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Feb
11
Is The Manga Bible Too Extreme?
Filed Under Christianity, religion | Comments Off
Is a manga Japanese-style graphic novel version of the Bible that portrays Jesus as a revolutionary samurai stranger and cuts the Sermon of the Mount because it doesn’t deliver enough action a good or bad thing?
Will it win the hearts and minds of a new generation, or does it stray too far away from the message of love and forgiveness contained in the Bible?
To be fair, one version of the Manga Bible does contain the text of the Bible in addition to the graphic comic book parts, according to its website.
Containing both the full TNIV text of the Bible plus the entire Manga adaptation, this is the most Extreme version of the Bible yet!
Writes Neela Banerjee in the New York Times of the Manga Bible:
“We present things in a very brazen way,” said Mr. (Ajinbayo) Akinsiku, who hopes to become an Anglican priest and who is the author of “The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation.” “Christ is a hard guy, seeking revolution and revolt, a tough guy.” …
The medium shapes the message. Manga often focuses on action and epic. Much of the Bible, as a result, ends up on the cutting room floor, and what remains is darker. …
Abraham rides a horse out of an explosion to save Lot. Og, king of Bashan, looms like an early Darth Vader. The Sermon on the Mount did not make the book, though, because there was not enough action to it.
Dec
30
Create More, Complain Less
Filed Under art, Christianity, The Golden Compass | Comments Off
Matt Robinson at New Liberty Creation challenges Christians to create more, instead of condemning artwork — such as The Golden Compass.
A wise man once said that one sign of intelligence is the ability think about two competing ideas at the same time without having your head explode (my paraphrase, of course). Unfortunately, this is a sign that many Christians have no interest in. We have become fearful of the mere thought of contrary ideas.
But I’m not really sure why. Is it a lack of faith in our own beliefs, that they will shatter at the slightest opposition? A lack of faith in the intelligence and faith of our youth? Or is it, most likely, raw, naked, irrational fear?
Perhaps we love the false sense of security we get while we site in our brick churches and have our beliefs validated over and over again without any challenge of thought.
Christianity isn’t meant to be safe. It isn’t meant to be cozy. What it means is being on the front lines of a very real battle. Paul didn’t use the armor metaphor for nothing. Very few of us have put on that armor, because we really haven’t felt the need, and so it sits idle, rusting in the closet.
For once, I would like Christians stop condemning the works of art of other people (especially movies they’ve never seen) and start creating their own. And if we aren’t willing do do that, then we need to shut up.
