Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 12-25-2007, 12:48 PM

This might be more appropriate in another forum, such as humor - but some here might be interested in the Los Angeles Times' Column One December 25 offering. It might be a bit impious, but the jokes are being made by committed Christians:

Selling the Good Book by its Cover

Quote:

. . . How do you sell a really old book that 91% of households already have?

You can't update the content, or get the author on Oprah.

But you can make the look sizzle. If pink and shiny sells a purse, why not a psalm?

In the conference room they call the Bible Bunker, executives of Bible publisher Zondervan pore over fabric swatches. They watch PowerPoints on the latest in appliances and accessories, noting color trends. They caress bold new patterns in embossed faux leather.

"People ask, 'How do you get excited working on one darn book?' " says Scott Bolinder, an executive vice president. "Yet there's probably no place you can be more imaginative -- and more strategic."

But with all this marketing, are people actually reading it - or is this the equivalent of a 1st century amulet to ward off evil? Surveys of Biblical literacy seem to indicate the latter.

butswana · 12-26-2007, 04:26 AM

You can put a pig in a prom dress but it is still a pig.

Roger Pearse · 12-26-2007, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butswana

You can put a pig in a prom dress

Doesn't it struggle, tho? I'm sure that all of us would be interested in the programme of investigation that you carried out to verify this.... and photos...

All the best,

Roger Pearse

Chris Johnston · 12-26-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butswana

You can put a pig in a prom dress but it is still a pig.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Pearse

Quote:

Originally Posted by butswana

You can put a pig in a prom dress

Doesn't it struggle, tho? I'm sure that all of us would be interested in the programme of investigation that you carried out to verify this.... and photos...

All the best,

Roger Pearse

I'm not sure if we are discussing selling the Bible or the movie, "Deliverance?" I've never thought about hogs that way, but then I grew up country enough to call them hogs and not pigs...but maybe not country enough to put dresses on them!

Roger Pearse · 12-26-2007, 12:28 PM

Oink, I say.

Biff the unclean · 12-26-2007, 12:45 PM

That'll do pig.

That'll do.

fta · 12-26-2007, 04:14 PM

Seems a good time to post this Onion story about a Bible salesman. :devil1:

Toto · 12-26-2007, 05:00 PM

I was sort of hoping that someone could come up with a substantive comment. What are people doing with these bibles if they remain biblically illiterate?

Amaleq13 · 12-26-2007, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

I was sort of hoping that someone could come up with a substantive comment. What are people doing with these bibles if they remain biblically illiterate?

I assume they are prominently displaying them to show what good Christians they must be. What else could accomplish that goal that isn't unacceptably inconvenient?

Gamera · 12-26-2007, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

I was sort of hoping that someone could come up with a substantive comment. What are people doing with these bibles if they remain biblically illiterate?

Much of the bible is tedious, and to my mind, irrelevant to Christianity (See, for instance the Old Testament). I suspect most people read Genesis, and a gospel or two, and not the rest, since they are either tedious, confusing or doctrinal to the point of tedium.

Frankly, for a Christian, reading a gospel is suffient. Or better yet, just hearing it preached.

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12-26-2007, 04:26 AM	#2
butswana Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,804	You can put a pig in a prom dress but it is still a pig.

12-26-2007, 12:28 PM	#5
Roger Pearse Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 4,370	Oink, I say.

12-26-2007, 12:45 PM	#6
Biff the unclean Banned Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: an inaccessible island fortress Posts: 10,638	That'll do pig. That'll do.

12-26-2007, 04:14 PM	#7
fta Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Oceania Posts: 334	Seems a good time to post this Onion story about a Bible salesman. :devil1:

12-26-2007, 05:00 PM	#8
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I was sort of hoping that someone could come up with a substantive comment. What are people doing with these bibles if they remain biblically illiterate?

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