Ceasefire
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 5:21PM I've been blogging since 2003, and in that time, I've only completely deleted one post before today.
And yet, I believe that what started out as some friendly competition was getting out of hand on multiple levels, including the level on which I was participating.
While I believe some (but not necessarily all) reaction to my words was due to miscommunication, I must nevertheless take ownership and responsibility for what I write and say.
More seriously, arguing over Bible software seems in the end to be something that brings no glory to God, the one who has given this revelation to us to begin with. Add to that the fact that this discussion is public and a horrible witness to the culture outside of the body of Christ.
So, I have deleted the post, including the comments, and I want to offer a sincere apology to any who were offended.
I am hopeful that we can build better bridges to the future and find opportunities to be as one instead of divided.
Reader Comments (7)
I wish you had not removed the article. It was well written and unbiased. I am sorry that others are unable to have a reasonable discourse about the subject.
Rick: I respect your decision. I've seen these Bible software debates get out of hand on other blogs.
Matthew: Well written, yes, as is everything Rick writes, but unbiased? Impossible, for everyone, not just Rick.
"More seriously, arguing over Bible software, seems in the end to be something that brings no glory to God, the one who has given this revelation to us to begin with."
These words, more or less, go through my head on a daily basis. Thanks for writing them.
I only saw a couple of comments before I signed off last night, but it takes a lot of guts and conviction to pull a blog. You have my respect and hope that the conversation about utilising and improving our tools for Bible study can continue.
Hi Rick!
Having been critical on other posts I now take the time to commend you! I did not get to read the offending post or any of the replies therein but if the debate was as nasty as you describe then you did a very wise thing in taking it down. I have said this before on other Bible blogs but I don't really understand the vitriolic language and debates that rage around Bible translations and other Bible products. It is kind of sad to see sometimes. There are other much more important issues that do deserve good quality debate, not the kind of kindergarten "I know I am but what are you", type of squabbles that pass for debate in Congress and the Senate these days. (not to mention the various "experts" that just yell at each other on T.V. and talk radio).
And I want to thank you for your old post on the REB translation! I just got an electronic copy for esword and I love the way this translation reads!
The people at Bible.org have made it available for esword for a fee: http://store.bible.org/product.asp?ProductID=253
For what it is worth, I wish you had not deleted the post, as I thought it was a very fair assessment. I could understand, perhaps, pulling it if the conversation had descended into bickerings and arguments, but from my eyes it had not come to that yet. Rather, I thought it was bringing out some fruitful discussion on syntax databases, as well as informing people what is available between the different platforms.
Rick, I respect your ethical sensitivity. I hope you might find a way to revisit some of the topics that you treated in the deleted post, but in a "less personal" fashion, perhaps.
For instance, perhaps you could address the following questions related to the shootout, without reference to platforms other than Accordance:
1. What do you find to be Accordance's biggest "wow factor"?
2. What do you think are the best under-utilized features of Accordance? [Personal aside: I know that I am not using Accordance to its full capability, and want to learn more.]
In the deleted post, you implied that the challenges posed at the shootout didn't necessarily show off the most complex features of the different packages. So a third question:
3. If you were designing a shoot-out challenge to showcase what you consider Accordance's most standout features, what would that challenge look like?