Bible drawn into sex publication controversy

[LV426]

Bible drawn into sex publication controversy
Wed May 16, 2007 8:24AM EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHKG2621832007051 6?feedType=RSS

HONG KONG (Reuters) - More than 800 Hong Kong residents have called on authorities to reclassify the Bible as "indecent" due to its sexual and violent content, following an uproar over a sex column in a university student journal.

A spokesperson for Hong Kong's Television and Entertainment Licensing authority (TELA) said it had received 838 complaints about the Bible by noon Wednesday.

The complaints follow the launch of an anonymous Web site -- www.truthbible.net -- which said the holy book "made one tremble" given its sexual and violent content, including rape and incest.

The Web site said the Bible's sexual content "far exceeds" that of a recent sex column published in the Chinese University's "Student Press" magazine, which had asked readers whether they'd ever fantasized about incest or bestiality.

That column was later deemed "indecent" by the Obscene Articles Tribunal, sparking a storm of debate about social morality and freedom of speech. Student editors of the journal defended it, saying open sexual debate was a basic right.

If the Bible is similarly classified as "indecent" by authorities, only those over 18 could buy the holy book and it would need to be sealed in a wrapper with a statutory warning notice.

TELA said it was still undecided on whether the Bible had violated Hong Kong's obscene and indecent articles laws.

But a local protestant minister shrugged off this possibility.

"If there is rape mentioned in the Bible, it doesn't mean it encourages those activities," said Reverend Wu Chi-wai. "It's just common sense ... I don't think that criticism will have strong support from the public," he added.



© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved.

[Aeolus]

I dont know what you could possibly hope to get out of this post, but I agree with the chinese dude, people are just looking for another asinine way to be asinine. Then they split hairs and try to look cute and innocent, but they'd rape your daughter without a second thought.

[DarkHunter]

But a local protestant minister shrugged off this possibility.

"If there is rape mentioned in the Bible, it doesn't mean it encourages those activities," said Reverend Wu Chi-wai. "It's just common sense ... I don't think that criticism will have strong support from the public," he added.



They really ought to think about that more often when banning books left and right. I guess that logic only applies to THEIR Books.

[Aeolus]

They really ought to think about that more often when banning books left and right. I guess that logic only applies to THEIR Books.

Who's?

It's the People's Republic of China's decision, not the church's. As far as I knew, China had banned the Bible and persecuted christians.

[MorganaFang]

There actually is a rather large number of Chinese Christians, I remember this only because China is/was having issues with population control and the government wanted to have birth control become a mandatory thing however, numerous Christians were extremely opposed to the idea.

[Aeolus]

My church heads off to China for missions every so now and then, but they have to be clandestine because they often get thrown in prison for preaching the gospel.

[Vendetta]

My church heads off to China for missions every so now and then, but they have to be clandestine because they often get thrown in prison for preaching the gospel.
Maybe because they speak out about the government or support people who do? China ain't a democracy yo.

But to respond to your first allegation regarding banning of bibles and Christians in China, this hasn't strongly been the case since the 1970s, at the end of the Cultural Revolution. Of course most religions or churches have to be officially recognized by the State, and the Communist ruling party of China has said that religious belief and membership in the party are incompatible. But other than that, no you can own and buy The Bible and be an active Christian in China. In fact the original story pretty much takes that for granted already.

[Aeolus]

Maybe because they speak out about the government or support people who do? China ain't a democracy yo.

But to respond to your first allegation regarding banning of bibles and Christians in China, this hasn't strongly been the case since the 1970s, at the end of the Cultural Revolution. Of course most religions or churches have to be officially recognized by the State, and the Communist ruling party of China has said that religious belief and membership in the party are incompatible. But other than that, no you can own and buy The Bible and be an active Christian in China. In fact the original story pretty much takes that for granted already.

I know, that's why I was surprised a little.

As for my church attacking China's political authority, HOW DARE YOU...

[DarkHunter]

Wooo thats called missing the point.

In my school, the book To Kill a Mockingbird is banned because some of the characters express racist sentiments, when the overall message is one of tolerance.

