Teen girls' Bible talks of oral sex, lesbianism: smears 'filthy graffiti across the Word of God'

http://worldnetdaily.com/ ^ | March 18, 2005 | Ron Strom

[deepFR]

Bible created especially for girls age 13-16 that includes profiles of fictional teenagers discussing oral sex, lesbianism and "dream" guys is drawing sharp criticism from some Christian parents who say such material should not appear alongside Scripture.

The "True Images" Bible, published by Zondervan, promises on its dustcover to "strengthen your relationship with God, family, friends and guys."

While the book includes the entire text of the New International Version of the Bible, it's the "over 1,000 relevant and compelling notes and articles" that have critics upset.

The "In Focus" profiles are peppered throughout the text of the Bible and deal with subjects like sex, pregnancy, alcoholism, dating, homosexuality, depression, pornography and flirting.

An introduction in the Bible explains its goal: to present to young girls "true images": "God's message about who you are in his eyes."

The "In Focus" article on sex appears amidst scriptural regulations on offerings in the book of Leviticus. It profiles the fictional girl "Ashley" and is entitled "Casual or Not?"

While the message of the profile is to save sex for marriage, critics aren't convinced the frank-talk approach is appropriate for young teens.

Discussing her friend "Emma," Ashley says, "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."

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."

Following Ashley's narrative is a warning that "the physical and emotional effects of oral sex are similar to intercourse," along with tips for dealing with friends who are engaging in the practice.

[Revelation 911]

I think all 3 of us, since we have the same mindset, are in near-complete agreement.

group hug ?

[alwaysontheright]

"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."

Well Said.

I would be very concerned if there was a message being laid out that was contrary to scripture. The fact is we live in a fallen world, and our kids are going to be bombarded with things like this on a daily basis. Haven't had a chance to really study it yet, but from what I have seen the messages from the portions in question is to stand up boldly for what the word of God teaches.

[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.

[olde north church]

Ezekiel 23:
Yeah, let's worry about oral sex being "jazzed up"

[scripter]

What's up with Zondervan?

This is bigger than I have time to get into.

I remember reading something about Zondervan being owned by Harper Collins, which may explain what's going on. Then again, it may not be related. I'm sure there are some who will use this to attack the NIV, of which Zondervan holds "exclusive North American publishing rights"...

I would have to read what's really going on here... Here's a link to about Zondervan.

[pro610]

Here is a good Christian link that goes into depth on Zondervan,s Teen Bible.
You can tell a tree by it,s roots.
Zondervan and Harper Collins tree is rotting in hell!
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Bible/niv_teen_study_bible_exposed.htm

[SuziQ]

Can we at least agree to call premarital sex a sin?

I believe that's what the article was trying to convey. The Teen Bible talked about these activities to let the kids know that sexual activity outside of marriage is sinful and that oral sex IS sexual activity. They are hearing, out in the world, that it is NOT sex, so maybe they're confused about the nature of the activity. They need to be guided, that's the whole point, not only about sex, but lots of other activities that are sinful that have nothing to do with sex.

[pro610]

Here is a bunch of links I posted on the forum involving Rick Warren.
Yes, all of this is very big,and people are getting confused with the attack on the NIV Bible.
The problem is with the New versions of the Niv Bible,Not the old versions.
The new versions have been changed since Zondervan became a subsiderary of Harper Collins.
All of this goes even deeper then what I just stated.
here is the link
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1362565/posts?page=111#111

[unlearner]

"But, the reality is girls (and boys) this age are talking about and doing this stuff. We can either shelter them from it completely by keeping them at home, killing the tv, not letting them have any friends. Or we can confront the issues where they are."

It needs to be discussed WITH DISCRETION at appropriate maturity levels by parents or someone the parents trust.

You can read the whole article and click the link to the official "Bible" website. It is very clear to me the claims of this article are true.

The discussions they are including is pornographic. The Bible avoids graphic descriptions of sexual sins.

Eph.5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

2Pet.2:8 For that righteous man (Lot) dwelling among them (Sodom and Gomorrah), in SEEING and HEARING, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.

The same thing is happening to righteous people today. Look what happened to Lot. He lost his wife, and his daughters were corrupted by living in that place. He originally moved there because it was a nicer place to live. He was even a well-respected leader of the place. Yet look at what it cost him.

The Bible teaches to confess and expose sins, but not to relive them with graphic pictures and words (seeing and hearing, as the earlier verse mentions). It is enough to name a sin (the name God gives it). It is enough to say, "I committed... adultery, or theft, or murder." It is not appropriate to go into details about how the sin was committed ("I saw such and such beautiful features of this women with such and such colored hair and a lovely tan and wearing such and such that went all the way to...")

