Thinking about the Canon

A dear friend of mine, with whom I just recently connected, posted this article which appalled, but did not surprise me.

New Edition Of Bible Specifically Mentions Second Amendment

August 14, 2010 | ISSUE 46•32
CHICAGO—

A new translation of the Bible released this week directly mentions the Second Amendment on eight occasions, and includes a version of Psalm 23 that begins, "The Lord is my shepherd, and the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Positive early feedback praised the new edition for its clean design, readability, and beautiful rendering of proverbs that condemn the foolish ban on semiautomatic weapons for personal use. "For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you," Deuteronomy 23:14 reads. "Your camp shall be holy, and if that means exercising your constitutional right to purchase a firearm, then that's your own damn business." The leather-bound book also comes with a handsomely crafted carrying case and a fully loaded, nickel-plated Glock 17 8mm.


Having been raised in the Church, I spent a lot of time reading & memorizing & studying the Bible. I read translations other than the King James Version - a former employer gave me a copy of the Torah. I read it. I compared.

All the versions of the Bible were created based on translations by others, monks & priests with their own agenda, basing their translations on what came before, on what was available.

One thing I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is that there are ancient texts in obscure monasteries in Greece & Turkey & Rome & Israel that have never been seen, much less given to the public.

The other thing I know is as disgusting as this translation introducing material that did not exist at any evolution of the sacred texts, it does not matter.

Because God is God. With or without the Bible or the Koran or the Torah or the Talmud or any ancient Buddhist or Hindu texts.

I learned this on a retreat, where the leaders confiscated all our copies of the Bible (I had three) under the pretext of seeing what age group brought the most. Then we spent a week reconstructing what we remembered from all that memorization in Sunday School.

What I learned during that week, without access to what is ultimately The Canon, is that God does not require the presence of a text to make Her presence & love known.

God was there, on that retreat. On & in the river, on & in the air, with us during every song, every discussion, every prayer. Surrounding us, engulfing us, loving us.

Make no mistake: I love the Bible. But I am realistic about its origins & evolution.

For me, it doesn't matter. God is here.