Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

PETA Wants More Animal-Friendly Language In Bible
Gothamist ^ | March 26, 2011 | Ben Yakas

Posted on 03/26/2011 4:38:57 PM PDT by NYer

32511peta.jpg

After they heard that the latest translation of the New International Version of the Bible will now use gender-inclusive language such as "he or she" instead of just "he", PETA saw an opportunity to change one other thing. The organization has petitioned the Committee on Bible Translation to suggest that its next translation remove "speciesist" language, by referring to animals as "he or she" instead of "it." “When the Bible moves toward inclusively in one area...it wasn’t much of a stretch to suggest they move toward inclusively in this area. Language matters. Calling an animal 'it' denies them something. They are beloved by God. They glorify God," Bruce Friedrich, PETA's vice president for policy, told CNN.

PETA said it hopes the switch to include more gender-inclusive language will spark translators to readdress the ways animals are referred to in the Bible. "Updating the Bible's language regarding animals would not only reflect modern writing trends but also reinforce the idea that animals are living beings valued by God, not inanimate objects. Jesus taught us the importance of mercy and compassion, and this update would encourage mercy and compassion for all God's creatures—including those who have feathers, fins, and fur," Friedrich wrote.

But David Berger, the dean of Yeshiva University’s Bernard Revel graduate school of Jewish studies, said shifting the language would be difficult, given the original Hebrew: "In Hebrew all nouns are gender-specific. So the noun for chair is masculine and the noun for earth is feminine. There’s simply no such thing as a neutral noun. It’s unusual to have a noun that would indicate the sex of the animal."

David Lyle Jeffrey, a professor at Baylor University who teaches about ancient texts and the Bible's relationship to literature and the arts, sympathizes with PETA, but isn't sure if it would be true to the text: "When you get to the point when you say, 'Don’t say it, say he or she' when the text doesn’t, you’re both screwing up the text and missing the main point you addressed."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: 2insane4words; bible; childhoodwithoutend; peta
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 next last
To: NYer

I deeply love animals. I’m looking for the right volunteer opportunity in my area to work with them, especially top-tier carnivores.

That said- you do not screw around with The Word. We are specifically admonished against that. It doesn’t matter what positive effect you think it will have.

No. Just no.


21 posted on 03/26/2011 5:12:55 PM PDT by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: scorchedearther
The Holy Bible is the Bible as passed down through each successive generation and not one word of it should be changed for to do so would be committing an unforgivable sacrilege and blasphemy.

Wow, I am very impressed. You read the Old Testament in the origial Hebrew and Aramaic, and the New Testament in the original Greek!

22 posted on 03/26/2011 5:13:47 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: NYer
Don't worry PETA, you have friends in the right places. After our friends from the National Council of Churches are done with the soon to be released gender and gay friendly bible, they will work on the new animal worship edition.

This is not a joke as many of these churches are welcoming pets to partake in the sacraments and allowing them in worship.

23 posted on 03/26/2011 5:14:54 PM PDT by Archie Bunker on steroids (The fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

PETA - shove up your smelly Obama.


24 posted on 03/26/2011 5:15:02 PM PDT by Da Coyote
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer
PETA Wants More Animal-Friendly Language In Bible

Cool - right after they get them to do the same for the Koran - seeya!

25 posted on 03/26/2011 5:17:08 PM PDT by Caipirabob ( Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Why should PETA members care of what is written in the Bible?

The gays are still combing through the Bible to find a quote that could justify their viewpoint on same-sex sex.


26 posted on 03/26/2011 5:19:23 PM PDT by 353FMG (The M1911 is mightier than the sword.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Why on earth is there a person in a state of total undress in the heading?


27 posted on 03/26/2011 5:21:18 PM PDT by Celtic Cross (Some minds are like cement; thoroughly mixed up and permanently set...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer
The folks at NIV will be happy to oblige I am sure.


"I am Alicia Silverstone and I am a naked ho skank"
28 posted on 03/26/2011 5:22:52 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mikrofon

They see humans that way


29 posted on 03/26/2011 5:23:52 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: NYer

They’re two thousand years too late.

It’s already been written.


30 posted on 03/26/2011 5:26:55 PM PDT by Iron Munro ("Our country's founders cherished liberty, not democracy." -- Ron Paul)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThisLittleLightofMine

I like the NASB. The one that gives me the willies is the NIB, and it seems everyone uses it.

As far as the topic is concerned, most of the animals in the OT are discussed as possessions or sacrifices.


31 posted on 03/26/2011 5:30:57 PM PDT by I still care (I miss my friends, bagels, and the NYC skyline - but not the taxes. I love the South.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: scorchedearther

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Rev. Chap. 22 Verse 19


32 posted on 03/26/2011 5:31:41 PM PDT by MagnoliaB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Let’s first start with a friendlier environment in the womb.


33 posted on 03/26/2011 5:39:49 PM PDT by Gene Eric (*** Jesus ***)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RetiredArmy

I’ll stick wit the same Bible Jesus used, the King James!

/s

Ed


34 posted on 03/26/2011 5:41:36 PM PDT by Sir_Ed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: NYer

PETA and NOW should get together and visit several mosques, and tell them they need to change the Koran.


35 posted on 03/26/2011 5:44:36 PM PDT by airborne (Paratroopers - Good to the last drop!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer
Forget the animals in the Bible. Torahs are written on an animal. Hah! Take that PETA.
36 posted on 03/26/2011 5:52:13 PM PDT by Poison Pill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RegulatorCountry

Is PETA still the largest organization that euthanizes animals or did they farm that out to a third party after they where exposed?


37 posted on 03/26/2011 6:03:10 PM PDT by Zeneta (Why are so many people searching for something that has already found us ?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Jack Hammer
Someone please tell me - is the world going abso-effing-lutely nuts, or is it just me?

"Quem deus vult perdere, dementat prius."

38 posted on 03/26/2011 6:03:52 PM PDT by sionnsar (IranAzadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5:SONY|http://pure-gas.org|Must be a day for changing taglines)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: NYer

It may come as a shock to PETA but after Adam and Eve realized they were naked, God made them clothes from animals.

Yep, God Himself made the first fur coat.


39 posted on 03/26/2011 6:07:20 PM PDT by Graybeard58 (Of course Obama loves his country. The thing is, Sarah loves mine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

PETA is a group of people who practice a false religion of self and animal worship...they have zero input to the Holy Bible of the Creator of those very animals and might as well shut the hell up.


40 posted on 03/26/2011 6:08:06 PM PDT by ICE-FLYER (God bless and keep the United States of America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson