TEDxEastHampton - Joel Hoffman - Interpreting Language

Joel Hoffman is a teacher, translator and author. His latest work uses modern linguistics to better understand the Bible.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• U.S.A
• TEDxEastHampton
• English
• Science
• Religion
• Language
• Bible
• King James

[JoelMHoffman]

Joel Hoffman here. This presentation (except for the part about supermarkets) is taken from my latest book _And God Said: How Translations Conceal the Bible's Original Meaning_

I also host a blog called "God Didn't Say That" that serves as a forum for discussing Bible translation and mistranslation. But to answer gratiaDei777's question briefly here, I generally recommend the NRSV as, at least, unsurpassed.

[youtubsteak]

I've always believed that trying to read the Bible in a literal sense is futile. Thanks to Joel Hoffman for actually showing some examples. Far too often the message is obscured by human error and the dust of time. If there were a truly accurate version of the Bible available, it could change religion and society forever.

[Bettybop49]

Sounds a bit like he is putting the Bible down, who is he??

[melkicf]

This is the most rediculous and uneducated article I have read. Sorry Dr. Hoffman but you need to do more research. see humblesmith at wordpress for a response if you like to see another view

[proudhug]

@TacticusPrime No, this video even SHOWS that that's not true. Parking fines are his example of a law that has nothing to do with morality. It is also illegal for children to vote, or for people born outside of the U.S. to be elected president. Are these immoral acts? Not at all. Laws are merely sets of rules that people want everyone to follow. They're not mutually exclusive to morality, but they're certainly not based on them, either.

[DuhEnlightenedOne]

He used the word illegal when referring to 10 commandments. The proper word is unlawful, not illegal. the legal system and the law are two different things. God's commandments are the law. The legal system is just about making money for governments and attorneys.  The legal system can be ignored as long as you have a way to escape or consent to the penalties.

[TacticusPrime]

@proudhug Umm... all criminal codes are based on morality. Do not steal, do not kill, do not lie to the authorities... these are all moral rules that have been codified into law. One can oppose the introduction of religious opinions into law, but one can not do it while pretending that law is a separate sphere from morality.

[proudhug]

It's too bad no reasons were given for why morality should be included in legislation. Personally, I can't conceive of many things that would be more utterly disastrous, so I'd be very interested in hearing how this could possibly be a good idea.

[JoelBondurant]

I emphatically disagree that the government should be in the business of the sort of arrogant anti-scientific moral certitude that the Catholic church has plagued the world with prior to the enlightenment. Anti-enlightenment crusaders are the biggest threat to humanity.

[Nepycros]

@bobberney Care to take the mic, then?

[bobberney]

Another good example of an educated jackass braying around the pasture. He is wrong on 90 % of what he says. He makes a lot of assumptions that do not hold water. You will never see him debating a real Bible scholar.