A homosexual man has filed a $70 million lawsuit against Bible publishers Zondervan and Thomas Nelson, alleging that their version of the Bible that refers to homosexuality as a sin violates his constitutional rights and has caused him emotional distress.
Bradley LaShawn Fowler, an ex-con turned author, filed the federal suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on Monday, the same day a judge refused to appoint him a lawyer for his suit against Thomas Nelson, The Grand Rapids Press reported.
"The Court has some very genuine concerns about the nature and efficacy of these claims," the judge wrote.
Fowler, who is representing himself in both cases, claims that Zondervan manipulated Scripture by using the term "homosexuals" in 1 Corinthians 6:9 of their 1982 and 1987 revised edition Bibles. He also contends that the reference to homosexuality were deleted by the publisher in later versions without informing the public.
He alleges that since the older Kings James Version containing the term "homosexuals" is used by his family pastor, he has been outcast by his family.
The 39-year-old is suing the Grand Rapids publisher for compensation of 20 years of "emotional duress and mental instability," he told WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids.
In a hand-written suit, Fowler lists all sorts of charges against Zondervan including malicious negligence, strict liability, malice, libel, and violating his civil rights. He filed a suit in June against Tennessee-based publisher Thomas Nelson on similar grounds. He's seeking $60 million from Zondervan and $10 million from Thomas Nelson Publishing.
Zondervan issued a statement to The Christian Post that said they do not discuss ongoing litigation. The company's spokesperson Tara Powers, however, pointed out that they only publish Bibles, not translate them.
"Since Zondervan does not translate the Bible or own the copyright for any of the translations we publish, we are not in a position to comment on the merits of how a word should or should not be translated," said Powers.
"We rely on the scholarly judgment of the highly respected and credible translation committees behind each translation and never alter the text of the translations we are licensed to publish. We only publish credible translations produced by credible biblical scholars," she noted.
According to Fowler, Zondervan has 20 days to respond to the claims listed.
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"abominable lifestyle" LOL.The Bible can be used to lable the lifestyle of a good number of Christians in the USA as abominable and,much of the history of the USA can be labeled as abominable as well.This lawsuit is the result of Christians persecuting others based on personal faith beliefs
This really shows us our place in the world as the children of God doesn't it? Jesus told us that we would be hated. Remember though, this guy is up against the Lord of the Universe. GO ZONDERVAN. STAY TRUE TO THE WORD OF GOD! This lunatic will pay for his his evil and denial of it.
Let this be a warning to all of you. The liberals and secularists are winning the battle not against religion, but against Christianity specifically. The reason for this is because too many "Christians" have been apathetic to politics and litigation procedures. The world knows this, and they exploit us for it. Why do you think we are seeing gay marriage happen, abortion, divorce in record numbers (even among Christians). My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Remember the heart of Paul for the church.
It's time for the "light of the world," the children of God to start taking action against this evil. I encourage all of you, brothers and sisters, to start paying attention to what's going on around you. We've got major issues surrounding us and we need to lead the world in taking action against evil.
Blessings to you,
Matthew
I think we need to drop the "ex" from the ex-con title. This is as obsurd as filing a suit against the great, great Grandchildren of John Steinbeck because he found the book "Of Mice and Men" offensive to mentally disabled people.
Maybe this man should take God to court and put Him on trial. The reason he is suffering so much emotional distress is:
1. he didn't want to retain God in his knowledge.
2. He exchanged the truth of God for a lie.
3. He serves the creature more than the Creator.
4. He is burned in his lust for other men.
5. He exchanged the natural use of the woman for that which is not convenient.
6. God gave him up in heart, mind, and body.
7. He takes pleasure in this nonsense with others that are likeminded.
8. He knows that he is worthy of death because he continues in it.
How can I say these things, it's because I have God's Word on it.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
It's not too late to repent as long as he has the breath of life in his nostrils!
Kass- let's take it one step further...was it the Bible or how it was used as an excuse to alienate him from the family? It seems to be a matter of the family not understanding the Bible.
The point here is how much this person was hurt by rejection from his parents and his community. He's obviously mentally ill. They seem to me to be really drawn to centers of power like the law, banks, universities - or anywhere they might get help, like church or counseling. and not going to "get rich." A handwritten legal petition from a traumatized mentally ill person isn't something to worry about with the law, but with one's own conscience.
"Because 1 Corinthians 6:10 says that no drunkards will enter the kingdom of God either."
Proverbs 31:6-7 says, "Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to to those who are bitter of heart. Let him dringk and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more."
