So, in the same day that I learn of the existance of a gender inclusive verison of the NIV (YAY!!!!! OH RAPTUROUS JOY AND DELIGHT!!!) I also discover it is being pulled from the shelves because certain major, male players in fundamentalist camp - Dobson, et al - are pitching a fit (BOO! HISS!!! WRATH AND WOE!).
I am utterly heartbroken.
I discovered this distressing fact on Her.meneutics - a women's blog designed to focus on issues important to Christan women. The blogger, however, Karen Beaty, alleges that the loss of this gender inclusive Bible "won't mean that much, actually."
Really?....Um....can we say showdown? ;)
I couldn't resist replying: I'm # 2 on the board, Lol.
I find this sort of sentiment absolutely infuriating - especially coming from a woman. Please, please, PLEASE go there; read this article for yourself. Better yet, go visit Zondervan's website afterwards and tell them just what you think about the course they're on. Regretfully, this decision is yet another classic, heart-rending example of why feminism is still needed and relevant (especially in the Christian sector!) We, of all people, are supposed to be promoting equality, justice, and Christ's love.
Answer me one question, Karen Beaty: How does this recent turn of events accomplish that?
Enlighten me.
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3 comments:
You are fiesty as always and I love you for it! You are ABSOLUTELY right. I completely agree with your response. Translation is HUGE in any type of literature and that much more important when faith and morality are derived from that work.
First of all, your argument that bad things have been done being justified by the old way of translating is bogus. Sure, its happened, but bad people will use anything to justify their doings - including a PC translation.
Second of all, a gender neutral translation isn't going to make the Ephesians 5 and Corinthians verses go away. And these verses are the ones that have been so abused over the years.
Third of all, a gender neutral translation already exists in the Tyndale New Living Translation (NLT). Its just not in wide use. No surprise there, really, because translations are very hard to replace. Check out baptists and their stubborn use of the kjv.
OK, so I have this question.
You argued on that site that a gender neutral translation should be accepted based on the assertion that women have been abused with the justification of scripture.
You even used a verse that comes from the translations you have an issue with to prove your point that everyone is created equal.
I'm not in disagreement with you on this point, but do tell me - what makes WOMEN so special that they should be the ONLY demographic that has scripture translations changed because they have been abused by it?
Last time I checked, the Bible still talks about slaves - no matter the translation. In fact, those verses that Christian Feminists have such a big issue with include "Slaves, obey your masters". Slavery was justified via scripture, and yet we never changed the translation so that people can stop doing that.
WHY are women so special to think THEY are justified in having a translation that removes a self-inflicted assumption that scripture says women are worthless?
Having a gender neutral translation is NOT going to make bad guys stop beating their wives. Its not going to keep misogynistic jerks from thinking women are nothing.
You wanna know why? Two reasons -
First, if they really care about what the bible says, they can completely disavow any translation that proves them wrong.
Second, people will use ANYTHING to justify what they do.
You can't prevent people from ignoring verses that are right there - like your Galatians verses.
I can't prevent you from strongly disagreeing with the Ephesians verses.
If you think verses have been badly translated to subjugate women, what's to keep the mysoginistic prick from thinking that Galatians verse was poorly translated to give women more worth than they deserve? What's to keep the rascist from believing that the Galatians verse was poorly translated to give black men more worth then they deserve?
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