The "cool" Bible

*Correction appended
I recently read in the news, that a publicist was putting together a new bible.
Worried about the decrease in the number of readers that the so called "good book" has been getting lately (who can blame the testament when "Edward Cullen is so damn cool" [yeah, right]), Dag Soderberg a Swedish publicist created this whole new concept of a cool and modern bible (and no, he didn't put any vampires in, as far as I know).
It starts just like a regular bible, with the old testament first; but puts a twist to the whole illustration thing: modern photographs of artists, rockstars and other celebrities, natural disasters to represent god's rage and destructing hand (sorry folks, but the big guy in the old testament does have a temper).

The book features magazine-like illustrations, with highlights of verses from the corresponding sections.
Soderberg's intent was to make the attractive to new generations, as well as to secular audiences. His rationale: He wants people to think of the bible as they would think of any coffee table book. But, you can see for yourselves.



How about that?
Although criticized by some, the book is getting good reviews, with an attractive new title "The Bible Illuminated: The Book" and an art cover that could compete with the latest Photographer's Digest it makes for interesting conversations, at the very least. Plus, you get to see pics of Angelina Jolie and John Lennon, alongside with Gandhi and mother Theresa (and no, Jolie's not cast as a virgin).
I'm not sure as to how a photograph of a man immolating himself came to be the cover for the book of revelations, but if you're looking for an original Christmas gift, a bible could never hurt… unless you throw it really, really hard.
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*Correction: The book was first published in Sweden in 2007: but, this year it's being edited in English, and sold in the US.

by Gabriel® All rights reserved. 2008