How many Christians would ban books with rape in it openly, but keep the Bible "because of its message?" On the grounds that "just because rape is included in the Bible, doesn't mean that it condones it."

Just because racism is included in Mockingbird, doesn't mean that it condones it. I guess double standards are okay for Christians.

[Hitodama]

Some christians, not all christians ban books because it has a "bad" word in it.

Heavens no! We can't let that book reach the public schools! Yep, intstead of letting people become aware of how african-americans were treated, lets just try to cover the problem up. That HAS to work. Riiiight...

Banning the Bible, is it just me or does that idea seem a lot like hitting a wasp's nest with a stick? Before anyone asks, no I haven't read the Bible, nor do I attend church, but I still believe in God, whatever God is.

[J.L.R.]

All in all if we banned every book, historical or not that had material in it that had a risk of offending somebody, 90% of the material that is produced would be banned. The only books that we would be allowed to read would be the, "See Spot Run," books, and we would still probably find somebody who would gripe about that as well...

It is like people raising a fuss about teaching students about WWII and the Holaucost, because Muslims would be offended, because they don't believe it even happened. The truth is, it did happen. Hitler did murder over 6 million Jews.

To add to Darkhunter's point...

In both cases, whether it be "To Kill a Mockingbird" or the Holy Bible, you're not seeing double standerds, but views, whether good or bad, of the cultures and peoples of the time period.

In "To Kill a Mockingbird," racism was a story tool to show how people can use race as proof of guilt, over real justice. The writer of the story wasn't being racist for being racist, but to reflect the way most southern white folk thought about blacks at that time.

As for the Bible... The Bible, while being a religious text, does follow the history of Jews, both good or bad. The stories that were recorded were not of hero/saints who were without error, but real people, who had issues, no matter if it was rape, poligamy, idolatry... or wot-knot. If you read the Bible, you find that Israel was almost always in more trouble than they were not. This was a reflection of their need for a God to reside over them...

Again not a double standard, but a reflection of the times and issues facing a people...

China has always been very protective, to a fault, of information coming in or out of its country. I remember when one of their treasured Panda's died, and China banned any prolonged publication of the event, because they feared it would be too much of a loss for its people.

[UNODRAGONE]

All in all if we banned every book, historical or not that had material in it that had a risk of offending somebody, 90% of the material that is produced would be banned. The only books that we would be allowed to read would be the, "See Spot Run," books, and we would still probably find somebody who would gripe about that as well...

It is like people raising a fuss about teaching students about WWII and the Holaucost, because Muslims would be offended, because they don't believe it even happened. The truth is, it did happen. Hitler did murder over 6 million Jews.

To add to Darkhunter's point...

In both cases, whether it be "To Kill a Mockingbird" or the Holy Bible, you're not seeing double standerds, but views, whether good or bad, of the cultures and peoples of the time period.

In "To Kill a Mockingbird," racism was a story tool to show how people can use race as proof of guilt, over real justice. The writer of the story wasn't being racist for being racist, but to reflect the way most southern white folk thought about blacks at that time.

As for the Bible... The Bible, while being a religious text, does follow the history of Jews, both good or bad. The stories that were recorded were not of hero/saints who were without error, but real people, who had issues, no matter if it was rape, poligamy, idolatry... or wot-knot. If you read the Bible, you find that Israel was almost always in more trouble than they were not. This was a reflection of their need for a God to reside over them...

Again not a double standard, but a reflection of the times and issues facing a people...

China has always been very protective, to a fault, of information coming in or out of its country. I remember when one of their treasured Panda's died, and China banned any prolonged publication of the event, because they feared it would be too much of a loss for its people.


Second this 100%

[Aeolus]

Wooo thats called missing the point.

In my school, the book To Kill a Mockingbird is banned because some of the characters express racist sentiments, when the overall message is one of tolerance.

How many Christians would ban books with rape in it openly, but keep the Bible "because of its message?" On the grounds that "just because rape is included in the Bible, doesn't mean that it condones it."

