A book claiming to be the world’s first ‘gay bible’ has been
published to coincide with the debate on same-séx marriageTitled the
‘Queen James Bible’, its editors claim that it is a re-working of the
King James Bible translated in a way that ‘prevents homophobic
misinterpretation of God’s Word’.
‘Homoséxuality was first overtly mentioned in the Bible in 1946 in
the Revised Standard Version. There is no mention of or reference to
homoséxuality in any Bible prior to this only interpretations have been
made’, the book’s official website said.
KING V QUEEN: BIBLES COMPARED
Genesis 19:5 (King James) ‘And they called unto Lot, and said unto
him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out
unto us, that we may know them.’
Genesis 19:5 (Queen James) ‘And they called unto Lot, and said unto
him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out
unto us, that we may rape and humiliate them’
Timothy 1:10 (King James) ‘For whoremongers, for them that defile
themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured
persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound
doctrine’
Timothy 1:10 (Queen James) ‘For whoremongers, for them that defile
themselves, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if
there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine’
Jude 1:7 (King James)’ ‘Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities
about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and
going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the
vengeance of eternal fire’
Jude 1:7 (Queen James) ‘Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities
about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and
going after nonhuman flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the
vengeance of eternal fire’
The publication, printed and bound in the U.S. is timed to coincide
with the current debate over same-séx marriage. The sales pitch on the
website says: ‘You cant choose your séxuality, but you can choose Jesus.
Now you can choose a Bible, too’. The book is on sale online but does
not advertise its origins, with no specific publisher, editor or
translator listed by name on it’s offical website. ‘God’ is listed as
the author and ‘Jesus Christ’ a contributor.
Douglas J. Moo, Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College
and a professional Bible translator, told The Christian Post that the
Queen James editors’ assessment of past translations is not entirely
accurate.
‘Few, if any English translations use the actual words
‘homoséxuality’ or ‘homoséxual.’ But the history of English translation
shows that versions have consistently used other language to refer to
what we would call homoséxual relationships’, said Mr Moo.‘For instance,
the King James Version of Romans 1:27 refers to ‘men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men
with men working that which is unseemly. ‘It would be very difficult to
deny that this language, and the language found in many other places in
both the OT and the NT, refers to homoséxuality.’
A Vicar in New Zealand, meanwhile, has caused outrage by putting up a
poster outside his church in Auckland, New Zealand, that claims Jesus
was gay. ‘It’s Christmas. Time for Jesus to come out’, the sign
proclaims, with an image of baby Jesus as a toddler in a manger,
surrounded by a rainbow halo.
Reverend Glynn Cardy of St Matthew in the City church, said that, as
homoséxuality was not a word until the 1800s, any mention of it in the
Bible or other documents would have mistranslations. He points out that
there is no indication about Jesus’s séxuality: ‘The fact is we don’t
know what his séxual orientation was.’
His attempts at challenging the status quo were defended by fellow
Reverend Clay Nelson who said the billboard tried to humanise Jesus by
getting people to think about the challenges he would have had growing
up.
He added: ‘Some scholars have tried to make the case that he might
have been gay. ‘But it is all conjécture. Maybe gay, maybe not. Does it
matter? ‘There is almost nothing in the record of his teachings about
séxuality while there is plenty about the perils of being rich.
Certainly he always supported the marginalised in society.’
[NGDaily] A prostituté in Bulowayo, Zimbabwe, is bringing new
meaning to the term “killer séx” after authorities thought she died
during an encounter with a customer.