This pseudo-bible does the latter, and is targeted toward young, vulnerable girls.

I intend to bring this to the attention of my local church. And any believers I know will be encouraged to /avoid buying anything from Zondervan (including the NIV), because these people are not helping the cause of Christ.

[unlearner]

I agree, and I think your friends sleepover policy is wise. You can hardly be too cautious these days about your children, even when it comes to professing Christian homes. They may be well intentioned, but society is now inundated with perversion - now even in their "Bibles".

[Corin Stormhands]

It needs to be discussed WITH DISCRETION at appropriate maturity levels by parents or someone the parents trust.

Agreed. But just from reading the article and this thread you can see too many parents who would just bury their heads in the sand. The reality is in today's culture that if you wait for the "appropriate maturity level" to discuss some of these things, then you're way too late.

Like I said, I haven't seen this work, so I won't endorse OR condemn it.

My point is that any parent or youth leader who thinks this material is too graphic, too mature for 13-16 year-olds isn't paying attention.

And BTW, I read the article. I saw no reference to graphic pictures.

[pro610]

AMEN!
Don,t forget to include Harper Collins.
Harper Collins Avon is the publisher of the Satanic Bible.
In case you did not know already.

[unlearner]

"My point is that any parent or youth leader who thinks this material is too graphic, too mature for 13-16 year-olds isn't paying attention."

Disagree. I would not want "frank discussions" of teenage girls engaged in oral sex in my own Bible, let alone a thirteen year old's. The examples cited in this article are more than enough to indict Zondervan for publishing this garbage.

When I work with children at AWANA's who are learning Bible verses, I would not want them to pull this version off of a shelf and come across this garbage either.

The notes contained in this Bible will not help parents who "bury their heads in the sand". It will even sneak into families who otherwise vigilantly guard their young children from being exposed to these explicit details of perversion.

[unlearner]

I was unaware of that. Thanks for the info. I see there are some popular authors by this publisher.

[Corin Stormhands]

Disagree. I would not want "frank discussions" of teenage girls engaged in oral sex in my own Bible, let alone a thirteen year old's.

Would I want them to have those frank discussions? No, of course not.

Are they having them anyway? You're darn right they are. And it had darn well better be the church and the family that is out there shaping those opinions.

This book may not be the answer. I've said several times on this thread that I'm not endorsing it. And I'll not buy it becuase I don't have daughters. And of course it's not something you should just have sitting around on a shelf in the Sunday School class room. That's just silly.

But to just blanketly say that we shouldn't be having these discussions because they're "inappropriate" is just living in denial.

Wake up. Kids, yes even the "good Christian kids" are talking about and are doing this stuff. Yes, even the children whose parents "vigilantly guard" them from this perversion.

And shame on us if we refuse to talk to them about it because it makes us uncomfortable.

[SuziQ]

And shame on us if we refuse to talk to them about it because it makes us uncomfortable.

Yeah, it's tough, but it has to be done, otherwise the kids are clueless as to the moral response to the things they see out in the world, and even among their Christian friends.

[unlearner]

"And of course it's not something you should just have sitting around on a shelf in the Sunday School class room. That's just silly."

Is it more silly than having to screen and censor the Bibles people bring to church?

Should people attending church have to worry about whether their child might be sharing a Bible with someone who innocently brought a "Bible" that contains this kind of content.

Just look at their website. It is all about marketing. At least movies, music and video games have parental advisories on them. This does not. It just looks sweet and innocent (until you discover what is cleverly hidden within its pages).

If someone wants to publish a frank discussion of sexual issues AND appropriately label it so that those reading it can be forewarned, I would not feel so strongly. But this is just plain evil.

I understand you are not advocating the book, but I think you are not considering the big picture either.

Yes, children are engaging in these things. Many of them come from Christian homes. At issue is that the church is no longer influencing the societal standards. The world is now influencing the church.

These issues need to be dealt with, just not in the way this book does. This book makes perversion a normative condition. Yet Biblically it is not even normal for unregenerate mankind to engage in perversion.

Rom.1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is AGAINST NATURE.

Jude.10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know NATURALLY, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

[AnnaZ]

Without guidance, the Bible is easily misinterpreted. Thats why the Catechism of the Catholic Church Holy Spirit is such a good book to have handy when reading the Bible.

= )

[timtoews5292004]

Exactly. People read the article thread title and didnt bother to read the actual article. The translation doesnt give the free pass on the activity. It clearly shows from the article that it condemns the activities as wrong, but in a narrative that a teen would understand. that is all.

[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.