Dan Savage
has apologized for using some harsh language when referring to the
Bible's provisions calling for the murder of gay people and the endorsement of
slavery. Understandable since Dan has been pro-gay and anti-slavery all
his life.
The question remains, is it ever okay to say that the
Bible's provisions endorsing the murder of gays and the enslaving of blacks
(and others) to be "bullsh*t""? And if not, why not?
Surely no one thinks the Bible got it right on
slavery? Nor on its admonition to stone gays to death. What other
word to use for anything, even a holy book, that endorses slavery and the
murder of an entire people? Let me walk you through what 15 different
English language versions of the Bible have to say, supposedly, about
homosexuality:
New
International Version (©1984)
"If a man lies with a man as
one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They
must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
New Living Translation (©2007)
"If a man practices
homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have
committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for
they are guilty of a capital offense.
English Standard Version (©2001)
If a man lies with a male as with a
woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be
put to death; their blood is upon them.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
If there is a man who lies with a
male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable
act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is
upon them.
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
When a man has sexual intercourse
with another man as with a woman, both men are doing something disgusting
and must be put to death. They deserve to die.
King James Bible
If a man also lie with mankind, as
he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they
shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.
American King James Version
If a man also lie with mankind, as
he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they
shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be on them.
American Standard Version
And if a man lie with mankind, as
with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall
surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Bible in Basic English
And if a man has sex relations with
a man, the two of them have done a disgusting thing: let them be put to
death; their blood will be on them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If any one lie with a man se with a
woman, both have committed an abomination, let them be put to death:
their blood be upon them.
Darby Bible Translation
And if a man lie with mankind, as he
lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they
shall certainly be put to death; their blood is upon them.
English Revised Version
And if a man lie with mankind, as
with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall
surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Webster's Bible Translation
If a man also shall lie with
mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an
abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall
be upon them.
World English Bible
"'If a man lies with a male, as
with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall
surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Young's Literal Translation
And a man who lieth with a male as
one lieth with a woman; abomination both of them have done; they are
certainly put to death; their blood is on them.
