Couple of days ago I finished my grand project of 2008. I can now say that I have actually read the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. It was a great quest, one that has left me with even more questions than I had initially. (I took that as a good sign.)
Apart from having a better grasp of the Bible, the most important lesson I have learned is that very often translators simply cannot be trusted. Being a translator myself the notion hardly surprised me: innocent mistakes are made and personal judgments are often wrong. But for some reason I expected the Bible translators to subscribe to particularly high standards, unattainable to us mere mortals, the Bible being sacred writ and all. For instance, one would normally not expect to find bits and pieces deliberately mistranslated for the purpose of turning the Bible into a weapon in the ongoing culture wars. Right?
I started with this project in the spring and for that purpose I had bought the lovely designed English Standard Version (ESV) Journaling Bible. I have blogged about this edition earlier, uncritically and with some naivete. I still love it for its extra wide margins for personal journal entries and, more importantly, for the way it reads. Anyone used to the language of the Revised Standard Version or its celebrated ancestor, the King James Version, is likely to be happy with the ESV. Others might complain that its English sounds a bit unnatural and awkward. However, that is a matter of personal taste resulting from being steeped into a particular tradition.
But then came the famous "clobber passages" and the infamous insertion of words, phrases and concepts that simply are not there in the original languages. Basically, depending on where they (or, rather, their financiers) stand, translators will resort to pretty much anything to prove their ideological point. I am not being fair to real translators. People behind the ESV were involved in an adaptation, not translation. Besides, most of them are not known to be linguists of experts in Hebrew or Greek to begin with. It does say that it is merely an adaptation in the book itself, in the proverbial small print that I initially failed to notice, where it is stated that the text of the ESV is adapted from the Revised Standard Version, an earlier translation considered too liberal by some and now made new and improved for the conservative evangelical audience.
The realization made me angry at first. I even entertained the thought of getting rid of the ESV altogether and starting afresh with a different and more reliable version. But I persevered, because at some point the editors' biased choice of words stopped being relevant. The Book and I have had months and months of shared experiences behind us. I read from it every morning before going to work and every night before going to bed. I had it with me on my journeys, I continue to write notes and comments on its carefully studied pages... When I turn to, say, Nehemiah chapter 5 I instantly get the image of a crisp early morning at the seaside where I first read from the prophet. It is too late now: there are factors of shared history and emotional attachment involved. It has become mine.
After a while I figured out how to live with its shortcomings: by liberating it from its re-writers' political agenda with a little help from the texts in the original languages and a humble correction tape dispenser. I am absolutely positive that my intention is by no means more blasphemous (if at all) than the numerous textual interventions done by the "translators." Besides, the letter killeth and the spirit giveth life.
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Friday, 21 November 2008
Quarterly Book Reviews #8
FICTION
Peace Like A River by Leif Enger
A perfect book for those chilly late autumn evenings. It's a wonderful story of faith, hope and opportunity for mercy in the midst of family tragedy. I seldom write notes in the books I read, but while reading this one I had to have a pencil and post-its at hand. One of my favorite sentences: "...exile is a country of shifting borders, hard to quit yet hard to endure, no matter how wide your shoulders, no matter your toughened heart." Enger is now officially one of my favourite authors.
RELIGION
The Holy Wild by Mark Buchanan
Walk with God can be, and often is, a troubling affair. Prayers go unanswered, the whole world seems to conspire against you, there are dangers and difficulties regardless of one's piety and devotion. Buchanan writes about experiencing God in the midst of hardship and heartache, explaining that the God of Judeo-Christianity is both unpredictable and dangerous on one hand, loving and faithful on the other. For those struggling with the eternal question of why would a good God allow bad things to happen, this book may provide some insights.
RELIGION
The Pietists, edited by Emilie Griffin and Peter C. Erb
Does the name Jacob Spener sound familiar? August Hermann Francke? Johann Anastasius Freylingausen? Probably not, yet those are some of the leading people of an influential spiritual movement of the 17th and 18th century Christianity, known today as Pietism. It's surprising how little we know of them today. Placing emphasis on one's personal relationship with God, they heavily influenced Wesley and the nascent Methodist movement. They seem to be the first ones who came up with the idea of Bible study groups. This collection serves as a reminder on the origins of some of the beliefs and practices that contemporary Christianity takes for granted, but which were quite revolutionary at the time.
