TresSugar

New Bible Modernizes the Word With Angelina: Heavenly Idea?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:45:22 -0700

Though the story might always start, "in the beginning," the Bible has taken a whole host of formats from iPod ready to graphic novel, but this latest incarnation called Bible Illuminated: The Book takes the Bible and smashes in a bit of People and a little bit of Vogue and reimagines it as an avant-garde coffee-table book of photo essays to tell the story of Jesus for an Angelina Age (yep, she's in there.)

What's behind the new slick format? One professor of religious studies explains it like this: "In general, Bible publishers have always been creative, but now they are scrambling to meet a culture where people are moving away from print reading. In a visually literate, advertising-skeptical age - how do you grab people's attention? Mixing the biblical text with Angelina Jolie doesn't surprise me."

Sales of Bibles rise during times of war and economic crisis, (uh, check and check) so the new version may be an instant best-seller and might lure new readers in. The dean emeritus at the Nida Institute For Biblical Scholarship says, "We are living in the age of increased secularization and distance from traditional religion. It's about new points of entry in a modern world that is not ready to open its doors and windows to the traditional word."

Bibles in Class? Not Just for Sunday School Anymore

CitizenSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:00:00 -0700

The separation of church and state is a little less distinct at Hamilton County Schools in Tennessee. Funding from a special grant program means that students can elect to study Bible History in public schools.

While religion classes aren't uncommon in universities, topics of faith are muted in lower grades of public schools. For almost 90 years the program "Bible in the Schools" has provided up to $1,000,000 a year to cover Bible History courses.

One sophomore says, "It's not really based on religion. It's history, Bible history you're learning the history, it's just like another history class."

If learning the Bible is just another history class, Ben Stein's new movie might just count as science class?

Stein's movie Expelled hits screens today. We took a peek at the role of teaching evolution in education a while back, but now the Scientific American has an article that outlines "Six Things in Expelled That Ben Stein Doesn't Want You to Know...about intelligent design and evolution." I can't wait to see the movie, and this is the perfect companion read before you buy that tub of popcorn.

Privately funded Bible study in public schools? Is studying the Bible like learning history? Did you take a peek at the things Ben Stein doesn't want you to know?

Source

Paris Thinks The Bible Is A Hot Read

GiggleSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 04:00:00 -0700

In a last ditch attempt to make herself seem worthy of our pity and a judge's leniency, Paris bought some- "What do you call them?" - books. And not just any old books, she bought self-help books. Yep, she even broke down and bought the Bible (pronounced "Beeble"). Although she's still trying to make Hooked On Phonics work for her, this is NOT a publicity stunt. Paris is, like, totally serious about this reading trend.

Legendary Comic Book Artist Takes On the Book of Genesis

TresSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:14:40 -0700

Widely regarded as the father of underground comics, the famously T & A-obsessed R. Crumb surprised many by deciding to take on the first book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis.

How to reconcile the sacred with the profane? The Book of Genesis Illustrated, which contains all 50 chapters, comes with a warning: "Adult Supervision Recommended For Minors." And it's not because R. Crumb changes or adds words to the original, but rather because his art graphically depicts what he calls the the Book of Genesis's inherent violence:

"[It's about] ruling elites, victimizing people in sadistic ways, which is human beings at their nastiest. They have power over others, and they derive pleasure from inflecting pain on other humans. That's about as nasty as people get."

Crumb's French publisher, Jean-Luc Fromental, thought Crumb might be able to achieve an interpretation of Genesis only through "blasphemy." Now? He thinks that he was trying to "[r]eread the whole text from a humanistic point of view . . ."

In a press conference for The Book of Genesis Illustrated, Crumb said that although he "seeks knowledge" of God and believes that there is a force ruling us, we can't ever truly understand it. As for regarding the Bible as a sacred truth? He thinks it's crazy, adding, "But the human race is crazy if nothing else." (If you're interested in R. Crumb, check out the amazing documentary about him and his crazy family, titled, simply enough, Crumb.)

Bro vs. Douchebag: Is There a Difference?

TresSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0800

Listening to Phish. Wearing popped collars. Playing ultimate Frisbee. Flaunting the number of chicks bagged.

Are these the traits of a bro or a douche? Is there a difference? While pondering this question, you might want to pop over to BroBible.com, a "brocial" networking site created by 24-year-old Doug Banker, a hesitantly self-identified "bro" who wants to redeem bro culture from being demonized as douche culture. (Sample post: "What's More Bro: Oral or Anal Sex?")