Ephesians 5:18-19 says "And do not be drunk with wind, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another inpsalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord"
The drunkards are those who do not have the hope found in the Holy Spirit through Jesus the Christ. We don't need to find relief from the misery of life in the bottom of a bottle...all the relief we need is found in the Spirit (and I'm conservative!). This how alchoholics can recover through the hope found in Christ. It's how people can recover from all types of sin including homosexuality.
SAFox - welcome! I think you're going to fit right in.
It does seem the more sin Christians accept from themselves the further sin itself will go. A little leaven....
I think many of us saw this coming. If he were to win, then the courts might say that certain things in the Bible have to be taken out because some people find them offensive. Can anyone else see where this is headed? Meanwhile, we Christians are busy fighting among ourselves so that we don't see what is happening to us from the outside.
The same Word of God, the Bible, that Christians love is the one the world hates. I am praying that it is not taken away from us.
carpenter,
Romans 10:13-14
"13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"
carpenter,
What you missed is that any of us might be used by God to draw someone to Christ. So we need to evangelize, that people might come to Christ.
Don't forget the homosexual community is standing on the shoulders of us who have been fornicators & adulterers.
They would not be making such inroads so out of proportion to their numbers if it were not for the acceptance of 'straight' sex sin in US culture.
Fornication between 'straights' is far more rampant than homosexuality & is shoved in our faces all the time. Where is the protest over that as well?
Straight sex sin opened the door...are we surprised that homosexuals & NAMBLA want their perversions to be legitimized as well?
I was a sex sinner with the opposite sex. I had to repent. After living on both sides of the aisle I will stick with Jesus & His word. Has worked very well for me since 1969.
I do not judge this man. He is already judged, as are all who refuse Christ. I pray for him...that is all we are allowed to do, thought if we are living by the Word we can voice opposition to all such sins. I am not qualified to throw stones...
Sounds like some one is out to make a lot of bucks. If that is all it takes to get this guy in a lather...Gimma a break!!
Conscience bothering him? I wonder if murders, fornicators, thieves,liars, adulterers & others on the list are gonna jump on the band wagon. The Prez & most of Congress could get in line as well as the Bible has them for stealing & lying big time.
carpenter, that being the case than we no longer need to evanglize and share the plan of salvation with people since it is already a done deal as to who will be saved and who won't be saved?
The Bible says that Jeses said, no man comes unto the Father but by me. In John 6, Jeses says, no one comes to me unless the Father draws hin. Also in John 6, Jeses says, all that the Father gives me, will come to me, and ALL that come to me, I will not lose any of them. So with that said, GOD chooses who goes to heaven. GOD wrote your name in the Lambs Book of Life before HE made the world. Thank you.
"We rely on the scholarly judgment of the highly respected and credible translation committees behind each translation and never alter the text of the translations we are licensed to publish. We only publish credible translations produced by credible biblical scholars," she noted
Perhaps Bradley LaShawn Fowler is able to prove Zondervan wrong. $70 Million? Nice figure...in your dreams...
At least we know that Fowler was reading the bible during his spare time. Several of them. And he knows what God says about homosexuality.
An abominable lifestyle. The various translations can't change that.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
oh my :)
denga, are you saying than no alcoholics to include recovering alcoholics will go to heaven? Because 1 Corinthians 6:10 says that no drunkards will enter the kingdom of God either. I personally believe that this scripture refers to people who continue to willfully sin in these areas and have no desire to repent of their sinful lifestyle.
God said to taste of him and see for yourself he is really good! This man has not sought God nor feared him.
I think God is really all that, he is just a wonderful person. I want to be just like him.
Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."
Father in the name of Jesus please break satan's hold of bondage on this man , let him seek you with all his heart and then shall he find you, Amen.
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
Believer: It is important that we believe what the Bible has to say in it's literal, historical and grammatical sense, and not infuse our understanding or presupposition onto or into it. God's word is true and right it's our interpretations that at fault...
the context here points out that sexual perversion is intended, see the words used before, "Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals..."
It is true that the word "arsenokoitÄ
Sorry the whole Bible is inspired by God and written through individuals , with the new testament mainly being Apostles
I cor 6-9 is the passage stating no homosexual will enter the kingdom of God unless 1 cor 6-11 they trust in Christ, repent and change. These were written by Paul to the Church of Corinthe, however most believe that the whole bible is inherently spoken by God through his apostles. So Jesus may nothave said them directly, while on this earth, but none the less he said them.
Yes, Jesus died for ALL. It is up to each and every one to accept or reject Him. There is no middle ground.
Yep...it's there along with a long list of others. Now comes the questions of what is covered under the blood and what is true salvation.