BIOGRAPHY
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Chris McCandless had a burning wish to abandon a life of materialism, meaningless college diplomas and dehumanizing 9-5 jobs. The wish became a journey of a lifetime that ultimately led him to Alaskan wilderness where he tragically died. Krakauer has done a superb job investigating McCandless' enigmatic personality and narrating his heartbreaking story. Makes you question your ideals and how far you're ready to go in pursuit of happiness. Inspirational and cautionary.
Peace Like A River by Leif Enger
A perfect book for those chilly late autumn evenings. It's a wonderful story of faith, hope and opportunity for mercy in the midst of family tragedy. I seldom write notes in the books I read, but while reading this one I had to have a pencil and post-its at hand. One of my favorite sentences: "...exile is a country of shifting borders, hard to quit yet hard to endure, no matter how wide your shoulders, no matter your toughened heart." Enger is now officially one of my favourite authors.
RELIGION
The Holy Wild by Mark Buchanan
Walk with God can be, and often is, a troubling affair. Prayers go unanswered, the whole world seems to conspire against you, there are dangers and difficulties regardless of one's piety and devotion. Buchanan writes about experiencing God in the midst of hardship and heartache, explaining that the God of Judeo-Christianity is both unpredictable and dangerous on one hand, loving and faithful on the other. For those struggling with the eternal question of why would a good God allow bad things to happen, this book may provide some insights.
RELIGION
The Pietists, edited by Emilie Griffin and Peter C. Erb
Does the name Jacob Spener sound familiar? August Hermann Francke? Johann Anastasius Freylingausen? Probably not, yet those are some of the leading people of an influential spiritual movement of the 17th and 18th century Christianity, known today as Pietism. It's surprising how little we know of them today. Placing emphasis on one's personal relationship with God, they heavily influenced Wesley and the nascent Methodist movement. They seem to be the first ones who came up with the idea of Bible study groups. This collection serves as a reminder on the origins of some of the beliefs and practices that contemporary Christianity takes for granted, but which were quite revolutionary at the time.
BIOGRAPHY
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Chris McCandless had a burning wish to abandon a life of materialism, meaningless college diplomas and dehumanizing 9-5 jobs. The wish became a journey of a lifetime that ultimately led him to Alaskan wilderness where he tragically died. Krakauer has done a superb job investigating McCandless' enigmatic personality and narrating his heartbreaking story. Makes you question your ideals and how far you're ready to go in pursuit of happiness. Inspirational and cautionary.
Friday, 29 August 2008
Carbon Calculator
PETA has recently launched a new carbon calculator that projects how many animals and how much CO2 you will save during your lifetime based on your age and diet (apparently, 12880 animals will live thanks to me!). You can try it here.
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Six miles a Sunday
Having got used to spending all those calories at the seaside over the previous month, I had to think of something new to do back home. I hate team sports, running and/or jogging scare me as I think I'm on the verge of a heart attack each time I jog for more than sixty seconds... So I took up walking! I thought, could anything possibly be more unassuming than that?
Actually, try googling "walking" and you'll soon be overwhelmed with all the resources available online on what kind of shoes you're supposed to wear, how fast you should walk, what is the ideal arm movement, what to eat and drink before, during and after your walking session... Most of these tips are just plain common sense. Take this one for example, found on About.com's Walking section: Your eyes should focus on the street or track 10 - 20 feet ahead. You'll avoid doggy doo-doo, find cracks in the sidewalk, spot potential muggers, and still collect the occasional coin.
What I decided to do was simply walk as much as I can, whenever I can. This newly established routine is, for one, definitely changing how I see the neighbourhood and the city I live in. There's more attention to detail, in that I now notice so many things that were previously just blurs, semi consciously perceived from the public transport I normally use. A thirty-minute bus ride to church on a Sunday morning has transformed into a wonderful 90-minute, 6-mile walk through parts of the city I had previously rarely ventured into. Now it's turned into a pilgrimage of sorts.
And, of course, there's Thoreau and his sauntering in Concord (this is a saunterer's journal, after all!). Even though my walking gear is probably all wrong, as well as my posture and my eating habits, I think he would have approved.
Actually, try googling "walking" and you'll soon be overwhelmed with all the resources available online on what kind of shoes you're supposed to wear, how fast you should walk, what is the ideal arm movement, what to eat and drink before, during and after your walking session... Most of these tips are just plain common sense. Take this one for example, found on About.com's Walking section: Your eyes should focus on the street or track 10 - 20 feet ahead. You'll avoid doggy doo-doo, find cracks in the sidewalk, spot potential muggers, and still collect the occasional coin.