Last year when the site was still under construction, he had this to say about the distinction: "[A] bro is just someone who likes to go out and have a good time, who likes to stay connected to their group of friends while expanding their horizons. It’s not one of our goals to make the word ‘bro’ more positive. But yes, hopefully, that will happen."

So is there a difference between a bro and a douchebag? Does it matter? Do you wish those words would go away? Inquiring minds want to know!

No Bible During Show and Tell - Right Call?

TresSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 -0700

A US court has ruled that a kindergartner at a Philadelphia public school cannot have his mother read passages from the Bible during his show and tell presentation.

The court decided that the boy's free speech rights were not violated by the schools refusal to let him share his "favorite book" because the classroom was a nonpublic venue and the children were very young.

Do you think a young child at a public school should be able to share religious texts during show and tell? What if the boy wanted to share the story of Noah's ark or some other insightful parable? Does separation of church and state mean that all religious material should be banned from public schools even when it has the opportunity to help students understand each other and their diverse backgrounds?

Source

Marine Removed From Duty For Handing Out Bible Coins. Fair?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:00:49 -0700

A US Marine in Iraq has been removed from duty amid complaints that he was handing out coins with Bible verses at an American checkpoint, the military said Thursday.

A military spokesman said Iraqis in Falluja have complained that the Marine was giving the coins, printed in Arabic, to people at an entry control point in Falluja - they claimed that US troops were acting as Christian missionaries. US military regulations prohibit religious proselytizing.

Col. James L. Welsh, chief of staff of Multi-National Force, West said, "this has our full attention. We deeply value our relationship with the local citizens and share their concerns over this serious incident."

One of the coins is stamped with the words "Where will you spend eternity?" The other side of the coin reportedly contains a verse from John 3:16 that reads, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

A Coalition spokesman said, "regulations prohibit members of the coalition force from proselytizing any religion, faith, or practices. Our troops are trained on those guidelines before they deploy." A military statement said "appropriate action" will be taken if the reports are true. What action would be appropriate?

Another article tells the story of how tough it is to be a military chaplain in wartime - it's clear that religion is important to soldiers serving. Was handing out the coin, proselytizing? Was being removed from duty, fair?
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Gimme a Shot of Jesus: Belly Up to the Bar With Your Bible?

CitizenSugar — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:00:13 -0700

If you're on your couch right now recovering from last night and wondering whether you should hit church or give your thanks over a Sunday brunch Bloody Mary instead, your prayers have been answered. The Phyrst Church in State College, PA, part of Penn State’s Christian Student Fellowship, is taking their message to the Phyrst Bar to preach the word. That's right. Church in a bar.

“We’re taking it to them, just like Jesus did in his time,” said Buzz Roberts, a minister with CSF. Seconding this is a Penn State student: “It’s about hearing a message and getting to congregate.” The relationship between God and alcohol didn’t start out on calm seas, however. The CSF contacted several area bars and few were keen to allow religious services to be held inside their establishments, until they reached the Phyrst Bar. “All I wanted was an hour on Sunday nights to share the word and they were cool with it,” said Pastor Kingshipp, also of the CSF.

The services are relaxed, offering a sermon, singing, and even a shot of Stoli. So far nearly 50 students and locals attend, and the church hopes the good times will continue to roll. What do you think? Is this a perfect shake-up of fellowship and the word, or does it stir you up?

Source

Hipster Feels God's Mocking Wrath

TresSugar — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Usually, any attempt to mock hipsters leaves the mocker looking out of touch and even lamer, which is why it's best left to the indigenous homeboys themselves. It also helps if it's done as a biblical tale with God dressed as David Bowie!

"Hipster Job" is about a bro named Job, as in G.O.B from Arrested Development or the lesser known Job from the Bible's Book of Job. Settle in for this five-minute vid - sh*t is deep! There's a lot going on, so follow along with my crib notes after the jump

Front Page: Sarah Palin Now the Former Governor of Alaska

TresSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:00:25 -0700

Sarah Palin officially handed over power in Alaska to incoming Gov. Sean Parnell yesterday, telling the media to leave his kids alone. - LA Times
French President Nicolas Sarkozy will reduce his workload after falling ill during a jog, thanks to fatigue. - Reuters
The US military will no longer publish the number of Taliban and insurgents it kills in Afghanistan as part of its refocus on protecting civilians, not killing militants. - CNN
North Korea publicly executed a Christian woman for distributing the Bible last month. - Fox News