> > >The democratic process is vital to writting software like SWORD. > Actually pure democracy does not make good software either. Even more so it has been observed that the skill differential between programmers exceeds 10:1. Rarely is free software a democracy. It's more like a small inner circle, each with their own particular status and reputation. And the final result is judged and used (or not) on its own merits.
Nobody yet knows what would happen if such an "open bible translation" were to be attempted. If you'd said 20 years ago, "hey, let's develop an OS over the internet, and anybody can join in", you would have been shouted down and debunked as a lunatic. People would have said you can't get a coherent design in that kind of unstructured environment with no design, road map or direction. There may be someone lurking on the net who has, perhaps, spent 10 years analysing say Romans, and while un-recognised, is capable of producing the most eloquent translation yet attempted. If the skills of the whole world of bible study could be brought to bear on this problem, you just don't know how good it can get. If anyone ever attempts it, then we shall find out.