What I decided to do was simply walk as much as I can, whenever I can. This newly established routine is, for one, definitely changing how I see the neighbourhood and the city I live in. There's more attention to detail, in that I now notice so many things that were previously just blurs, semi consciously perceived from the public transport I normally use. A thirty-minute bus ride to church on a Sunday morning has transformed into a wonderful 90-minute, 6-mile walk through parts of the city I had previously rarely ventured into. Now it's turned into a pilgrimage of sorts.
And, of course, there's Thoreau and his sauntering in Concord (this is a saunterer's journal, after all!). Even though my walking gear is probably all wrong, as well as my posture and my eating habits, I think he would have approved.
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
On Balaam's donkey and untrodden paths
About a month ago I decided to read the entire Bible from page 1. I've always thought I knew my Bible well, but the fascinating thing about it is that no matter how many times you've read a certain chapter or a passage, there will always be something new there that you somehow failed to register before. Such a feat was an excellent excuse for shopping, so I got myself a new Bible, the handsomely designed ESV Journaling version, and a pack of highlighters, just in case.
What I've found so far is that reading its books in their entirety gives a whole different feel to it. By doing so, you can't just cherry pick your favourite passages and dwell in their safety. There's plenty more to see and hear on the less familiar sections of the path, scenes both wonderful and gruesome.
One story that I don't think I had ever come across before is the one on Balaam's donkey and the angel, found in the Book of Numbers (22:22-35). In it, rather uncharacteristically for the Bible, animals have unhindered communication with both men and angels. The donkey argues and reasons with Balaam and unlike him, has the ability to see celestial beings. I found it quite an extraordinary story. It made me wonder what is it that my cat stares at every once in a while, all focused on a seeming presence in the room that I fail to perceive with any of my senses.
One more thing I got out from all this: I went jogging last Friday afternoon. It was such a miserable day, cold, foggy, drizzly... Actually, I loved it, it was perfect for jogging (and very much in line with my state of mind at the time). I was running a very familiar and safe route, when suddenly something made me abandon it and continue on a narrow path leading away from the concrete and the urban hustle and bustle. It was a semi-conscious decision, but I was so glad I made it. It was so good to feel the grass under my feet, touch the trees in passing as I ran by them, and come home all wet and muddy.
How biblical of me not do to the predictable thing for once.
What I've found so far is that reading its books in their entirety gives a whole different feel to it. By doing so, you can't just cherry pick your favourite passages and dwell in their safety. There's plenty more to see and hear on the less familiar sections of the path, scenes both wonderful and gruesome.
One story that I don't think I had ever come across before is the one on Balaam's donkey and the angel, found in the Book of Numbers (22:22-35). In it, rather uncharacteristically for the Bible, animals have unhindered communication with both men and angels. The donkey argues and reasons with Balaam and unlike him, has the ability to see celestial beings. I found it quite an extraordinary story. It made me wonder what is it that my cat stares at every once in a while, all focused on a seeming presence in the room that I fail to perceive with any of my senses.
One more thing I got out from all this: I went jogging last Friday afternoon. It was such a miserable day, cold, foggy, drizzly... Actually, I loved it, it was perfect for jogging (and very much in line with my state of mind at the time). I was running a very familiar and safe route, when suddenly something made me abandon it and continue on a narrow path leading away from the concrete and the urban hustle and bustle. It was a semi-conscious decision, but I was so glad I made it. It was so good to feel the grass under my feet, touch the trees in passing as I ran by them, and come home all wet and muddy.
How biblical of me not do to the predictable thing for once.
Saturday, 5 April 2008
Quarterly Book Reviews #7
RELIGION
Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip YanceyIt's one of those books I never thought I'd read. Yancey is an evangelical, while I'm... Let's say, of slightly different persuasion. Anyway, my preconception was that pretty much all evangelical authors are Bible-thumping fundamentalists preaching the gospel of fire and brimstone. And I was quite wary of Yancey in particular, given his prominent status among the religious conservatives. Somebody left a copy of this book in my church library couple of months ago and I'm glad I eventually gave it a chance. Fundamentalist or not, I found Yancey a caring, sensitive and compassionate author. As I was reading the book, it felt like I was being listened to by him, rather than the other way around. Peculiar and rare quality. One thing that needs to be said: people looking for simple and straightforward answers won't find them in this book (which is only a plus).
