Printed in China Bibles

trek4fr said:

I love Bibles. I have a ton of them. I always have. I guess I'm fascinated by their longevity.

Once in a while, a new Bible comes along that I feel I just have to have. But, lately, the new ones I've purchased seem to all be printed in China. This causes me...concern. I mean, one of the big themes in the Bible is justice and freedom from oppression. The scriptures, especially Jesus' teachings on the kingdom of God, often talk about people being treated justly, fairly, as valued human beings.

So, when I see that my newer Bibles are "Printed in China", probably by workers who make relatively less in a year than I do in one day, it bothers me.

Should it? Is this much ado about nothing?

Or do the publishers have the right to print their materials anywhere their like, regardless of the conditions of the workers who actually create the finished product?

What do you think?

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They have the right, but having the right to do something doesn't necessarily make it the right thing to do. If you aren't comfortable with the ethics if it, there are Bibles printed elsewhere.

trek4fr said:

The scriptures, especially Jesus' teachings on the kingdom of God, often talk about people being treated justly, fairly, as valued human beings.

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There are many scriptures concerning the treatment of slaves. These Chinese workers actually earn a wage and seem to be treated in accordance with how the bible says slaves should be treated, which is fairly and justly. Certainly, their working conditions may not be as ritzy as many of us have been accustomed to, but there's nothing in the bible about equal treatment for all people. Some were slaves. Some were kings. That's just how it was then, and it's the same now.

This reminds me of something John Stossel once said when reporting on "sweatshops" in China, which turned out to not be so bad after all: "What's wrong with a little sweat?" And when you think about it, that's right. I'm not so sure that it's that Chinese workers are oppressed, so much as that Americans in general are softies with a sense of entitlement. I know that's not a politically "liberal" viewpoint, but I think it is a valid Christian critique of modern American society. I'd say give thanks to God for the blessings you have in America, pray that justice and prosperity be upon our Chinese brothers and sisters, and all will be well.

By helping to print the word. Maybe some have been saved.

Thom79 said:

By helping to print the word. Maybe some have been saved.

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Ummm, how many of those Bibles are actually printed in Mandarin? I would suspect that a large majority of them are printed in English and other languages.

Haven't you folks read the recent articles about the suicides taking place in the Chinese factory where they make Apple products? They've actually had to install nets in the bottom of the factory floor to stop factory workers from climbing to the top level and jumping to their death!

Labor laws aren't enforced in China like they are in the US. That's why our corporations enjoy exploiting their workforce. That's all about to change. When the Chinese let their currency appreciate in value most of workforce will demand better working conditions with benefits. It's easy for the right wing in this country to say "15 year old girls working in a factory for 17 hours a day and having their wages go to pay for living expenses in their dorm and only getting 1 day off a week is good for them. It teaches them humility." The problem with that is you've never worked a 16 hour day for meager wages without any time off. The Chinese are eventually going to rise up and demand a better lifestyle once the US consumer is not longer needed to subsidize their economy. Think about what you preach before you say "it's not that bad."

Romans 16:21-27 (King James Version)

21Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, saluteyou.22I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, saluteyou in the Lord.23Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, salutethyou. Erastus the chamberlain of the city salutethyou, and Quartus a brother.24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.25Now to him that is of power to stablishyou according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began , 26But now is made manifest , and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made knownto all nations for the obedience of faith:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen .

I don't think we should purchase or distribute Bibles that have been created evilly. Nor any other product, but it is particularly loathsome to taint the Scriptures that way. But then, I don't think Bibles should be "products" in the first place, neither bought nor sold.

But hey, I'm just a crazy liberal. I'm sure when Jesus said not to make his temple a marketplace he only meant that temple, not that it was wrong to profit off people's faith to begin with. So no worries, sell your baubles, exploit your workers, drown the Word in the cynical practicality of the profit margin...

Not to add fuel to the fire.. Is the majority of Bibles being printed there these days ? Or is it just certain companies and or translations?. .

To be honest.. When it came to the word of God I never really stopped and considered where it was printed. Just as long as it was a legitimate translation and publisher.. But in this day and age of greed&worship of the all mighty dollar. I can now see where the sacred word of God is viewed as just another marketing scheme..Then again it happened in the New Testament times as while.. Nothing new under the sun-Solomon

So one should put much prayer in choosing that new Bible and let the Spirit guide them.