02-09-2003 07:58									#1
	who else is bothered by this? Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

revolve

link

quote: 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."

(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.

	02-09-2003 08:13									#2
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

"Teen Study Bible found to increase Fun of Religion by 0.05%"
(the Onion is always a good source to base your opinion on )

It doesn't matter, because no one will buy it, much less read it. Do you think teenage girls will really read 1,000+ pages?

quote: 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."

Whoever wrote its additional content, like this, should be ashamed of themselves.

	02-09-2003 08:23									#3
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apparently, the interest is there. some are wanting to get it.

and it makes me sad that the word of god is being dragged through the mud like this.

	02-09-2003 08:23									#4
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the Word has been dragged through worse mud.

	02-09-2003 08:29									#5
	Suffering from ads?

it still is. those televangelists in the 80s, the politicians who cloak their naked, raw ambition in the glory of god and the stars and stripes...

this... "are you dating a godly guy"... crap just... it cheapens religion in a much more subtle way. at least with those former examples, there was the benefit of everybody with half a brain knowing the inherent hypocrisy in their behaviour. in this, it's... it's not there to spread the word. it's there to profit from it.

	02-09-2003 08:31									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

This may win a few converts, but it's a horrible marketing strategy for a religion, as religions aren't supposed to be fads that ya suddenly sign on with and then dump the next year.

	02-09-2003 09:08									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

I'll post my opinion when I stop laughing at the people who did this.

	02-09-2003 09:49									#8
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

"i think i'm losing my faith. i don't like it."

Christianity has seen worse idiots misrepresent it before. Making the Bible into magazine format pales compared to leaders who performed Inquisitions and Witch Trials. At yet the religion lives on....

	02-09-2003 10:20									#9
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shi, it's not just this.

i used to be able to feel his presence in mass.

these days, i go, but i feel bereft of god. i can't hear him anymore. and with all these things going on in the world...

	02-09-2003 10:22									#10
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

At a shop that sold paintings one time, I saw a painting of the Last Supper framed by ridiculous, gaudy rainbow lights.


UGH

	02-09-2003 10:45									#11
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quote: first there are bloody ads in the back of my church bulletin--ads!

Why on earth is this shocking?

	02-09-2003 10:58									#12
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quote: Originally posted by DanS Why on earth is this shocking?

They aren't ads for new openings in heaven or prayer plans with free night and weekend minutes. Only these sort of 'sacred' advertisements should be allowed on the back of church documents.

	02-09-2003 11:00									#13
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sorry, I can't talk about religion without being overly sarcastic

	02-09-2003 12:21									#14
	Re: who else is bothered by this? Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

Making a Bible into "that thing" is an insult to Christians everywhere.

	02-09-2003 13:41									#15
	Inflate your Upload Space

quote: Originally posted by DanS Why on earth is this shocking?

I can understand your confusion (after all, it's just a schedule of the day's events and announcements, right?), but this does go against long-standing tradition, one that goes all the way back to Christ driving the merchants and moneychangers from the temple courtyard.

"My Father's house is a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of theives!"

While I have never ascribed any particular sacredness to church buildings ("My kingdom is not of this world"), the nature of the activities held within them preclude any profit-making ones.

I have never been a member of a church that put advertising on bulletins, and I'm not sure that I ever visited one that did.