The archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, is quoted as saying, “It will convey the shock and freshness of the Bible in a unique way.”
In the Manga Bible, whose heroes look and sound like skateboarders in Bedouin gear, Noah gets tripped up counting the animals in the Ark: “That’s 11,344 animals? Arggh! I’ve lost count again. I’m going to have to start from scratch!”
I’d love to get my hands on one of these. Illustrated versions of the Bible are a powerful way to transmit the sacred message. All translations are anachronistic in one way or another. This Manga Bible seems to be consciously playing with the interaction of ancient and modern cultures. Unless we have had Biblical history and culture drilled into our heads from birth we will always see Bible times through our cultural glasses. That’s why whenever an American thinks about Jesus they always see this face:
Image: Head of Christ, Warner Sallman 1941 (The Warner Sallman Collection, Anderson University)
That is not simply a painting of what someone thought Jesus might look like. For millions of people, that is Jesus. And someday when they see the real Jesus walking down the street in the New Jerusalem they will just pass on by not even realizing who it was.
This reminds me of an anecdote about Tony Campolo visiting a black church in the U.S. On the wall was a painting of a black Jesus. Tony said, “But Jesus isn’t black.” And his friend replied, “But he ain’t no whitey either.” The book of 1 John records these words:
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2, NIV, emphasis added)
I’m looking forward to seeing him “as he is.” I think we will be forgiven for our case of mistaken identity.
Check out the Amazon entry for the Manga Bible for a brief review of the book by Publishers Weekly. The Manga Bible is surprisingly affordable, being sold for about $10.36 at Amazon US. Since my birthday is coming up you might want to send one my way (hint, hint).
HT: Boing Boing
I’ve made fun of the Warner Sallman icons before: Proof that Jesus is a ghost, Are we talking about the same God?
There was a great New York Time article about this. And it made the “most e-mailed article” list. That’s unusual for the New York Times — they have had articles featuring some English Bibles (the NRSV, Fox’s and Alter’s translations) but they don’t commonly cover Bible editions.
Oh, and by the way — the Manga Bible is based on the TNIV (and is available in an edition with the full TNIV.) Given how scarce the TNIV is (and how rabid its supporters are) why isn’t this getting more attention from the usual suspects?
I’m slightly confused by the different “Manga Bibles” offered at Amazon. Is it possible that this edition is different from the one referred to in the NYT?
No, you have the right one. They are the “Siku” editions. The edition was originally published in the UK.
US edition (comic only)
UK edition with TNIV, sold by Amazon US
UK edition with TNIV, sold by Amazon UK
UK edition (comic only)
UK New Testament with TNIV
UK New Testament (comic only)
Thanks for the info. I had to rescue your message out of the SPAM hopper.
Happy Birthday David, I ordered the Magna Bible for you from Amazon and am having them send it directly to you. We will see what kind of service you get from them. Hopefully it will be quicker than mailing from Albany.
Have you done some soul searching on this milestone that you will soon reach? It seems like only yesterday that I past that birthday. We pray that you have many more as you continue to serve the people of Mozambique through Bible translation as well as dedicating your life to raising the Kerkins and loving your wife.
Health and happiness for the year ahead. Keep on bloging.
Hey that’s great! Actually I plan to solicit advice from some of you folks that have already survived the decade I am now entering. Expect that in a future post!
How do you know, David, that the ancients didn’t have skateboards?
You must have access to some other Bible than the one you praise. I would suggest you hold on to that other Bible, no matter how appealing you find your blond, blue-eyed Jesus er, Lara Croft and Brad Pitt types in Bedouin gear with skateboards beneath their feet.
Hey, John, when are you going to tell us how you pulled the plug on Jim’s blog?
That’s a trade secret.
[...] See also my previous post on the Manga Bible: Manga Bible endorsed by Archbishop of Canterbury [...]
Dear Friend in Christ,
Greaetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
I have been going through the studies at your web site, and I am deeply inspired with all of the teachings and studies thereon like Bible studies and other teaching materials on our Web site. This is such a wonderful studies you have arranged for all the nations, in the long run of your service for the nations of the all the world.
I am from Islamic Republic of Pakistan where it is difficult to have Radio and TV channel for preaching purposes. They would not allow us to do that here; the Satan has real strong hold over everything. I often say that we are living in the land of the enemy.
Friend, I humbly request you to expand your outreach your program in Urdu and Punjabi language. Urdu is the language spoken and understood by more than one sixth of the total population of the world. Urdu is spoken in Pakistan , India, Nepal, Afghanistan and also in Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran and others.
I would ask you to pray and share it among the brethren. I would offer my services for being translator, recorder and distribution/sales. I pray that your consideration will have His mark over your decision.
May God bless you abundantly! May His perfect will be done!
Grace and Peace be with you, all brethrens.
Yours brother in Christ,
Asim
Pakistan
Asim has contacted me by email as well. SPAM.