Wikipedia:Mediation Cabal/Cases/2006-01-06 Jehovah's Witnesses - New World Translation
Request for cabal mediation
Request Information
- Request made by: Duffer 17:07, 6 January 2006 (UTC)
- Where is the issue taking place?
- New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- What's going on?
- An edit war between myself, Tommstein, and Mini is taking place. I added this issue to an already on-going mediation process of an unrelated issue (as it involves the same people), but was told to start a new mediation request. The war is centered around this paragraph (Characteristics of the Translation):
- The New World Translation is intended to be a literal rendering rather than a paraphrase. To a very great extent, one English word has been selected for each Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic word and effort has been made to adhere to this rendering, context allowing, and where such would not conflict with their beliefs ([1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]). Some maintain that this makes the translation sound wooden, stiff or verbose, whereas others feel that it favors accuracy, facilitates cross-reference work and helps preserve the flavor of the original texts.
- Specifically the line: .."and where such would not conflict with their beliefs ([9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16])".
- This is nothing more than POV libel based on highly prejudiced interpretations of fact. I have provided on the talk page, not only support in favor of the New World Translation, but I have also offered compromise that I believe to be inline with Wiki NPOV (as the above edit in question clearly isn't) (Talk page: "and where such would not conflict with their beliefs".
- What would you like to change about that?
- I want the line in question deleted entirely, with specific criticisms of the translation to be brought forth in a NPOV and concise manner. Not as it is now (unwarranted libel of an entire translation based on subjective interpretation of highly biased sources).
- If you'd prefer we work discreetly, how can we reach you?
- I do not wish discretion. Most of the people actively involved with the Jehovah's Witness Wiki Project will likely want to follow this mediation.
Comments by others
The sentence gives the impression as if the NWT is the one and only translation giving "real" meaning of the original writings. As with others the NWT also is biased and therefore "context allowing" isn't enough for some renderings. My understanding - and it may lack some knowledge of english expressions - is, that a literal translation has to use (mainly) the same word and may for clarification add a note describing the meaning (not the other way round: use different words and may add a note). This is not true in this case as shown by some examples.--Mini 18:01, 6 January 2006 (UTC)
I am hereby recusing from this one, because I think I am, in effect involved in it. In the interests of full disclosure, I will elaborate what happened here in full. Upon being asked to check over the Tommstein/Retcon issue that cropped up at User talk:Kelly Martin by an administrator on IRC, I reviewed User:Tommstein's contributions and noticed a pattern of WP:CIVIL and WP:NPOV violations. I made a warning to this user; upon having received an e-mail from another dispute participant informing me that the user is continuing the same pattern of conduct, and reviewing his contributions again (in conjunction with his uncooperative and uncivil response), I ascertained that the warning had been ignored and placed a cautionary 24hr block on this user. Tommstein continues to dispute the block even though it is some time since it expired. --NicholasTurnbull | (talk) 04:34, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
- He has also completely disregarded your suggestion that he stay away from the Jehovah's Witness and related pages. Duffer 05:19, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
- That relates to the translation characteristics of the New World Translation of the Bible? Interesting.Tommstein 08:11, 7 January 2006 (UTC)