(Ir)religiosity: Why I Won’t Be Buying a ‘Green’ Bible
Jonathan Brink
· 11 months ago
Sadly, I wonder if the "green" Bible is simply another attempt to sell a Bible. Key word sell. This could have been cut to 50 pages and passed out as a pdf if it were actually supporting what it was really about.
i haven't physically looked at a copy, but that's exaclty what i was thinking -- basically an ebook. the only thing that would be cut would be the profits made by the publishers. i think that says something.
i love bible gateway too. i'd even like to see some the hefty, expensive bible commentaries that are out there go online. that would save a lot of the resources and energy required to produce the paper copies. but those makes publishers a ton of money too, so i don't know.
Florin
· 11 months ago
I guess it is hard to break well established patterns.
You make a great point (though you almost lost me; I found myself ready to argue with you, then at the end I got your point). I would love to know Brian McLaren's thoughts on this. We don't know the terms under which he is a contributor.
As to the publishing industry they could still make money if they publish it online; there are all kinds of ways to do that.
I am BibleGateway fan too.
blake
· 11 months ago
Yeah, I would like to hear McLaren's thoughts too. And I didn't necessarily mean to call him out either, because you're right, we don't really know the terms. I just wanted to point out the connection.
A. Walker Cleaveland
· 11 months ago
Good thoughts Blake....I think these are all important issues to think about. I got a couple free copies of the Green Bible to review, and as far as different kinds of "hip" Bibles go, it's a nice Bible. But I can't say I would have bought it on my own...
A. Walker Cleaveland
· 11 months ago
BTW, your comment system wouldn't allow me to write "Adam Walker Cleaveland" as my name - said it was too long.
Flat out name-discrimination, man ;)
blake
· 11 months ago
Hey man, thanks for stopping by. Without having read any of the ones I mentioned, I would probably vouch for the content in the Green Bible over most other "hip" ones. But I still wish it could have been put together in an even more eco-friendly way than it was.
blake
· 11 months ago
Well...you know...you don't have the shortest name in the world. :) That's interesting though. I'll have to check the settings.
Andrew_M
· 11 months ago
I'm still waiting for the Orange Catholic Bible to come into print. Also, "affluenza" is now one of my new favorite words. Thank you for introducing me to it.
On a more serious note, our society puts so much effort into dissociating itself from its own waste and effluence that one book, or even library, isn't going to alter its stance on consumption.
blake
· 11 months ago
Affluenza is pretty awesome word. I secretly wish I coined it. And I really want to read the book.
"[O]ur society puts so much effort into dissociating itself from its own waste and effluence that one book, or even library, isn't going to alter its stance on consumption."
Which is daunting. And depressing...and maybe impossible with the systems we have in place? I'm encouraged when I see local grassroots communities rejecting consumption and transforming individual stances on the subject. But I don't think that will ever be enough.
So, how can we begin to alter our society's stance? Can we alter our society's stance? Or is the personal and grassroots transformation the best we can hope for?
Rich
· 11 months ago
Hey Blake - Disclaimer before I being - I served on the advisory board for the Green Bible, but made no money (nor will I) from this publication. Your point that, "When and where to do we decide to move past merely raising public awareness about environmental stewardship and ecological sustainability and starting actually making the tangible sacrifices..." is is right on track. We must be moved into action in response to God's call to steward his creation rather than just read/explore yet one more hot topic. My experience is that through prayer, study and action we can change segments of our society, albeit slowly and with varying degrees of success - in other words I think we have to give it a shot. As for the product/marketing element of it... Comments on a more 'open source' approach to the publication is one I frequently hear. Thanks for the great entry
blake
· 11 months ago
Hi Rich, thanks for stopping by and for the kind words. I do appreciate the intent of the Green Bible. My best hope is that those who read it will pass it on to others as well become inspired to living simply over and against our American narrative consumption. I really believe that until we confront out consumption head-on, all our attempts to be 'green' and realize eco-justice will only be addressing mere symptoms and not the root cause.
All Comments
Actually there is a green Bible. It's called http://www.BibleGateway.com. I don't use anything else.
i love bible gateway too. i'd even like to see some the hefty, expensive bible commentaries that are out there go online. that would save a lot of the resources and energy required to produce the paper copies. but those makes publishers a ton of money too, so i don't know.
You make a great point (though you almost lost me; I found myself ready to argue with you, then at the end I got your point). I would love to know Brian McLaren's thoughts on this. We don't know the terms under which he is a contributor.
As to the publishing industry they could still make money if they publish it online; there are all kinds of ways to do that.
I am BibleGateway fan too.
Flat out name-discrimination, man ;)
Also, "affluenza" is now one of my new favorite words. Thank you for introducing me to it.
On a more serious note, our society puts so much effort into dissociating itself from its own waste and effluence that one book, or even library, isn't going to alter its stance on consumption.
"[O]ur society puts so much effort into dissociating itself from its own waste and effluence that one book, or even library, isn't going to alter its stance on consumption."
Which is daunting. And depressing...and maybe impossible with the systems we have in place? I'm encouraged when I see local grassroots communities rejecting consumption and transforming individual stances on the subject. But I don't think that will ever be enough.
So, how can we begin to alter our society's stance? Can we alter our society's stance? Or is the personal and grassroots transformation the best we can hope for?
Your point that, "When and where to do we decide to move past merely raising public awareness about environmental stewardship and ecological sustainability and starting actually making the tangible sacrifices..." is is right on track. We must be moved into action in response to God's call to steward his creation rather than just read/explore yet one more hot topic. My experience is that through prayer, study and action we can change segments of our society, albeit slowly and with varying degrees of success - in other words I think we have to give it a shot.
As for the product/marketing element of it... Comments on a more 'open source' approach to the publication is one I frequently hear.
Thanks for the great entry