Bible software companies are hitting big profits, and growing fast. What once was thought of as a ridiculous business idea has turned out to be a catching phenomenon: It turns out bible readers like their daily bread on their laptop, preferably served with a side of study guide questions and pleasing graphics. But with this growing business sector comes a hot issue: As the companies expand to markets overseas, and hire outside translation services, they often get a female translator. Christian leaders are asking, is it appropriate for a woman to translate, or is translation a leadership role that should be allotted to men?

?

Within most bible companies today, leadership is maintained by the men. Women are often found in secretarial or assistant roles, but rarely are they seen in top leadership. However, when male leaders receive work from a translation company, they legally cannot specify that they would prefer a male translator. Enter conflicted feelings. What often happens is that a translation company is hired, the company assigns the project to a group of translators, and one or more in the group is female. Refusing to work with a woman at that point in the project would be obviously discriminatory, which is why bible executives usually just swallow their feelings and work with the female. They fear a discrimination lawsuit, and they fear appearing politically incorrect, but behind closed doors, executives are concerned that female translators have more control than they would like.

?

Leadership in translation services is a gray area. When a translator is doing software localization services for a company, does it really qualify as a leadership role? Even if it were a leadership role, why would it be wrong for a woman to lead?

?

Those who say yes, translation equals leadership, are usually envisioning a verbal translator standing before a congregation. They may have once witnessed a translator standing next to a minister, and felt that the translator had nearly equal footing in power. Then, imagining a woman in this role may provoke feelings of threat, or fear that God would disapprove.

?

The question of female leadership in the Christian church has long been a controversial issue. I live in a progressive, hippy-dominated town, and as a child, I attended a “non-denominational” Christian church that professed to be modern. By all appearances, it was modern. We had a grungy looking rock band, and the minister preached about love, not fire and brimstone. But when the choir leader’s wife began to adlib after her vocal solos, the church got uncomfortable. I remember how I loved her voice, and the way she would praise God after singing, softly speaking in poetic phrases. One day she stopped speaking. She still stood there, next to her husband singing, although with a less vibrant tone, but she no longer spoke freely. I discovered that the church elders had silenced her, ruling that her expression of worship was beginning to look too much like leadership. Soon after that, she left the church, and so did I.

?

People against female leadership quote from the Bible, but they only quote the sections that support their views. There are many cases in the Bible that support female leadership. The bottom line is, why suppress anyone’s call to worship or lead in worship? Is that not suppressing the Holy Spirit itself?

?

Bible software executives may be currently undecided about female leadership as it pertains to translation, but it is in these ambiguous areas that issues find their most fruitful evolution.

About the Author:

About the Author: Amy Brevard is a Freelance Writer working for Innuity. For more information about software localization, or to find a translation company go to Multiling”>http://www.multiling.com”>Multiling.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Should Women Translate Religious Documents?

Essential Bible Study Library $7.99 The Perfect Introduction to Electronic Bible Study!The Essential Bible Study Library includes the Libronix software--the world's best Bible study software--and a powerful collection of the electronic versions of trusted Thomas Nelson Bibles, Bible reference works, and devotionals. You will be able to study the Bible like never before. Search for any word or topic in any of your Bibles or books. Cr...

The ESV Study Bible $25.98 The ESV Study Bible, Personal Size compresses nearly all the features of the award-winning ESV Study Bible into a smaller size for easier carrying. This Personal Size edition retains all of the original’s 20,000 study notes, 240 full-color maps and illustrations, charts, timelines, and introductions—more than 2 million words of Bible text, insightful explanation, teaching, and reference materi...

NLT Study Bible Libronix Software $35.48 Go deeper into Bible study than you ever could before with one of the most comprehensive electronic study Bibles ever created. Tyndale teams up with Logos Bible Software to offer this powerful, easy-to-use electronic resource perfect for pastors, scholars, small group leaders, Sunday school teachers, and anyone who desires a meaningful personal Bible study experience. A product of over forty Bible...

SwordSearcher Bible Software For Windows With Theology,Maps,Commentary: King James, Wycliffe, Darby,Textus Receptus, Luther, Easton, Fausset, Hitchcock,Strong,Spurgeon,Albert Barnes,Burkitt Clarke, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown,Keil and Delitzsch,Newell,Poole,Scofield,Spurgeon,John Wesley,Larkin, Bullinger, and more $49.99 SwordSearcher Bible Software is People's Choice Award Winning software, voted on by thousands of people in the general public in over 80 different countries at the annual Software Industry Conference. SwordSearcher Bible Study Software provides users with many tools to enhance Bible study. SwordSearcher has an intuitive interface that is easy to learn and use, for both devotional and in-depth Bib...

QuickVerse Bible Suite 10 - Study & Reference Software - 2012 Edition (Windows & Mac) $17.94 QuickVerse Bible Suite 10 Software (updated for 2012) is the most comprehensive, easy-to-use reference library for Bible study and lesson preparation. Now you can create, plan, and research Biblical information faster and easier than ever! Unmatched Value! QuickVerse Bible Suite 10 contains 28 carefully selected Bibles and Bible Commentaries, and over 100 and Reference works including, Bible dict...

PC Study Bible Version 5 Reference Library Plus $134.96 The Reference Library Plus™ provides a collection of 78 Bible translations, commentaries, dictionaries, encyclopedias, historical and cultural references and other word study references in 210 volumes! It's an exceptional array of Scripture resources in one powerful and easy-to-use program you'll enjoy using everyday. Why frustrate yourself with difficult-to-use software or worse - searching a m...

The Bible Library Ultra Edition 6.0 $11.00 Powerful - Yet Easy & Fun to UseProduct InformationThe Ultra Bible Library opens the Bible for everyone both novice andscholar with its powerful and yet easy to use interface.  Its amazinglylow price makes it your best buy!  This award winner remains the topselling Bible software.Ultra Bible Library collection includes 14 Bibles with multiple referencesplus 1000 Christian clipart images!  Other...

Best of Bible Study and Games $53.50 Bible Study and Games will help you learn the Bible through challenging quizzes and fun games. Perfect for all members of the family. Programs included on cd: Acts of the Apostles; Apostle Paul Tutorial; APray; BibDay; Bible Baseball; Bible Jigsaw; Bible Jumbles; Bible Mem; Bible Q; Bible Student; Bible Study; Bible Verse of the Day; Breaking Through 'The Relativity Barrier'; Church Calendar; Conv...