What Christianity really needs, I’ve been thinking, is a version of the Bible that’s way more manga than your typical no-pictures, text-only Bible translations. Sure, our Bibles occasionally have illustrations, but it’s of the passive, gauzy, Jesus-holding-a-near-comatose-lamb variety. And Jesus always has pretty blow-dried hair. Where is the violence? Where’s the smiting? Where’s all the demon-slaying? What my faith was lacking is some edgy art.
Well, not any more. Because now I can read The Manga Bible, which brings “a whole new dimension to the most important book in history.” Apparently, in this whole new dimension, Jesus has the stringy hair of Eddie Vedder (about two hours into a Pearl Jam concert), the gaunt pallor of a heroin addict, and a skinny-but-ripped physique.
Needless to say, my prayers have been answered.
For further reading and reflection, here’s a good article about The Manga Bible and the whole Bible-repackaging biz.