FICTION
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef PenneySet in a remote corner of Canadian icy-cold wilderness, it was a nice distraction from yet another bland Belgrade winter. It is somewhat difficult to define its genre, as there's a bit of everything thrown in there: history, romance, crime, mystery, even an anachronistic coming-out narrative that seems very late 20th-century for a novel set in the 1800s. Still, it all holds quite well together.
FICTION
Moral Disorder by Margaret AtwoodSpeaking of Canada, here's another piece of literary Canadiana, and also another book defying usual genre classification. It can be seen as a collection of short stories, or as a novel consisting of rather loosely connected chapters (I have to admit that it was only once I was halfway through the book that I realised it's the same character she's writing about). Either way, it really is Atwood at her very finest as it says on the cover. It restored my faith in her after a brief period of post-Oryx and Crake disillusionment. Here Atwood leads us through a life of a Canadian woman and walks us through feelings of abandonment and estrangement, but also of love, endurance and strength, feelings we can all relate to, male or female, Canadian or otherwise.
RELIGION
Mere Christianity by C S Lewis
I've got mixed feelings about it. On one hand, yes, the book is a spiritual classic, and it's immediately clear why it's been so widely read for decades. Lewis is a persuasive author whose intelligence and intellectual prowess ooze from every page of the book. The chapters were originally given on the air, broadcast by the BBC during WW2 and thus reflect some of the ethos and ideology of the period, which makes it seem somewhat awkward at times, even antiquated. Readers who love this book will say that it powerfully presents the very essence of the Christian faith. Those less enthusiastic will complain that the apparent simplicity has more to do with Lewis' Spartan-like spiritual militarism and his draconian, take-it-or-leave-it approach to Christianity. Reading the book, I got a mental picture of Lewis as a bossy and difficult man to deal with.
POETRY
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T S Eliot
Nobody reads poetry any more. Well, I've been reading some - to my cat. And is there a better book of poems to read to one's cat than this slim volume of T S Eliot's delightful little odes to these wonderful creatures? I think not.
Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip YanceyIt's one of those books I never thought I'd read. Yancey is an evangelical, while I'm... Let's say, of slightly different persuasion. Anyway, my preconception was that pretty much all evangelical authors are Bible-thumping fundamentalists preaching the gospel of fire and brimstone. And I was quite wary of Yancey in particular, given his prominent status among the religious conservatives. Somebody left a copy of this book in my church library couple of months ago and I'm glad I eventually gave it a chance. Fundamentalist or not, I found Yancey a caring, sensitive and compassionate author. As I was reading the book, it felt like I was being listened to by him, rather than the other way around. Peculiar and rare quality. One thing that needs to be said: people looking for simple and straightforward answers won't find them in this book (which is only a plus).
FICTION
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef PenneySet in a remote corner of Canadian icy-cold wilderness, it was a nice distraction from yet another bland Belgrade winter. It is somewhat difficult to define its genre, as there's a bit of everything thrown in there: history, romance, crime, mystery, even an anachronistic coming-out narrative that seems very late 20th-century for a novel set in the 1800s. Still, it all holds quite well together.
FICTION
Moral Disorder by Margaret AtwoodSpeaking of Canada, here's another piece of literary Canadiana, and also another book defying usual genre classification. It can be seen as a collection of short stories, or as a novel consisting of rather loosely connected chapters (I have to admit that it was only once I was halfway through the book that I realised it's the same character she's writing about). Either way, it really is Atwood at her very finest as it says on the cover. It restored my faith in her after a brief period of post-Oryx and Crake disillusionment. Here Atwood leads us through a life of a Canadian woman and walks us through feelings of abandonment and estrangement, but also of love, endurance and strength, feelings we can all relate to, male or female, Canadian or otherwise.
RELIGION
Mere Christianity by C S Lewis
I've got mixed feelings about it. On one hand, yes, the book is a spiritual classic, and it's immediately clear why it's been so widely read for decades. Lewis is a persuasive author whose intelligence and intellectual prowess ooze from every page of the book. The chapters were originally given on the air, broadcast by the BBC during WW2 and thus reflect some of the ethos and ideology of the period, which makes it seem somewhat awkward at times, even antiquated. Readers who love this book will say that it powerfully presents the very essence of the Christian faith. Those less enthusiastic will complain that the apparent simplicity has more to do with Lewis' Spartan-like spiritual militarism and his draconian, take-it-or-leave-it approach to Christianity. Reading the book, I got a mental picture of Lewis as a bossy and difficult man to deal with.
