The Manga Bible

[kalquessa]

I am not at all sure how I feel about thisBecause on one hand, I am on record as being thoroughly opposed to "niche" Bible translations, especially ones that go beyond having hip cover art and actually contain hip verbiage, too. I can't see what's so wrong with the KJV and the NAS (and, if you really must, the NIV, though I don't see why you'd want

Comments

[prester_scott]

I think this says it all:

The goal of the Bibles is not just to win people to Christ, but to particular ways of thinking, said Jason BeDuhn, associate professor of religious studies at Northern Arizona University. Mr. Akinsiku said the biblical message he wanted to underscore was justice, especially for the poor.

Sounds like another case of what CSL called "Christianity And."

[kalquessa]

Yeah, I'm betting a few things get lost in translation. Heh. (I love "Christianity And." Lewis was so awesome.)

And yet...Christ as Samurai.

[prester_scott]

I don't know where Japanese Christians find (or found, back before global monoculture) a niche in their own historical context to understand who Jesus was, humanly speaking. Were there itinerant religious teachers and a commonly accepted old religion? Was there a fallen, forgotten national royal bloodline, and an expectation of a religious/political savior to come?

I have heard that they have a hard time with the concepts of "guilt" and "repentance," which must be even more of a problem.

[prester_scott]

I dunno, "guilt" is pretty close to "shame", which is pretty deeply ingrained in most Asian cultures.

[prester_scott]

Guilt and Shame are not the same.

[prester_scott]

Fair enough. I would argue that the Asian conception of shame has a substantial component of private shame, which is basically guilt (being ashamed at yourself).

But I'm not a psychologist, a sociologist, a Christian, or Japanese, so what do I know anyway.

[tree_and_leaf]

Well, yeah, but if you are going to abridge heavily, you need some sort of principle on which to do it, and the 'social justice' aspect is the one that works best with a samuriaish plot.

Though obviously things will get lost in translation... Still, better that than the gospel of prosperity!