Just because racism is included in Mockingbird, doesn't mean that it condones it. I guess double standards are okay for Christians.

We already went through this, the Chinese ban the books in this scenario, not the christians. I really can't express how quickly I tire of all these attempts to attack christians on this part of the site, and all the time put into them.

[DarkHunter]

We already went through this, the Chinese ban the books in this scenario, not the christians. I really can't express how quickly I tire of all these attempts to attack christians on this part of the site, and all the time put into them.

And still you miss the point. I KNOW the Chinese are re banning books in this scenario. MY POINT is that how can Christians complain when they've been doing the same thing to other books and have denied the logic they are now using for years?

[J.L.R.]

And still you miss the point. I KNOW the Chinese are re banning books in this scenario. MY POINT is that how can Christians complain when they've been doing the same thing to other books and have denied the logic they are now using for years?

Not all Christians, and in fact most Christians, aren't for the banning of Harry Potter books...if that is what you are referring too...

If not, your understanding of the Bible is, again, revealed to be lacking...

The Bible mentions acts of rape and violence in a historical reference, just as you would hear from a documentary about the Holocaust. The Bible isn't some edgy porn novel, nor a guide to inflaming racial violence, as you would see in KKK handouts, websites, forums, and their alike. To place the Bible in the catagory is nothing but blind scepticsm, where personal anti-Christian anything bias comes in the way of basic reasoning.

The Chinese government, for the most part, is intolerant, of any religion or ideal, that teaches against its socialistic views. The Bible teaches that one's self is separate from one's nation. Jesus illustrates thus with the verse, "Render unto Ceaser the things that are Ceaser's and the things of God unto God."

While media ventures have often made Christianity the headliner, other minor religions in China have also suffered from such persecution. In short they are going to try to ban anything that makes their people think for themselves.

Just to add my own personal view on the matter of banning books...

For myself, as a writer, I am against the banning of any book, regardless of content. As a free sociaty we have to take the good and the bad. I know there are some books that I certainly find inapropriate, but if we start deciding what is viewable and what is not, it won't be too long before we have a socialist media, where only gov't approved material is shown. That is bad. The best way to stop junk material, is simply not to read it, buy it, or show any interest. All be darned as soon as you ban something, it becomes big business for the books banned.

[Aeolus]

And still you miss the point. I KNOW the Chinese are re banning books in this scenario. MY POINT is that how can Christians complain when they've been doing the same thing to other books and have denied the logic they are now using for years?

Surveys reveal it is a devout minority of christians that band and burn books, and incidents like what you describe haven't occured in the everyday church for a very long time. People bitch every frigging day, about the stupidest things, and many of them are paid to do so; can we maybe point fingers at other extremist social groups?

[J.L.R.]

Honestly other than those oddities in Kansas, but then again that is Kansas for ya, we haven't had a real issue with Christian majority trying to alter, stop, or change media...

Strangely enough the biggest battle front now is violence in Video games, and surprise surprise, the politicians who are mouthing out against them, aren't even Christian.

[Aeolus]

Honestly other than those oddities in Kansas, but then again that is Kansas for ya, we haven't had a real issue with Christian majority trying to alter, stop, or change media...

Strangely enough the biggest battle front now is violence in Video games, and surprise surprise, the politicians who are mouthing out against them, aren't even Christian.

Contrary to the views of most Americans.

[DarkHunter]

My understanding of the Bible is fine and I'm not saying that I agree with what the Chinese are doing. Censorship is a foolish thing if you ask me. The tools of totalitarian governments.

Consider me corrected then. I don't mean to refer to all Christians when I make such statements. Its just my observation that I don't see other groups of people doing it, until now of course.

[Aeolus]

Consider me corrected then.

God have mercy, I hope I dont become as judgemental and controlling as that implies.

You need to understand that christians sincerely give a damn. They may not be the smartest or the strongest, but they care and they do what they can to make life bearable for other people, and they have a lot of heart, they even risk their lives for what they believe. No other intelectual group, government, or social organization is often found doing that. They are just trying to spread a message that they feel will help others through life.