POETRY
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T S Eliot
Nobody reads poetry any more. Well, I've been reading some - to my cat. And is there a better book of poems to read to one's cat than this slim volume of T S Eliot's delightful little odes to these wonderful creatures? I think not.
Sunday, 27 January 2008
Belief-O-Matic
This is one of my favorite personality quizzes. I take it every once in while, just to see the latest developments in my religious views.
Basically, you get to answer about 20 questions about various religious and social issues, and the software comes up with a sort of compatibility list, how well your views match with the teachings and precepts of 27 religious denominations.
What I've just realized is that my spirituality is not as chaotic as I tend to think. Each time I take the test, the same four or five faiths appear among the top five. And the first two hardly come as a surprise to me:
You can take the quiz at the Beliefnet website.
Basically, you get to answer about 20 questions about various religious and social issues, and the software comes up with a sort of compatibility list, how well your views match with the teachings and precepts of 27 religious denominations.
What I've just realized is that my spirituality is not as chaotic as I tend to think. Each time I take the test, the same four or five faiths appear among the top five. And the first two hardly come as a surprise to me:
| 1. | Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (100%) |
| 2. | Liberal Quakers (79%) |
| 3. | Bahá'í Faith (75%) |
| 4. | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (74%) |
| 5. | Unitarian Universalism (72%) |
| 6. | Reform Judaism (69%) |
| 7. | Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (63%) |
| 8. | Jehovah's Witness (62%) |
| 9. | Orthodox Quaker (59%) |
| 10. | Neo-Pagan (57%) |
| 11. | Orthodox Judaism (56%) |
| 12. | Sikhism (55%) |
| 13. | Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (54%) |
| 14. | New Age (53%) |
| 15. | Mahayana Buddhism (50%) |
| 16. | Theravada Buddhism (48%) |
| 17. | New Thought (48%) |
| 18. | Eastern Orthodox (46%) |
| 19. | Roman Catholic (46%) |
| 20. | Seventh Day Adventist (45%) |
| 21. | Secular Humanism (44%) |
| 22. | Islam (41%) |
| 23. | Jainism (41%) |
| 24. | Scientology (40%) |
| 25. | Hinduism (39%) |
| 26. | Taoism (34%) |
| 27. | Nontheist (21%) |
You can take the quiz at the Beliefnet website.
Friday, 18 January 2008
Freedom of religion in Serbia
I think it's time to vote these bozos out of office, ASAP.
18 January 2008
SERBIA: LEGAL STATUS POSSIBLE "IN 450-500 YEARS"?
http://www.forum18.org/Archive
Serbia continues to deny legal status to religious minority communities
for reasons - if they are given - which are not found in the Religion Law,
Forum 18 News Service has found. The principal person responsible appears
to be former Religion Minister Milan Radulovic, who is now an adviser in
the Ministry. He refuses some registration applications if the community:
refuses to unite with similar communities; is an Orthodox church which is
not viewed as part of the Serbian Orthodox Church; is not monotheist; does
not have a headquarters in another country; or is seen as non-traditional
or philosophical. Speaking to Forum 18, Radulovic has repeatedly said that
communities "who are not monotheistic cannot be registered." Radulovic also
said that "some of these groups might become part of the structure in
450-500 years when they pass historical tests." Current Religion Minister
Radomir Naumov appears to be content to let Radulovic make the decisions.
18 January 2008
SERBIA: LEGAL STATUS POSSIBLE "IN 450-500 YEARS"?
http://www.forum18.org/Archive
Serbia continues to deny legal status to religious minority communities
for reasons - if they are given - which are not found in the Religion Law,
Forum 18 News Service has found. The principal person responsible appears
to be former Religion Minister Milan Radulovic, who is now an adviser in
the Ministry. He refuses some registration applications if the community:
refuses to unite with similar communities; is an Orthodox church which is
not viewed as part of the Serbian Orthodox Church; is not monotheist; does
not have a headquarters in another country; or is seen as non-traditional
or philosophical. Speaking to Forum 18, Radulovic has repeatedly said that
communities "who are not monotheistic cannot be registered." Radulovic also
said that "some of these groups might become part of the structure in
450-500 years when they pass historical tests." Current Religion Minister
Radomir Naumov appears to be content to let Radulovic make the decisions.
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