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THE HOLY BIBLE: STOCK CAR RACING EDITION
Aug. 30th, 2011 09:16 amNo, really.
From the product description:
Which I post not so much to make fun of the fact that Christianity is practically the official religion of NASCAR (which can be entertaining when done right) or to make the obvious Ricky Bobby jokes (“Does this version cover only the life of the Baby Jesus?”), but because I can’t help wondering why no one thought of this sooner.
(“Sooner” being relative, since this particular Bible has been out since 2009.)
I mean, basically, it’s an NIV Bible padded out with gratuitous stock car racing photos and testimonials, which suggests to me it’s aimed at Christians who – like a lot of Christians I know – believe in Jesus but find the Bible itself kinda boring, even if you put in paintings of Noah’s ark, David and Goliath, Jesus slapping moneychangers out of the temple, etc. But stick in photos of cool race cars and Darrell Waltrip talking about his relationship with Jesus and you’ve got something more … relevant.
Okay. But if the point is to make the Bible more interesting to select demographics, it occurs to me that you could do lots of special-interest editions like this: college football, monster trucks, professional wrestling, whatever.
Or you could have celebrity editions: Mel Gibson, U2, Mr T, Stephen Baldwin, Gary Busey, etc.
Or you could do something practical, like The Holy Bible: Food Network edition, that doubles as the Word of God and the Michelin Diner’s Guide. With some recipes thrown in.
For all I know, someone’s already done all of the above, and for all I know, people have actually bought them. I just love the idea of Christian groups thinking that the way to get more Christians to read the Bible is to pack it full of stuff that technically has nothing to do with Christianity. Especially since I don’t see Islamic groups doing this kind of thing with Korans.
I’m just saying.
Tailoring it for the audience,
This is dF
From the product description:
Featuring exciting and inspiring full-color inserts with photos of and insights from stock car racing's finest personalities, the NIV Thinline Bible: Stock Car Edition is sure to be a motorsports fan's favorite Bible. Motor Racing Outreach, a ministry to the world of motorsports, has partnered with Zondervan to create this Bible designed to delight race fans.
Which I post not so much to make fun of the fact that Christianity is practically the official religion of NASCAR (which can be entertaining when done right) or to make the obvious Ricky Bobby jokes (“Does this version cover only the life of the Baby Jesus?”), but because I can’t help wondering why no one thought of this sooner.
(“Sooner” being relative, since this particular Bible has been out since 2009.)
I mean, basically, it’s an NIV Bible padded out with gratuitous stock car racing photos and testimonials, which suggests to me it’s aimed at Christians who – like a lot of Christians I know – believe in Jesus but find the Bible itself kinda boring, even if you put in paintings of Noah’s ark, David and Goliath, Jesus slapping moneychangers out of the temple, etc. But stick in photos of cool race cars and Darrell Waltrip talking about his relationship with Jesus and you’ve got something more … relevant.
Okay. But if the point is to make the Bible more interesting to select demographics, it occurs to me that you could do lots of special-interest editions like this: college football, monster trucks, professional wrestling, whatever.
Or you could have celebrity editions: Mel Gibson, U2, Mr T, Stephen Baldwin, Gary Busey, etc.
Or you could do something practical, like The Holy Bible: Food Network edition, that doubles as the Word of God and the Michelin Diner’s Guide. With some recipes thrown in.
For all I know, someone’s already done all of the above, and for all I know, people have actually bought them. I just love the idea of Christian groups thinking that the way to get more Christians to read the Bible is to pack it full of stuff that technically has nothing to do with Christianity. Especially since I don’t see Islamic groups doing this kind of thing with Korans.
I’m just saying.
Tailoring it for the audience,
This is dF
