Tuesday, December 7, 2010

CONTROVERSY OVER C.S. LEWIS BIBLE

Evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Mormons have long claimed C.S. Lewis as their own. So when HarperOne released The C. S. Lewis Bible (November 2010) -- pairing Lewis's celebrated spiritual writings with corresponding scripture passages -- it came as no surprise that it was largely embraced by the Christian community (and beyond). The NRSV is the most accurate, trusted, and readable translation available in English--the reason it was chosen by HarperOne.

But a faction of Evangelicals has recently come forward to express indignation with this adaptation. Some have taken to the airwaves, and others have started a petition to cease publication of The C. S. Lewis Bible. There are claims that the NRSV is too feminist and too liberal for Lewis--widely considered a fundamentalist hero--and a call to prevent one of their most important modern theologians from being co-opted by other Christian groups.

According to HarperOne SVP and Publisher Mark Tauber, this critical reaction comes as a surprise. Speaking to the brewing controversy, he said "I'm shocked that anyone could take offense to this Bible--a substantive, inspiring, and beautiful package." Tauber continued, "We assembled an incredible group of leading C. S. Lewis scholars, and I think the end result is a fitting tribute to one of the most revered Christian thinkers of our time."

1 comment:

Jane Lebak said...

Somewhere in an English grave, CS Lewis is rubbing his temples. :-/