Does Jesus waste His shed blood on those who will only walk away, not repent or never understand on this earth?
Believer,
First Corinthians 6:9
denga, as much as I believe the Bible condemns the sexual practices of homosexuality, there is no where in the Bible where Jesus specifically said no homosexuals will enter the Kingdom of God.
By reading this post, I have become stressed out and I am no longer able to carry on life as usual. Bradley Fowler has offended be beyond repair, and I highly doubt I'll be able to sleep comfortably tonight. I shall sue him.
Translation: I'm lazy, don't feel like working, and I want my face on the news.
The point is not that the bible is offensive or filled with hate speech, the point is people want complete autonomy from God's rules and regulations. We do not like to accountable for anything, and especially a God who will judge us for what we did in this life. Even if this man does get money it does not change the inspired truth of God's word. May God save him from his life and love of sin.
No Bible believing Christian should ever need to defend the truth expressed in the scriptures. We did not author it, God did. What people do not know is, they are accusing God of "hate speech". God is not accountable to man and what he says, we affirm as true. Jesus said "No homosexual... will enter the kingdom of God."
I can't believe that that is all he asked for. $70 million is like a years worth of gasoline...
$70 million?
Sounds like someone didn't pay their cable bill.....
For a Christian to allow poronography, is for a Christian to allow adultery. Jesus said that if you lust after a woman in your heart (i.e. pornography) then you have already commited adultery.
porn isnt 'expression' and it aint freedom. its slavery , sin , and evil. thousands of sites on the net, some happily express to you that you can cheat on your wife with a woman who is cheating on her husband! they are more than happy to set it up , small fee to join then do what ever you want! Crazy stuff, and usa is so far rotten to its core that you cant trust anyone any more. Thousands of sites all about sex. anything goes. run a search. who do you want baby-sitting your kids? hmmm.
"20 years of "emotional duress and mental instability."
If this was a problem, why wasn't it dealt with 20 years ago?
FYI, the word translated 'homosexual' is Strongs Greek Dictionary #733 "a sodomite:-abuser of (that defile) self with mankind."
In short, homosexual....
"20 years of "emotional duress and mental instability."
What's left to say? It sounds like this guys mental instability was a long present issue which we can pity him for. Perhaps this case will get him the help he needs.
"I just want to say, this is in no way a reflection on the gay community. This is a man who is clearly out to get attention. "
Mark this day on your calendar...Mike and I agree on something!!! This guy is also out to get money.
Can you imagine the amount of lawsuits that would come from Christians against news agencies, gay groups, planned parenthood, and what about Hollywood! The list goes on....
This country is reeling from an overdose of pornography, straight and gay (and all of those other categories, apparently, that most of us here did not even know existed!). Frankly, I don't have any answers to the porn problem. If the "good" people began limiting freedom of expression, I don't know where it would end. On the other hand, pornography is so very poisonous in our culture.
hlerwin leave lossnerp alone ty. He is quite right it has been my experience talking to many hundreds of gays that maybe a few out of a hundred didnt blaspheme Jesus. Thats a fact anyone can see, simply go to a gay site and witness. try gay.com see for yourselves. What you will see in over-abundance is porn and more porn and MORE PORN! And they of course talk about sex alot. gay.com see for yourselves.
From the Catholic Bible - Rev. 22:18 & 19
"I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book"
Be Warned!
mike2865, hope I got the numbers right, but your right there a jerks on both sides of the aisle on the homosexuality issue and it appears this guy is one of them and rather than help his cause he hurts it. Sorry to say we've got some knuckleheads on our side to. Take care and I always enjoy posting with you regardless of what side of the aisle I'm on, believer
That's ridiculous. He chose to read it.
Looking at my 3 posts critical of lossnerp, I had better clarify my 1st comment (since many CP readers, I find, are quite humorless): "I want to go on record as saying that over the years the Bible has hurt my feelings several times. Can anyone tell me where I can find a good lawyer?"
If the Bible did not break us from our old ways so that we could see the right path to take, the scripture would not have been reprinted for as long as it has. The guy suing is either a publicity seeker or crazy or is taking a chance on the out-of-whack settlements some foolish juries award these days. (Maybe all three of these...)
lossnerp, what an altogether fatuous post you made.
And "Maybe we are a communist country already!!"
Oooooooo.....now that's really a horrifying one!
Are you running out of scare tactics, lossnerp?
From lossnerp: "Mike, the problem is it DOES represent a very large majority of the homosexual community."
Nonsense
I want to go on record as saying that over the years the Bible has hurt my feelings several times. Can anyone tell me where I can find a good lawyer?