Christianity's missionary nature has resulted in a vast number of translations of the Bible. More than other great scriptures? Well, since the Q'uran is, IIRC, supposed to be read in the language of the Prophet, certainly more than are likely to be extant for Islam. Likely more than other world religions, too. Buddhism has that same incentive upon its practicioners to spread the Word, but Buddhism doesn't place the same zeal upon it that Christianity and Islam do. The other World Religion Scriptures are translated because they are great works, not because the Word must be spread to all peoples for the sakes of their souls.
Thus, as I stated above, for the reasons the project gave for making their choice, I cannot fault the choice they made. I would have chosen differently, if it were my choice to make, but not because I have any particular dislike of Christian Scripture.
Hmmm... another thought occurs to me, for a candidate for translation: there are cuniform texts of the Epic Of Gilgamesh. That's old!
But, the downside to my choices are that they would require translation; Genesis has already been very widely translated, as the article points out. |
