translations. Instead, she said in a statement, the company relies on the "scholarly judgment of credible translation committees."
That is to say, setting aside whether the federal civil rights lawsuit is credible, the company says Bradley Fowler sued the wrong group.
The "suing the wrong group" defense seems like a good way for Zondervan to put the matter behind them with a minimum of fuss and expense.
Pretty ironic the rest of that verse is about not suing your brethren!
Think it speaks for itself!
Romans 1:27 "and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error." -- think of one word that fits this description.
What about this verse then?
Leviticus 18:22-23
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.
If he is so sure of himself that the translation is WRONG, has he offered any explanation as to what it DOES mean?
The sodomites are going to use every tactic they can to try to attack Christ and his church, until they can finally use the law against us and drive the church back into catacombs.
I sure am looking forward to having a Moslem president, what with Islam being tolerant of diversity of faith.