Posted on 06/24/2004 7:21:03 AM PDT by take
New Bible translation promotes fornication Archbishop of Canterbury praises version for 'extraordinary power'
A brand-new translation of the Bible – praised by Britain's archbishop of Canterbury, that nation’s senior Christian voice – flatly contradicts traditional core Christian beliefs on sex and morality.
Titled "Good as New," the new Bible is translated by former Baptist minister John Henson for the "One" organization, to produce what the group calls a "new, fresh and adventurous" translation of the Christian scriptures.
Archbishop Rowan Williams
The 104th archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams – leader of the Church of England – describes it is a book of "extraordinary power," but admitted many would be startled by its content.
"Instead of condemning fornicators, adulterers and 'abusers of themselves with mankind'," says Ruth Gledhill, the London Times religious affairs correspondent, "the new version of his first letter to Corinth has St. Paul advising Christians not to go without sex for too long in case they get 'frustrated.'"
SPONSORED LINKS The New York Times - as Low as $2.90 Get world-class reporting and coverage you can't find anywhere else of local, national and world news for as little as $2.90 a week with The New York Times. Get started now. www.nytimes.com/sb-subscription
Free Trial Issue: Stocks & Commodities Magazine Stay informed with market news, information, resources, and expert advice from one of the top traders' magazines. Receive your first year's subscription for the low introductory rate of $49.95. www.traders.com
"The new version, which Dr. Williams says he hopes will spread 'in epidemic profusion through religious and irreligious alike', turns St. Paul's strictures against fornication on their head," adds the Times.
The One organization that produced the new Bible translation is dedicated to "establish[ing] peace, justice, dignity and rights for all." It is also focused on "sustainable use of the earth's resources," challenging "oppression, injustice, exclusion and discrimination" as well as accepting "one another, valuing their diversity and experience."
According to Ekklesia, a London-based "theological think tank" that supports the "One" translation:
The translation is pioneering in its accessibility, and changes the original Greek and Hebrew nomenclature into modern nicknames. St. Peter becomes "Rocky," Mary Magdalene becomes "Maggie," Aaron becomes "Ron," Andronicus becomes "Andy" and Barabbas becomes "Barry." In keeping with the times, translator Henson deftly translates "demon possession" as "mental illness" and "Son of Man," the expression Jesus frequently used to describe himself, as "the Complete Person." In addition, parables are rendered as "riddles," baptize is to "dip" in water, salvation becomes "healing" or "completeness" and Heaven becomes "the world beyond time and space."
Here's how Williams, the top Anglican archbishop, describes the new Bible: "Instead of being taken into a specialized religious frame of reference – as happens even with the most conscientious of formal modern translations – and being given a gospel addressed to specialized concerns … we have here a vehicle for thinking and worshipping that is fully earthed, recognizably about our humanity."
In addition, notes Ekklesia, the archbishop praises Henson's translation for eliminating "the stale, the technical, the unconsciously exclusive words and policies" in other translations.
Here, according to the London Times, are a few sample passages:
Mark 1:4
Authorized version: "John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins."
New: "John, nicknamed 'The Dipper,' was 'The Voice.' He was in the desert, inviting people to be dipped, to show they were determined to change their ways and wanted to be forgiven."
Mark 1:10-11
Authorized version: "And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. And there came a voice from the heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
New: "As he was climbing up the bank again, the sun shone through a gap in the clouds. At the same time a pigeon flew down and perched on him. Jesus took this as a sign that God's spirit was with him. A voice from overhead was heard saying, 'That's my boy! You're doing fine!'"
Matthew 23:25
Authorized version: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"
New version: "Take a running jump, Holy Joes, humbugs!"
Matthew 26:69-70
Authorized version: "Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, 'Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.' But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest."
New: "Meanwhile Rocky was still sitting in the courtyard. A woman came up to him and said: 'Haven't I seen you with Jesus, the hero from Galilee?" Rocky shook his head and said: 'I don't know what the hell you're talking about!'"
1 Corinthians 7:1-2
KJV: "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."
