And why should that bother you?
“In the beginning was the Word… and then someone redacted it.”
Let’s talk about biblical censorship—not the sexy Da Vinci Code kind, but the real stuff: deliberate edits, omissions, rewrites, and reinterpretations of one of humanity’s most foundational texts. This is the Bible as curated by councils, kings, markets, and now Big Tech.
The Word of God is brought to you by a committee. And yes, we’re going to have a little fun while we pull back the veil.
Exhibit A: The Gospel According to Redacted
Even if you have read your Bible cover to cover, you have only glimpsed the full text. What we call The Bible is the final cut of a theological Survivor—whole books were voted off the island.
- The Gospel of Thomas? Too mystical.
- The Gospel of Mary? A woman writing theology? Not in this patriarchy.
- The Book of Enoch? Too weird, too much cosmic horror, too much Watcher fanfic.
Early moderators, the church councils, cast out these and other books. The Nicene Council didn’t just debate theology—they curated reality. We’ve been living with that editorial choice ever since.
Language Games: Lost in Translation
Every translation is an interpretation. And some of those interpretations? Straight-up censorship.
Examples:
- “Thou shalt not kill” is more accurately “You shall not murder”—but if you’re trying to recruit soldiers for a holy war, “kill” sounds much more… flexible.
- The Hebrew word almah means young woman, but with a bit of creative translation, it became virgin. Virgin birth? Great for a miracle.
And don't even get me started on how the Aramaic, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin filters transformed raw desert poetry into tame, politically acceptable devotionals.
What They Don’t Want You to Ask
There are whole parts of the Bible that churchgoers never hear in sermons, even though they’re canon. Why? Because they’re not on-brand:
- Psalm 137:9 – Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. That’s not exactly Sunday School material.
- Genesis 6:4 – The Nephilim. Giant hybrids. Angelic weirdness. Netflix series, coming soon.
- Song of Songs (aka the Biblical Spice Channel) – A steamy love poem buried in your grandma’s Good Book. Most pastors skip it or spiritualize it as: Jesus is the bridegroom. Sure, bro.
Modern Censorship: Sanitized for Your Safety
Bible censorship isn't just ancient history—it's now woven into the algorithm.
- Some translations funded by certain denominations deliberately remove gender-neutral language, references to slavery, or mentions of hell to align with their theology.
- Publishers prioritize marketable Bibles, creating study editions with footnotes that subtly neutralize controversial interpretations.
- Governments—yes, even those championing freedom—have shaped Bible translations to reinforce nationalism. (Looking at you, King James.)
And let's not forget Big Tech. Do you think your Bible app isn't tracking your searches? Try looking up Lucifer, masturbation, or Romans 1. Predetermined interpretations shoot to the top faster than Jesus on Easter morning.
The Future of Censorship
Big Tech has now bundled censorship into the tools we use every day. They first controlled the search engines, social media moderation, and now the chatbots.
The application of these moderation policies has led to specific challenges when engaging with religious content:
- Censorship of Specific Passages: Users have reported instances where quoting certain Bible verses triggers content violations, particularly those containing graphic or controversial themes.
- Inconsistent Treatment Across Religions: Observations have revealed disparities in how content related to different religions is moderated, leading to perceptions of bias.
- Limitations on Theological Discussions: In-depth theological debates or explorations of complex religious doctrines may be curtailed to prevent potential misuse or misinterpretation.
Evolving Policies and Public Feedback
OpenAI acknowledges the complexities involved in moderating AI-generated content and has taken steps to refine its approach:
- Model Specification Updates: OpenAI has released an expanded Model Spec to enhance transparency and enable more nuanced handling of complex and sensitive topics.
- Public Engagement: The company has invited public feedback to align its models with diverse user expectations better while maintaining safety standards.
Understanding OpenAI’s Content Moderation Policies
OpenAI’s content moderation framework is designed to prevent the generation of harmful or inappropriate content. Key aspects include:
- Prohibited Content: This encompasses sexually explicit material, hate speech, and content that promotes violence or self-harm.
- Sensitive Topics: Discussions around religion, politics, and other sensitive areas are approached with caution to avoid offending users or spreading misinformation.
- Automated and Human Oversight: OpenAI employs a combination of automated systems and human reviewers to enforce these policies.
Implications for Religious Texts
The application of these moderation policies has led to specific challenges when engaging with religious content:
- Censorship of Specific Passages: Users have reported instances where quoting certain Bible verses triggers content violations, particularly those containing graphic or controversial themes.
- Inconsistent Treatment Across Religions: Observations have revealed disparities in how content related to different religions is moderated, leading to perceptions of bias.
- Limitations on Theological Discussions: In-depth theological debates or explorations of complex religious doctrines may be curtailed to prevent potential misuse or misinterpretation.
Navigating the Intersection of AI and Religious Discourse
While content moderation aims to protect users, we must ensure that it doesn’t suppress religious discussions. Finding the right balance will take communication, time, and patience. However, first, we must find the willpower to say no to any form of censorship.
The Deeper Sin
Censoring the Bible is not a matter of editorial discretion. We’re teaching people that they can’t handle the divine unless we turn it into a Disney film. That truth should never be whitewashed before it’s preached.
That's the real sin: taking the Bible, something sacred, and sanitizing it into something safe.
So What Do We Do About It?
- Read multiple translations. Compare and contrast them. Think critically.
- Dig into the Apocrypha and the Gnostic gospels. They’re not always right, but no one is.
- Talk about the ugly verses. Wrestle with them like Jacob did. That’s where the blessing is.
- Support transparency in religious publishing. The Word shouldn’t have a marketing team.
Final Thought
God doesn’t need a censor. Let’s stop acting like the truth is fragile. Read boldly, question freely, and reject the illusion that we can gate-keep the divine. And if you’re going to edit the Bible, at least have the guts to put your name on the red pen.