Posted on 05/28/2021 8:01:58 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Zondervan and HarperCollins will not publish or manufacture a version of the Bible that would feature various patriotic American documents for the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, contrary to concerns expressed online.
Earlier this month, Meagan Clark of Religion Unplugged wrote an article reporting that the Michigan-based international Christian media and publishing company was “in talks” to release the God Bless the USA Bible on the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks that killed thousands of Americans in 2001.
This Bible version will reportedly include the lyrics to the 1984 song “God Bless the USA,” the U.S. States Constitution, the Pledge of Allegiance and other historic American documents.
But Casey Francis Harrell, senior director of corporate communications at HarperCollins, Zondervan's parent company, stated in an email to The Christian Post on Thursday that the publisher had no plans to release the controversial version of the Bible.
“Zondervan is not publishing, manufacturing or selling the ‘God Bless the USA Bible,’” read the statement, which noted that nothing had been finalized between the two parties.
“While we were asked for a manufacturing quote, ultimately the project was not a fit for either party, and the website and marketing of the NIV project were premature.”
As of Thursday morning, the Bible version is being promoted on a website and can be pre-ordered for $49.99. Copies are expected to be shipped in late September.
The initial report about the possibility of the God Bless the USA Bible being released prompted backlash online, including a petition backed by more than 900 signatories.
“Zondervan/HarperCollins has a been a great blessing to Christian publishing for many years. But a forthcoming volume damages this fine record,” the petition reads.
“This is a toxic mix that will exacerbate the challenges to American evangelicalism, adding fuel to the Christian nationalism and anti-Muslim sentiments found in many segments of the evangelical church.”
In addition, authors who had had works published by Zondervan expressed concern over the possibility of the God Bless the USA Bible being published. They include Shane Claiborne of Red Letter Christians, progressive evangelical Pastor Doug Pagitt, activist and speaker Lisa Sharon Harper, New York Times bestselling author Jemar Tisby and Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism Soong-Chan Rah of North Park University in Chicago.
In an opinion column published by Religion Unplugged earlier this week, the same authors expressed support for the news that Zondervan was not going to publish the Bible version.
“This is not the first time there has been an attempt to fuse American nationalism with the holy book — in fact Thomas Nelson released ‘The American Patriot’s Bible’ over a decade ago, which was a very similar project,” they wrote.
“But what is new is a growing awareness of how dangerous nationalism is when coupled with faith," they added. "After all, the Bible does not say ‘God bless America.’ It says, ‘God so loved the world.’”
The God Bless the USA Bible is a product of a company called Elite Source Pro. The company's president, Hugh Kirkpatrick, had earlier confirmed to Religion Unplugged that Zondervan awarded the licensing for the Bible.
The website reported that the idea for the Bible version was formed when Kirkpatrick and his friends heard complaints from homeschool parents that public schools aren't requiring students to read and understand the U.S. Constitution or the Bill of Rights. Additionally, Kirkpatrick claimed that famous American symbols were increasingly being seen as "weaponized tools of the Republican party."
That was in the original Bible in the first century?
RE: That was in the original Bible in the first century?
No, I think the intent was to FEATURE those Documents that have bearing on America’s founding and the Bible verses that INFLUENCED the ideas behind them.
Someone is forgetting Revelation 22:18:
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.
That will probably keep my Geneva Bible, Patriots edition value continuing up...
I bought mine used for $28 just over a year ago and then went to find one for my mom in October for her birthday and they were $125... Just looked last night and they are going for $150 to 250 on ebay and these are all used bibles.
It has our constitution and other historical founding documents included as well as George Washington’s prayer.
Uh huh... these same “Christians” who profess that homosexuality and adultery and sexual sin and even lying are a-ok in God’s eyes attack actual history because it offends their “progressive” sensibilities.
BS.
These people are apostates.
Zondervan and HarperCollins will not publish or manufacture a version of the Bible that would feature various patriotic American documents for the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, contrary to concerns expressed online.
Appalling idea.
sounds patriotic. kill it.
I suggest you visit Barnes & Noble or a Christian book store to discover themed Bible or online. They've been around for decades and I have never heard anyone quote from additional content thinking it was the Bible.
“This is not the first time there has been an attempt to fuse American nationalism with the holy book — in fact Thomas Nelson released ‘The American Patriot’s Bible’ over a decade ago, which was a very similar project,” they wrote. “But what is new is a growing awareness of how dangerous nationalism is when coupled with faith," they added. "After all, the Bible does not say ‘God bless America.’ It says, ‘God so loved the world.’”
The above seems to be the crux of the controversy surrounding this Bible addition, but somehow up to this point no one on this thread seems to have picked up on it or commented on it.
The effect of convincing believers that patriotism is un-Godly, whether intended or not, is to weaken America and make her easier to destroy.
Progressive evangelical Pastor Doug Pagitt sounds like a Marxist in clerical garments. You can’t be a “progressive” and be a solid Christian (I’m Jewish by the way) because as David Horowitz writes, “A Progressive just an authoritarian trying to get out” or something close to that quote.
That “authoritanian” is a “Marxist” or “Liberation Theology Marxist”. Now you are getting “Critical Race Theory” Marxist promoters/practicionners who are substituting “teaching racial division and preclusion” instead of “racial understanding and tolerance”.
These “progressive” Christians are nothing but ‘Red Wolves in Sheeps’ Clothing’ and certainly not promoting the call of Jesus for unity under God.
“Progressives” hate and that is not being a good Christian, Jew, Moslem, Hindu, or Buddhist.
What about maps, concordances, and various types of indexes added to the printed Bible...would you ban those too?
Perfectly stated.
Too late. You could print and sell 75 million of this edition and it wouldn’t divert America from its collision course with the Almighty. Too much damage has been done to avoid His judgement.
Ironically I was just told tonight by another poster God doesn’t bless America
At least he holds no covenant with us
I thought and you know this for certain how exactly ?
Wow, "more than 900" whole signatories - that's gotta be like most of the Christians in the world! /s
I can’t say with certainty, but I doubt anyone was going to include them as in the original Bible—To be included more as addendums...sort of like an annotated or study bible where there are supporting texts etc...
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