Monday, December 12, 2011

Cosmic irony?


It was my birthday back in October and my family, knowing what a sucker for a good scientific/factual read I am decided that a good present would be a subscription to the National Geographic magazine, a completely splendid idea it was too, and I was thrilled and grateful to receive it.

The first of my subscription plopped onto our doormat a week or so ago, I opened it with great anticipation only to discover that the leading "front cover" story, in my first edition was titled "The King James Bible". Cosmic irony? Actually it was an article about the making of the 1611 book, it's origins and some of its history. Quite interesting as it turned out, a work of undeniable beauty in its use of the English language, typography and phraseology but used throughout much of it's life to terrify the weak and still revered today in places where a sense of continuity with the past seems important, a legacy of ambivalence you could say.

7 comments:

Chairman Bill said...

Verily I say unto thee, it doth confusticate and beffudle me.

Steve Borthwick said...

CB, amen to that..

Elizabeth said...

It is Jesus trying to send you a message. He chooses many creative ways, including taking over covers of popular magazines. I expect to read about your change of heart in a post in here anyday now.

Steve Borthwick said...

E, yes deities aren't big on clear concise communication are they.. :) As for a change of heart, just waiting for a shred of evidence, once that's in then I'll be first in line.

Gary said...

Unfortunately if Jesus were sending you a message through that particular translation it would be "Do what the king says, peasant". Even in those days other, more transformative translations were available.

Steve Borthwick said...

G, that's more or less what the piece in the magazine concluded too; talk about politics and religion, those guys certainly knew how to mix it up!

Gary said...

To a large degree, they wouldn't have seen any difference.