New: "Some of you think the best way to cope with sex is for men and women to keep right away from each other. That is more likely to lead to sexual offences. My advice is for everyone to have a regular partner."
1 Corinthians 7:8-7
KJV: "I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."
New: "If you know you have strong needs, get yourself a partner. Better than being frustrated
This so called "gospel" is Gnostic heresy. This book is not Christian. But the DaVinci Code fans will eat this up.
Only in the loosest sense. That would be like calling me "Red" or "Foxy" or even "Tricky" because my first name is Russell which means "like a fox". Although these names are all acceptable based on the meaning of the word Russell, doesn't mean they are accurate.
Shoult not the queen step in and do something? She is head of the english church.
Good point. It's HER church, then she can authorize/condemn any bible she feels like.
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables....
:-) well I see hellin is in fine form today!
meanwhile yes, there is a significant Anglican community of freepers representing just about every part of North American Anglicanism as well as several foreign countries. As to what's going on, well, as one who is known for oversimplifying theological stuff let me put it this way: The majority of the Anglican Communion (which by the way is *not* caucasian) led by the Primates (i.e. senior archbishops) from the Southern Hemisphere have let it be known that if the various heretics among the more developed portions of the Northern Hemisphere are not disciplined by the end of this year, the entire Southern Hemisphere contingent, along with any of us Christian Anglicans who want to tag along are out of here. There's an ongoing study that's supposed to find a way to paper this all over (if it does, it will be ignored by our side) that's supposed to report back by the end of September. Leaks from the Eames Commission, as it's known, seem to indicate that the queazy moderates have discovered that there is no way to verbally placate either side, so we'll probably see something that still ends up splitting the Anglican Communion...though exactly how remains to be seen.
In the meantime the heretical elements in the U.S. and Canada have, in some places, taken to openly persecuting the good guys; several of the Southern Hemisphere Provinces are openly supporting mission activities in the US and Canada, and life gets more interesting by the day.
If you want to get a better idea of just how much is going on I suggest you do a search on the Religion Forum for the following keywords: "Anglican,apostasy,heresy,homosexual" . Just be prepared to do some reading, because you'll find there's a substantial ammount of material in the freeper archives on this topic.
Also, if you or anyone you know wants to be added to the Anglican Ping List, just freepmail me and let me know.
You asked "Shoult not the queen step in and do something? She is head of the english church."
well yes and no. Technically she's the head, but the problem is that for the last two centuries the British Royals have had a largely 'hands off' policy in trying to correct problems in the C of E. Moreover this current abortive mistranslation is really only the symptom of a larger disease - if HM were going to do something effective she'd have to start at the top and remove Rowan the fuzzy as ABC. However to even attempt to do that would cause *major* problems in the political and social structures that make up the modern day UK. About the only way she'll be able to get away with it is if Rowan & co do not find a way to hold the Anglican Communion together; and even then what will probably happen will be Rowan goes into an early retirement.
Constitutional monarchies are a pain, especially for the monarchs.
Find later bump
Still, I agree that translating it as "Rocky" is not appropriate given everything we associated with the name. The play on words can be clarified in a footnote.
You probably just ruined my spirituality for every baptismal service I attend for the rest of my life.
Who will rid me of this meddlesome Priest?
Thomas, Thomas, Thomas. Everyone TALKS about Thomas, but no one ever DOES anything about him!
I wasn't finished with my morning caffeine fix yet and thought about that after I wrote it. What I was thinking was that some folks are going to use the word "partner" without considering the context; and nothing will matter to those folks as they'll read whatever they want into it.
this is not a 'translation'. it is a vulgar, loose 'interpretation'.
If they're not going to follow the letter, then perhaps they should at least honor the spirit of the writing.
This is just pap.
you are being far too kind... on the other hand, it looks like a laugh-riot.
Archbishop of Canterbury breaks silence on same-sex marriage
By Ivan H. Golden
Staff Writer
June 19, 2004
GREENWICH -- In his first public comments on the same-sex marriage controversy that has divided the Anglican Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams expressed solidarity last night with the American Episcopal Church. But he stopped short of taking sides in the divisive issue.
