Conservative to reinterpret the Bible

FAR HILLS, N.J., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- A New Jersey man says he is reinterpreting the Bible to excise what he considers two objectionable passages.

Andrew Schlafly, the son of conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly and head of the Conservative Bible Project, also wants to replace certain terms with language that would make the Bible more masculine, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported Sunday.

Schlafly's Bible would omit verses about snake handling and the story of the adulteress, about whom Jesus said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Schlafly said these verses should be cut because they portray Christ as being too easy on sinners.

At least one clergyman disagrees.

"If you're going to toss out the woman caught in adultery, you might as well get rid of the prodigal son or any story where Jesus is merciful. I'm not interested in that," said the Rev. Maury Davis, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Madison, Tenn.

Schlafly also wants to change the language in the Gospel of Mark, where the King James Version quotes Jesus as saying, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

Schlafly's Bible would delete "rich man" and insert "a man who cares only for money."

"Some people are (otherwise) going to get the message that 'I am going to be lazy so I can get to heaven easier,' " Schlafly said.