And on an OT note that will totally distract from the post Ive just written above, here's a pic on gawker.com of Ann Coulter talking to Tim Robbins at the Wenner Media Holiday party What a pairing. 
Posted on 01/21/2005 4:38:06 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
NEW YORK (Talon News) -- Rock music magazine Rolling Stone rejected an ad on Wednesday for a new Bible translation designed to reach "spiritually intrigued 18- to 34-year-olds" because it was deemed too religious.
Zondervan, the largest Bible publisher in the United States, was hoping to purchase space in the popular secular magazine to attract their target consumers for the new "Today's New International Version of the Bible," which is due to hit bookstores in February.
Doug Lockhart, who serves as the executive vice president of marketing for Zondervan, said he purchased the ad in Rolling Stone last July in preparation for the campaign to promote this new Bible.
"We were surprised and certainly disappointed that Rolling Stone had changed their mind and rejected our ad," Lockhart told the Associated Press.
Kent Brownridge, the general manager for Rolling Stone's parent company Wenner Media, said the Zondervan ad "doesn't quite feel right in the magazine."
"The copy is a little more than an ad for the Bible," Brownridge explained to USA Today.
He added, "It's a religious message that I personally don't disagree with."
But he said since there is "a spiritual message in the text," the ad would not be allowed to appear in Rolling Stone, because "we are not in the business of publishing advertising for religious messages."
"It's hard to have a policy that covers every conceivable product," Brownridge continued to USA Today when asked why the magazine granted Zondervan permission to advertise.
Talon News was unable to find any policy against "religious messages" on the Rolling Stone web site on Thursday.
Lockhart said he offered to change the ad, but Rolling Stone would not permit him to do so and refused to provide any written policy banning religious messages from appearing in Rolling Stone ads.
Lockhart said the ad does not even mention the name of God and features a young male looking intently at a Bible.
"In a world of almost endless media noise and political spin, you wonder where you can find real truth," the ad reads. "Well, now there's a source that's accurate, clear and reliable. It's the TNIV - Today's New International Version of the Bible. It's written in today's language, for today's times - and it makes more sense than ever."
Despite Rolling Stone's rejection of this ad, Lockhart said it will be featured in other media formats, including Modern Bride magazine, The Onion, MTV.com, VH-1 and America Online.
Zondervan is still disappointed their ad will not be featured in Rolling Stone as part of its $1 million blitz to reach an audience that is not accustomed to seeing an ad for a Bible.
"Our mission is more people engaging the Bible more, and Rolling Stone was a perfect fit for the group we want to reach," Lockhart explained to USA Today. "This rejection underscores the challenge we face."
Lockhart states Zondervan will not pursue any legal action against Rolling Stone for rejecting their ad and is still hopeful they will reconsider their decision.
"We were excited about it," Lockhart told Christian Retailing magazine. "We were surprised and disappointed when they changed their mind last week."
The TNIV is the first update of the New International Version, the world's bestselling English translation of the Bible, since 1978. The new language and interpretation is meant to appeal better to the younger generation of Bible readers.
Copyright © 2005 Talon News -- All rights reserved.
I see. While I see the benefit of a "thought for thought" approach, I think it is important to also keep in mind the historical context of the author. It's not how somebody today would say it, but rather how somebody *then* would have said had they spoken english as we do. Subtle, but important differences.
That's the mistake that the "Living Bible" made...
BTTT
Flippant, but true. I've seen the ads in RS and it's a sad reflection on their readership. RS may have done the bible publisher a favor. It didn't sound like a good strategy to begin with. They no doubt can spend their advertising dollars better elsewhere.
I've read it pal. Still don't get your "hostility" reference, buddy boy.
As if the world expected RS mag to be tolerant. Only conservatives must be tolerant. And yet, some cannot see the double-standard. Sheep...
The sad irony here is that mags like RS and Spin are mouthpieces for the big corporate music industry. These are two of the most "conservative" rags on the market. They risk offending no-one, despite the pho-"progressive" image they flout.
It would take a ballsy editor indeed to go ahead with this ad.
No one has ever accused Big Music of having a pair.
I don't think anybody would be surprised that Rolling Stone would consider a Christian ad unsuitable for their magazine.
I'm rather surprised a Christian organization would even want to advertize in Rolling Stone.
I'm familiar with the NIV, but not the newer one.
It is the gender politically correct version and has caused great contraversy in the Protestant world.
I'm not completely sure if there's a bible in the house, if there is, it's the King James version, though.
Huh?
I'm not sure what you are asking me?
I'm not sure at all what you were talking about above.
I just meant that, not being very religious, I haven't looked at my bible in awhile. But the version I own is the King James version, which I like.
Frankly, I'm suprised none of them have made it onto this thread yet.
I hadn't known about that contorversy!
I just now googled KJV - apparently the the intent of that translation was that it be written in a more or less contemporary language for the English people of that time, 1611. Like many others, I find the language often quite beautiful.
ping
And on an OT note that will totally distract from the post Ive just written above, here's a pic on gawker.com of Ann Coulter talking to Tim Robbins at the Wenner Media Holiday party What a pairing.
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
Outside of doctor/dentist offices, Does anyone even subscribe to this rag anymore?
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