I am looking at the Conservapedia’s republican bible project, and the feeling that keeps emerging in me is one of hope. That is, they are shooting themselves in the foot. A large chunk of their base consists of Biblical literalists. There is no WAY this will play to them. Many of them take very close to heart that bit in Revelation warning not to alter the Bible <irony>(this rule apparently does not apply to the King James version). </irony> If you are a fundamentalist Christian, you necessarily see this as blasphemy.
but wait, there's more!
At the same time, Republicans, with their shrinking base and regional stature, are going to further alienate moderates and independents in heir quest for intellectual dishonest...erm...purity. Most people will see this for exactly what it is: propaganda.
Take these proposed changes for instance:
Mark 2.8
King James Version
And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Proposed Conservative Translation
Jesus perceived immediately what the intellectual types were thinking, and he asked them, "Why are you so hostile to this?
ANALYSIS
We see the traditional republican disdain for intellectualism. (Hey, weren’t we supposed to be the emotional party while they were supposed to be the rational party? When did this switch occur? Anyone know?)
Mark 3.2-6 (where it really gets good)
King James Version
And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Proposed Conservative Translation
The Liberals watched Jesus to see if they might catch and accuse him of healing on the Sabbath. Jesus told the man with the crippled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." Jesus asked the Liberals, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: doing good or evil? Saving a life, or killing one?" The Liberals did not answer. Jesus looked at them, feeling anger and pity for the hardness of their hearts, and said to the injured man, "Open your hand." He then opened and held out his hand, and it was as good as new. The Liberals then fled from the scene to plot with Herod's people against Jesus, and plan how they might destroy him.
ANALYSIS
First off, to get to the republican reading, not only do we have to change the word "Pharisees" to "elites," then we have to draw the ridiculous conclusion that all liberals are elitists and all elitists are liberals. NEVERMIND that the Pharisees were an actual, historical group of people (Pharisee: A member of an ancient Jewish sect that emphasized strict interpretation and observance of the Mosaic law in both its oral and written form.), who, in their strict adherence to religious tradition were much more akin to modern republicans than modern liberals. If they are bad guys, they MUST be liberals. I don’t think anyone with half a brain would look at this passage as anything but a 1984-ish rewrite of history wherein liberals = Oceania.
Since the cult who will buy this junk already reads those distortions into the text, and since people looking earnestly for spiritual guidance from the Bible will likely recognize the grotesque distortions. I believe all we have to do is sit back and watch them destroy themselves. It might even help to do some hand-wringing and announce your fear of this bold new republican strategy.