You can’t always trust the headlines

10th May 2007

You can’t always trust the headlines

Categories : Personal |

Christian Today – Christian News - Prince Wants to Study Bible

I think I can see at least one way in which urban myths get started - incomplete media reporting or insufficient background research. The above story [via CraigS], on the Christian News website “Christian Today” details how funk rock star Prince is to “take time off music to study the Bible.” There is no editorializing or further detail but the implication of such a headline on a Christian news site has to be that Prince is doing the good Christian thing and studying the Word - ie : “Ain’t it great that another big rock star has joined the Christian flock! Another great moment for the church. Great to have another Christian musician to add to the likes of U2 and … Cliff Richard” Maybe I’m extrapolating too much but I think that captures the basic sentiment that a lot of Christian readers would have when they see that story. And then they’ll tell their churchy friends about how Prince has become a Christian and is studying the Bible, and the message will spread and grow like Chinese whispers, maybe even get printed in other publications, websites, or books…

But in actual fact the reality is somewhat different. In fact it’s more like Cliff Richard in reverse, since The Artist currently known as Prince is actually an active Jehovah’s Witness (see here or just Google for verification). So when he says he is taking time off to study the ‘Bible’ it is most likely the dodgy New World Translation he will be studying, and learning more about the JW religion. For a Christian news outlet to report Prince’s Bible study but to leave out these crucial facts shows gross incompetence in their background research. I would hope that such blatant misinformation would not have occurred intentionally. Either way, it’s a worry. You can’t always trust the headlines.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 10th, 2007 at 9:36 am and is filed under Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On September 25th, 2007, Peter said:

huh dodgy.
Im not a baptized Jehovah,s witness but i will say this about them, they are the only religion that upholds the bible principles to the best of there abilities. And i comend Prince for choosing a religion with such high standards.

2 On September 25th, 2007, baggas said:

Peter I agree the JWs do often put genuine Christians to shame when it comes to intensity and fervour and commitment. But unfortuantely their commitment is misplaced - they are not upholding ‘biblical principles’ because their “Bible” is a faulty translation and their religion teaches unscriptual teachings. So in a way it’s good that Prince has found religion, it’s just a shame which one he picked.

3 On November 18th, 2007, JIm said:

Dodgy? You are most certainly misinformed. Try reading: Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament by Jason David BeDuhn.
See:
http://www.amazon.com/Truth-Translation-Accuracy-Translations-Testament/dp/0761825568/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195368610&sr=8-2
The Jehovah’s Witness Bible is an accurate translation of the original languages and does not teach “unscriptural teachings.”
Compare it to other Bible translations, not just contemporary popular Bible translations sold at huge profits
(although those will be helpful comparisons as well-check out some very telling footnotes and forewords),
and you will find there is no rendering that has to been published elsewhere by someone else.
The Truth will set you free…………

4 On January 29th, 2008, mike said:

matthew 24:14 and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come. kj version jws are the only ones doing the preaching of the good news house to house .acts5:42 and daily in the temple and in every house they did not cease teaching and preaching jesus as the christ.one of jesus cammands that nobody follows exept JWS.