Confusion arises over whether online Bible website is being blocked in UK

A growing number of social media users are worried that the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) is being used to restrict access to the massively popular Bible Gateway website.

The OSA was passed in 2023 with the purported aim of making Britain the “safest place in the world to be online.” Among other things, the ominous-sounding measure seeks to prevent minors from accessing X-rated websites as well as prohibiting the spread of misinformation, terrorism, child abuse, and similar unsavory content.

On Thursday, dozens of users on the Elon Musk-owned social media platform X shared screen shots that seemed to suggest they were being prevented from visiting the website due to the OSA.

“If you ever needed proof this legislation was a Trojan horse and our government is diametrically opposed to our nation’s Christian values and heritage here it is,” Brett Murphy, an Anglican cleric living in the UK, argued. “The ‘online safety act’ has been used to block the website ‘Bible gateway’ a Web page that has multiple bible translations and commentaries available for free.

Confusion arises over whether online Bible website is being blocked in UK - LifeSite

Some users have complained that they aren't able to access the Bible Gateway website, but the publisher stated that it's due to a technical issue.

www.lifesitenews.com

 

[Spartan Sprinter]

Guess i better start getting use to it and reading from my physical bible now if this is going to become the norm this side of the tribulation

 

[Tall Timbers]

I just connected via a United Kingdom IP address and tried to surf to biblegateway.com and got this notice:

Content Unavailable​

Bible Gateway is currently unavailable to consumers in the United Kingdom and European Union due to technical issues. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

Paid Bible Gateway Plus account users in these regions should receive a refund for their subscription no later than September 15, 2025. If you have not received a refund by this date, please reach out to Customer Service.

It's definitely blocked. The UK has fallen.

What UK users can do is use a VPN and choose an IP from a country that still allows access to biblegateway.com.

 

[Spartan Sprinter]

The west is slowly falling, i hope they ban the equivalent of the online Koran too !!!

 

[Everlasting Life]

I just connected via a United Kingdom IP address and tried to surf to biblegateway.com and got this notice:

Content Unavailable​

Bible Gateway is currently unavailable to consumers in the United Kingdom and European Union due to technical issues. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

Paid Bible Gateway Plus account users in these regions should receive a refund for their subscription no later than September 15, 2025. If you have not received a refund by this date, please reach out to Customer Service.

It's definitely blocked. The UK has fallen.

What UK users can do is use a VPN and choose an IP from a country that still allows access to biblegateway.com.

So very sad. Sure have been praying for the church there....



ETA: While online material is handy, I think having the physical in hand is better. Things disappear from tech areas....

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

The west is slowly falling, i hope they ban the equivalent of the online Koran too !!!

islam/sharia is "almost certainly" why the website is blocked. The q'ran won't be blocked. It'll probably get a pinned spot right on top of search results, browsers, etc.

I just connected via a United Kingdom IP address and tried to surf to biblegateway.com and got this notice:

Content Unavailable​

Bible Gateway is currently unavailable to consumers in the United Kingdom and European Union due to technical issues. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

Paid Bible Gateway Plus account users in these regions should receive a refund for their subscription no later than September 15, 2025. If you have not received a refund by this date, please reach out to Customer Service.

It's definitely blocked. The UK has fallen.

What UK users can do is use a VPN and choose an IP from a country that still allows access to biblegateway.com.

They can also use Tor (if they can get to it; they may have to do a manual configuration, experiment with various bridges, settings, etc.). What works one time, may or may not work the next, and what has stopped working, may start working again.

If they have a phone with a US, or maybe Canadian or other country, phone number, they may be able to access that way, either directly or by tethering.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Went to a 3rd-party (Open Rights Group) website to check blocking status in UK. Some ISPs have been blocking for awhile, but another just started.

I checked specific site blocking BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages.

Check if a site is being blocked

Report incorrectly blocked sites on UK ISP and mobile networks.

www.blocked.org.uk

I checked for blocking of sites in the category Christianity, and found that 116 websites are blocked

Websites being blocked by UK Internet Service Providers

Report incorrectly blocked sites on UK ISP and mobile networks.

www.blocked.org.uk

The same ISP that started blocking Biblegateway is also blocking the Church of England's website Check if a site is being blocked, as of today. This is especially alarming because it's the OFFICIAL National Church.

Check if a site is being blocked

Report incorrectly blocked sites on UK ISP and mobile networks.

www.blocked.org.uk

My denomination and the partner church in England not blocked.

The ISP Three merged with Vodaphone and is going to merge with Smarty. Not going to link to them, so they don't see it via Google (linked sites) and block CCF.

So now, is the King going to uphold his oath regarding the Church of England?

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Some sites are saying it's not just UK, that it's EU.

Hope @Kaatje doesn't have issues getting there or here.

 

[Cheeky200386]

That’s sad to see.

 

[Tall Timbers]

I tried loading biblegateway.com with IPs from Nederlands and then Spain, and got the samed blocked messsge that I got with the UK IP.

I figured that the a/c would have every Christian related site blocked lickety split. I never imagined that might happen before the Rapture.

 

[Everlasting Life]

I tried loading biblegateway.com with IPs from Nederlands and then Spain, and got the samed blocked messsge that I got with the UK IP.

I figured that the a/c would have every Christian related site blocked lickety split. I never imagined that might happen before the Rapture.