"I'm well aware of the crossroads at which we stand," Williams said to an audience of more than 400 people during a fund-raiser at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich.
Williams said he wanted to make two points about the controversy: First, he said, "the present difficulties would feel a lot more difficult were it not for the immense love and generosity shown to me by (the American Episcopal Church)."
Second, Williams said his experience on Sept. 11, 2001 -- when he was caught in lower Manhattan only blocks from the World Trade Center -- had "made it difficult to feel estranged from the struggles of the Episcopal Church in the United States."
The American Episcopal Church has been at odds for more than a year with many Anglican churches worldwide over the Episcopal Church's support for same-sex unions and its vote to elect a gay man, Gene Robinson, as bishop of New Hampshire.
The archbishop of Canterbury, viewed as the worldwide leader of the Anglican Communion, had made no public mention of the controversy until last night, according to several bishops and pastors who attended last night's $1,200-a-plate fund-raiser.
In a brief interview after his speech, Williams declined to talk more about the issue. "I don't think I want to go into that," he said.
Many pastors and bishops who attended the fund-raiser said they were relieved to hear Williams publicly acknowledge the controversy. And at least one, Canon Harold Lewis of Calvary Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., said he wished Williams had gone further.
"Many of us, in fact, felt he should have said more," Lewis said. "I think many of us in the Episcopal Church are feeling a little tenuous right now."
But others said Williams' comments struck the right note, particularly given his responsibilities as the worldwide leader of the Anglican Communion.
"I was very grateful that he did bring that up," said the Rev. Jeffrey Walker of Christ Church in Greenwich. "But I'm also grateful that he didn't spend the whole evening on that."
Although the allusion to the same-sex marriage debate was the most surprising aspect of Williams' remarks, the vast majority of the archbishop's 45-minute speech concerned the role of the Anglican Communion and other religious and human-rights groups in the United Nations.
Last night's fund-raiser was expected to raise $400,000 to $500,000 for the Anglican Communion Observer to the United Nations.
The Anglican Observer, a nonvoting representative to the United Nations, lobbies U.N. members on behalf of Anglican issues and Anglican people worldwide. The position was created in 1985.
In his prepared remarks last night, Williams contrasted religious and nonprofit groups, which he said serve the interests of human rights, with U.N. member states, which often bow to political and national concerns before considering human rights, he said.
"There is an urgent need," he said, "for a global, moral perspective."
Andrew Smith, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, said Williams' speech laid out, "a clear vision of the role of religion in helping bring about world peace."
Archbishop of Canterbury is gay
It was by an Ex-Baptist minister. The think tank he did the work for, the "One organization" sounds like something Soros might pay for.
The One organization that produced the new Bible translation is dedicated to "establish[ing] peace, justice, dignity and rights for all." It is also focused on "sustainable use of the earth's resources," challenging "oppression, injustice, exclusion and discrimination" as well as accepting "one another, valuing their diversity and experience."
Other real titles by the same author John Henson:
The Bad Acts of the Apostles - described as "An unusual approach to the study of Acts"
The Gethsemane streaker
Other Temptations of Christ: Lenten Studies for Adventurous Christians
Other Communions of Jesus - "The Christian meal stands at the centre of worship in most Christian traditions. But have we been doing it right?"
They are listed on this website for the "One Translation" people to whom he belongs: http://one.gn.apc.org/Whatwedo.htm
http://one.gn.apc.org/Translation.htm#Matthew
"THE ONE TRANSLATION - The earliest Christian writings in genuinely contemporary language
The ONE translation aims at a new, fresh and adventurous translation of the early Christian scriptures. It is designed both for mature Christians who wish to live in the new millennium and for those who have limited experience of traditional Christianity or may have found it a barrier to an appreciation of Jesus."
The Archbishop of Canterbury has already written the Foreward of another book by John Henson this year called "The Other Temptations of Christ: Lenten Studies for Adventurous Christians ". This blows the theory that he doesn't know what's in the books.
http://www.thegoodbookstall.org.uk/sect_lent_and_easter.html#1830
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.