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revolve
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(i've only chosen excerpts.)
simply put, i think it's gone too far. is nothing sacred anymore? first there are bloody ads in the back of my church bulletin--ads! then you have nuts in alabama worshipping a rock and making my religion look bad. you've got idiots in positions of leadership who would much rather cast stones at homosexuals getting married rather than the fcukwits who get married and then divorce at the drop of a hat. you have showoffs wearing their christianity on their sleeve, forcing people to pray and then denouncing those who point out that religion really is a personal, private thing. brainless twits who believe everything their charismatic leaders say, including this crazed notion that christianity is being persecuted by america.
you have priests doing unpriestly things. christians espousing hatred of others, including other christians. you have hypocrites leading those down questionable paths of faith--those paths without thought, without independence, without true conviction, just something that looks like it.
i think i'm losing my faith. i don't like it.
god isn't dead, but jesus, he's probably long gone. and i can't say i blame him.
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Aug. 26— With religion and pop culture intersecting more and more these days, perhaps it was inevitable: The Bible's gotten a Cosmo-style makeover.
With a trio of smiling teenage girls on the cover, along with teasers for beauty tips and dating advice, Revolve looks like it has more in common with Glamour than Gideon.
But don't judge the Good Book by its cover. Revolve is an honest-to-goodness Bible, encompassing the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation. But its magazine-like styling and bright cover will help it seem hipper to today's girls, the publishers hope.
"We asked teen girls how often they read the Bible," says Laurie Whaley, one of Revolve's editors and a spokeswoman for its publisher, Thomas Nelson Bibles. "The response that came back was, 'Well, we don't read the Bible.'
"They said, 'It's just too freaky, too intimidating. It doesn't make any sense.'"
Revolve is just the latest cross-pollination of religion and pop culture that has seen Christian-themed fiction climb the best-seller lists and Christian rock and rap get a foothold in the music world.
"Really, for the past 100 years, evangelicals have tried to use popular culture to draw people to their faith," says Lynn Schofield Clark, a sociologist at the University of Colorado's School of Journalism and Mass Communication who has written about Christianity, teens and popular culture.
...
Revolve may look like it has more in common with Glamour than Gideon, but it contains the complete New Testament.
...
A Bible With Quizzes, Top 10 Lists, and Celeb Birthdays
Young evangelical Christians like Neille Sybert say a pop-influenced Bible like Revolve is not a bad idea.
"It looks totally like a magazine," says Sybert, a 19-year-old saleswoman at Loaves & Fishes Christian Store in Vista, Calif. She thinks it would appeal to young girls who might feel embarrassed carrying around a black leather tome.
"It makes it fun to read the Bible," she says.
In addition to the biblical text — written in the modern English of the New Century Version — Revolve also features teen 'zine staples such as quizzes, Top 10 lists, and Q&A's. They focus, however, on religious topics like, "Are you dating a godly guy?" and inner-beauty advice. There are also tips on prayer, volunteerism, and calendars with entries, such as "Pray for a person of influence: Today is Michael Jordan's birthday" on Feb. 17.
Revolve has been on the shelves for barely a month, but Stephen Virkler, an assistant manager at the Family Christian Store in Fairfield, N.J., says his customers appear interested.
"They have to reach these kids in a different way," says Virkler, 31.
Revolve and similar efforts typically emphasize aspects of Christianity that might appeal to teenagers' attitudes. They describe Jesus as a radical who was not afraid to challenge mainstream society.
The content, however, hews to conservative Christian values on subjects like homosexuality and women's deference to men.
In one hypothetical question and answer, a girl asks, "How do you tell a friend that's your crush that you're into him without ruining your friendship?" Revolve counsels her: "You don't. Sorry. … God made guys to be the leaders. That means that they lead in relationships."
With a trio of smiling teenage girls on the cover, along with teasers for beauty tips and dating advice, Revolve looks like it has more in common with Glamour than Gideon.
But don't judge the Good Book by its cover. Revolve is an honest-to-goodness Bible, encompassing the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation. But its magazine-like styling and bright cover will help it seem hipper to today's girls, the publishers hope.
"We asked teen girls how often they read the Bible," says Laurie Whaley, one of Revolve's editors and a spokeswoman for its publisher, Thomas Nelson Bibles. "The response that came back was, 'Well, we don't read the Bible.'
"They said, 'It's just too freaky, too intimidating. It doesn't make any sense.'"
Revolve is just the latest cross-pollination of religion and pop culture that has seen Christian-themed fiction climb the best-seller lists and Christian rock and rap get a foothold in the music world.
"Really, for the past 100 years, evangelicals have tried to use popular culture to draw people to their faith," says Lynn Schofield Clark, a sociologist at the University of Colorado's School of Journalism and Mass Communication who has written about Christianity, teens and popular culture.
...
Revolve may look like it has more in common with Glamour than Gideon, but it contains the complete New Testament.
...
A Bible With Quizzes, Top 10 Lists, and Celeb Birthdays
Young evangelical Christians like Neille Sybert say a pop-influenced Bible like Revolve is not a bad idea.
"It looks totally like a magazine," says Sybert, a 19-year-old saleswoman at Loaves & Fishes Christian Store in Vista, Calif. She thinks it would appeal to young girls who might feel embarrassed carrying around a black leather tome.
"It makes it fun to read the Bible," she says.
In addition to the biblical text — written in the modern English of the New Century Version — Revolve also features teen 'zine staples such as quizzes, Top 10 lists, and Q&A's. They focus, however, on religious topics like, "Are you dating a godly guy?" and inner-beauty advice. There are also tips on prayer, volunteerism, and calendars with entries, such as "Pray for a person of influence: Today is Michael Jordan's birthday" on Feb. 17.
Revolve has been on the shelves for barely a month, but Stephen Virkler, an assistant manager at the Family Christian Store in Fairfield, N.J., says his customers appear interested.
"They have to reach these kids in a different way," says Virkler, 31.
Revolve and similar efforts typically emphasize aspects of Christianity that might appeal to teenagers' attitudes. They describe Jesus as a radical who was not afraid to challenge mainstream society.
The content, however, hews to conservative Christian values on subjects like homosexuality and women's deference to men.
In one hypothetical question and answer, a girl asks, "How do you tell a friend that's your crush that you're into him without ruining your friendship?" Revolve counsels her: "You don't. Sorry. … God made guys to be the leaders. That means that they lead in relationships."
(i've only chosen excerpts.)
simply put, i think it's gone too far. is nothing sacred anymore? first there are bloody ads in the back of my church bulletin--ads! then you have nuts in alabama worshipping a rock and making my religion look bad. you've got idiots in positions of leadership who would much rather cast stones at homosexuals getting married rather than the fcukwits who get married and then divorce at the drop of a hat. you have showoffs wearing their christianity on their sleeve, forcing people to pray and then denouncing those who point out that religion really is a personal, private thing. brainless twits who believe everything their charismatic leaders say, including this crazed notion that christianity is being persecuted by america.
you have priests doing unpriestly things. christians espousing hatred of others, including other christians. you have hypocrites leading those down questionable paths of faith--those paths without thought, without independence, without true conviction, just something that looks like it.
i think i'm losing my faith. i don't like it.
god isn't dead, but jesus, he's probably long gone. and i can't say i blame him.
)
I'll post my opinion when I stop laughing at the people who did this.
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