Was just coming on to mention similar thoughts.

Bible Gateway is currently unavailable to consumers in the United Kingdom and European Union...

I'm struck that this creeping darkness opens up greater darkness to emerge, sets up the conditions for that 10 toe gov. of Daniel to perhaps start emerging....

 

[Margery]

Still working from Canada - probably not for long. We are dovetailing our regulations to match the EU and I saw some headline that our hate speech and hate crime laws are being "tightened".

 

[Andiamo]

This is shocking and sad. What about other sites like BibleHub? How about the Blue Letter Bible app?

 

[Spartan Sprinter]

This is shocking and sad. What about other sites like BibleHub? How about the Blue Letter Bible app?

I was about to ask about bible hub ?

for as lefty and loopy as Australia is becoming, their saving grace is at least with the bible etc they still allow it access

 

[Amethyst]

Can’t picture the UK doing this while the Queen was still alive.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Can’t picture the UK doing this while the Queen was still alive.

She would have violated tradition and "rules," and marched right over to Parliament and "fixed it"
If she were younger, maybe commandeered a fast horse (she was an accomplished rider).
Her driver probably wouldn't have even gotten the car into position at Buckingham before she was already at Parliament.
And security at Parliament would have fainted dead away at her anger/righteous indignation as she swept past.


It can't be long, now

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

I tried loading biblegateway.com with IPs from Nederlands and then Spain, and got the samed blocked messsge that I got with the UK IP.

I figured that the a/c would have every Christian related site blocked lickety split. I never imagined that might happen before the Rapture.

Remember when the ISP was censoring when I was at Parents' house and I had issues getting onto some Christian sites from time-to-time?
It's only happened a few times here (same ISP).

Wonder if that was a dry run/testing for the ISP doing the same thing in the U.S.
Wonder if it happened as often as it did because of the facilities, etc. that are located not far from where my Parents lived.

Once again, BIGTech deciding what people can access, read, see, and use

In the case of Great Britain, BIGTech aided, abetted, and enabled by government.

Don't think it can't or won't happen in the U.S., because it already has.


FWIW, the signal of the Christian radio station I listen to in the car gets "interfered with" sometimes. I don't know, but I wonder if the times of the "interference" coincide with the "calls to blasphemy" No audible minarets in most places, but a strong, silent signal could be broadcast, which might jam the FM signal and/or interfere with reception. Cedar Riverside community, which is mostly muslim, and has at least one mosque, isn't very far from the transmitting towers for Faith Radio.

 

[1LoverofGod]

****This explains why the UK is censoring bible content online.......

MPs including Keir Starmer chose a secular oath to the King. Should Christians be concerned?​

Sir Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, chose to make a ‘solemn affirmation’ that makes no reference to God. He was not the only one to make this choice. Penny Mordaunt, the newly appointed Leader of the House of Commons in Liz Truss’ cabinet, also chose to affirm rather than take an oath.

The reason that Sir Keir chose to affirm rather than swear an oath is because he is an atheist.

It is entirely pointless to expect an atheist to take an oath in the name of a God in whom they do not believe.

MPs including Keir Starmer chose a secular oath to the King. Should Christians be concerned?

As His Majesty Charles III was proclaimed King, MPs across the parties pledged their allegiance. Several, including the Leader of the Opposition, chose not to swear on the Bible, making a secular 'solemn affirmation' instead, but John Stevens says this isn't necessarily as bad as it sounds

www.premierchristianity.com

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

****This explains why the UK is censoring bible content online.......

MPs including Keir Starmer chose a secular oath to the King. Should Christians be concerned?​

Sir Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, chose to make a ‘solemn affirmation’ that makes no reference to God. He was not the only one to make this choice. Penny Mordaunt, the newly appointed Leader of the House of Commons in Liz Truss’ cabinet, also chose to affirm rather than take an oath.

The reason that Sir Keir chose to affirm rather than swear an oath is because he is an atheist.

It is entirely pointless to expect an atheist to take an oath in the name of a God in whom they do not believe.

MPs including Keir Starmer chose a secular oath to the King. Should Christians be concerned?

As His Majesty Charles III was proclaimed King, MPs across the parties pledged their allegiance. Several, including the Leader of the Opposition, chose not to swear on the Bible, making a secular 'solemn affirmation' instead, but John Stevens says this isn't necessarily as bad as it sounds

www.premierchristianity.com

"Sir" Keir has violated his oath, which includes the duty to adhere to knightly values/virtues, which include being a devout Christian.

Perhaps he needs to be stripped of his rank and title(s)


If I were a UK citizen, I would be concerned, as the UK has an official religion (Christianity) with a State Church(es): Church of England and Church of Scotland. State Churches of Ireland and Wales are now independent.

I'm not concerned in the same way in the United States, as there is no official religion or church, and the First Amendment prohibits establishment of same. However, I do believe whomever is taking an oath needs to swear it to the god in which he or she believes, using whatever scripture he or she uses, so it's open and known by all. Personally, I do take into account someone's religious beliefs when deciding whom to vote for.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

My ISP dropped my internet connection. When I checked using my phone (different provider), it said "planned maintenance." Um, no. They always provide a warning when there's going to be "planned maintenance." Wonder if it has anything to do with what's going on in EU and GB, or if it's because the publicized possible Rapture date, or because of Rosh Hashanna starting