GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- Christian publisher Zondervan is facing a $60 million federal lawsuit filed by a man who claims he and other homosexuals have suffered based on what the suit claims is a misinterpretation of the Bible.
But a company spokeswoman says Zondervan doesn't translate the Bible or own the copyright for any of the translations. Instead, she said in a statement, the company relies on the "scholarly judgment of credible translation committees."
That is to say, setting aside whether the federal civil rights lawsuit is credible, the company says Bradley Fowler sued the wrong group.
His suit centers on one passage in scripture -- 1 Corinthians 6:9 -- and how it reads in Bibles published by Zondervan.
Fowler says Zondervan Bibles published in 1982 and 1987 use the word homosexuals among a list of those who are "wicked" or "unrighteous" and won't inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Fowler says his family's pastor used that Zondervan Bible, and because of it his family considered him a sinner and he suffered.
Now he is asking for an apology and $60 million.
"To compensate for the past 20 years of emotional duress and mental instability," Fowler told 24 Hour News 8 in a phone interview.
He claims the company is misinterpreting the Bible by specifically using the word homosexuals. Fowler admits that every Bible printed is a translation, interpreted in some way, but he says specifically using that word is not a translation but a change.
"These are opinions based on the publishers," he said. "And they are being embedded in the religious structure as a way of life."
Fowler says he came across the discrepancy while researching a book. He says Zondervan Bibles published in the 1980s use the word homosexuals in the Corinthian passage in question, but earlier and later ones don't.
24 Hour News 8 went to a library to do some research of our own, and found Zondervan Bibles published both in the 80s and post-2000 use the word homosexuals in the passage.
Some translations, like the New American Standard, use the word. Others don't.
The (regular) American Standard version uses the phrase "abusers of themselves with men." The King James says "abusers of themselves with mankind." Still others, like the New American Bible, use the word "sodomites."
Fowler says the idea that those phrases are another way of saying homosexuals is a misinterpretation as well.
The Zondervan statement says the company never alters the text of translations it is licensed to publish.
24 Hour News 8 contacted a law professor and several biblical scholars for comment but they have not returned our calls.
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NO MATTER WHAT WORD YOU USE, IF YOU ARE HAVING SEX WITH SOMEONE OF THE SAME SEX AS YOU ARE, YOU ARE A HOMOSEXUAL. PERIOD. WHATEVER TERMINOLOGY THE BIBLE TRANSLATIONS USE, IT ALL MEANS THE SAME THING. YOU ARE GAY. DEAL WITH IT AND SHUT THE HELL UP. NO ONE IS GOING TO PAY YOU. IF YOU ARE OFFENDED, STOP BREAKING THE BIBLE'S LAWS AND GO STRAIGHT AS GOD INTENDED.
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