The Book: Bible Illuminated

Book: The Book: Bible Illuminated
Creator: Dag Soderberg

We realized there was a huge opportunity to re-design or illuminate historical icons or products, making them more accessible, easily digestible and culturally relevant in today’s society. Today’s generations, young and old, do not just want to be given part of the message, they actually want to be part of it.

Have you ever thought the bible was boring? Maybe you know others that you hang with or that surround you in the halls at school that totally think this. I can sorta understand. I mean from a visual perspective it’s a thick book, filled with a bunch of black text (with some occasional red stuff thrown in later on) on really think and easy to tear paper.

This Bible isn’t ANYTHING like that!

LOWDOWN
The Book: Bible Illuminated started off as a vision between a couple guys concerned over the disconnect with people in their society disconnecting with the bible. After this inspiration and lining up team players, this 286 glossy page New Testament Bible was launched in Sweden in 2007. It was a huge hit and increased bible sales in Sweden by 50%. It’s written using the Good News Bible translation and the pages are in columns like a magazine. It also only lists book chapter headings but not chapter numbers or verses and uses striking contemporary photographs to add to the text bring relevance to the story, making it easier to bridge the text to life.

DIG
The layout and presentation of this book really sets it off from anything else like it. I think the first thing that grabbed me is the amazing photography. I’d use words like striking, provocative, disturbing and relevant to describe the photos. Two examples. At the beginning of the book of Matthew, the picture is of a baby ultrasound picture. It kinda threw me but then I remembered going to get our first ultrasound. The feeling of excitement, nervousness, wonder, awe and love. This connected with me in a way that just the text about Mary getting pregnant and Jesus being born. The second picture had a different effect. Flipping through the pages I found myself staring down the barrel of a gun being pointed right at me by a young kid, illuminated by blue sky behind him and on the bottom right of this full-page ad is the text from scripture “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world. No, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” I admit, this picture disturbed me a bit. It was hard to bring together this modern day image with Jesus of Nazareth. The quotes that jump out of the middle of the text or the yellow high-lighted text on the pages are pretty cool too. They highlight many insightful and profound statements that I think are great to ponder, reflect on and talk about with others. I think all these things make The Book: Bible Illuminated a great item to have in coffee shops, hair salons, doctors offices, lunch rooms at work, drop-in centres and the library at school.

FUEL
I think this read reminded me of the need to fully engage with the Word of God. I hope to be more intentional about appreciating God in the real images I “see” daily as I interact with people around me. Also, I’m reminded of the power of imagery and reflection in our spiritual journey and growth and hope to be more intentional about incorporating them when leading and teaching others.

SPARK
- When you think of the bible (specifically reading it), what thoughts come to mind? Why do you think that is?
- How do you think The Book: Bible Illuminated’s style would impact you and the reading of the ancient scriptures? – How do you think it’ll affect others?
- How should people respond to this change of style to the bible text? Why?

FINAL THOUGHTS
If it’ll get you into the scriptures or strike up conversation between you and others or get others thinking about what’s written on the pages I say “Awesome – sweet job on the style and presentation!” I think I’ll donate my copy to the Talkin’ Donkey – a local coffee shop with a heart for justice and community that is run by The Salvation Army.

Check it out and give it a read online here!

After you’ve flipped through the pages using the link above, come back and leave a comment with your thoughts!

:: by Clint Houlbrook of Vernon, BC

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