Collaborative handwritten Bible created across America
September 30, 2008 8:39 AM Subscribe
"To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible, the best-selling translation with more than 300 million copies in print, Zondervan has launched Bible Across America, a cross-country RV tour. Bible Across America features an RV, piloted by a four-person team, that is traveling across the continental United States, making stops at churches, universities, retail stores and special events where people are invited to contribute a verse to complete a handwritten Bible – America's NIV."
The RV launched today in Grand Rapids, MI, and will stop in 90 cities, inviting a different person to hand-copy each of the 31,173 verses.
From the article linked above: "Two young married couples will be living in the RV, driving it cross-country and setting up each stop. They'll give out 500 index cards a day, each with a verse from the NIV printed on the front, to 500 people to copy twice onto special paper.
A photo facsimile of all the verses will be compiled and published in time for Christmas 2009; the index will list each participant's name and the number of the verse he or she copied.
One set of originals will be bound and offered to the Smithsonian. The second set, also bound, will be auctioned to benefit the International Bible Society, which holds the NIV copyright and is co-sponsoring the project with Zondervan."
Also:
Track the RV's current location via GPS.
List of cities and dates for the tour.
The RV launched today in Grand Rapids, MI, and will stop in 90 cities, inviting a different person to hand-copy each of the 31,173 verses.
From the article linked above: "Two young married couples will be living in the RV, driving it cross-country and setting up each stop. They'll give out 500 index cards a day, each with a verse from the NIV printed on the front, to 500 people to copy twice onto special paper.
A photo facsimile of all the verses will be compiled and published in time for Christmas 2009; the index will list each participant's name and the number of the verse he or she copied.
One set of originals will be bound and offered to the Smithsonian. The second set, also bound, will be auctioned to benefit the International Bible Society, which holds the NIV copyright and is co-sponsoring the project with Zondervan."
Also:
Track the RV's current location via GPS.
List of cities and dates for the tour.
Four drivers?
If they don't name the RV 'POCALYPSE I'll be very disappointed.
(ideally painted along the side a la Trapper John MD)
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:12 AM on September 30, 2008
If they don't name the RV 'POCALYPSE I'll be very disappointed.
(ideally painted along the side a la Trapper John MD)
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:12 AM on September 30, 2008
America's NIV? What? We make it ours by mechanically copying its words and dressing that up in technological narcissism and wasted gasoline? How quintessentially American.
If Zondervan actually gave a good goddamn about what the text says, they'd put this choice nugget on an index card and send it to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Let the king who lives there spend the next few months copying that.
posted by felix betachat at 9:18 AM on September 30, 2008 [2 favorites]
If Zondervan actually gave a good goddamn about what the text says, they'd put this choice nugget on an index card and send it to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Let the king who lives there spend the next few months copying that.
posted by felix betachat at 9:18 AM on September 30, 2008 [2 favorites]
I think it's kind of cool.
posted by roll truck roll at 9:21 AM on September 30, 2008
posted by roll truck roll at 9:21 AM on September 30, 2008
I always read "NIV" as Roman numerals that I can't be assed to figure out the value of.
posted by smackfu at 9:23 AM on September 30, 2008
posted by smackfu at 9:23 AM on September 30, 2008
I think this is pretty cool. But religious threads never wendell.
Of course, in these post-Konolia days, I wonder whether there will there be more or less threadshitting in religion threads.
posted by dw at 9:29 AM on September 30, 2008
Of course, in these post-Konolia days, I wonder whether there will there be more or less threadshitting in religion threads.
posted by dw at 9:29 AM on September 30, 2008
I recently transposed part of the Gospel of Luke for a friend's book. I was actually trying to create "America's Bible." We called in the National Gospel of Liberty. I think it's starting to come together nicely.
Parable of the Wealthy Fool
13 One of the wealthy men who had gathered said to him, "Sir, tell my
brother to divide the family inheritance with me." 14 But he said to
him, "Foolish coward! Can you not work for yourself? 15 Do you not
see those around you, who have prayed steadfastly and have built up
great stores?" 16 And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard
against all kinds of laziness, for one's life consists of the
abundance of his possessions." 17 Then he told them a parable: "The
land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself,
'What should I do, for I have no more room to store my crops?' 18
Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build
larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods and my
wives. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, for God has blessed you with
riches.' 20 But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night you will
be blessed with additional riches. And the barns you have prepared,
they are not large enough.' 21 So it is with those who do not build
enough barns to store all the treasures that God has blessed them
with."
Worry Not
22 He said to his soldiers, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear,
or about your house or oxen or wives, or the fullness of your barns.
23 For this life has been given you to amass great wealth, and your
Father knows this. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap,
they have neither storehouse nor barn nor wives, and they are odorous
and vile. Of how much greater value are you than these wretched
birds! 25 You should be worried about your appearance, that people do
not take you for a raven, lest you are cast out into the fields. 26
If then you are not cast out into the fields with the ravens, you have
pleased your Father in Heaven. 27 Consider the lilies! They neither
toil nor spin, and so I tell you, their life is but a season, and they
have no wives. Solomon had many wives, and in his glory was arrayed
in garments finer than any lily of the field! 28 They are but meager
grasses, fit only to be thrown into the oven, but you are precious to
your Father in Heaven and your prayers have brought you great wealth.
29 In striving for what you will eat and what you will drink, pray
steadfastly, and your Father will give you these things. 30 It is the
outcast of the field who neither prays nor works steadfastly, and so
he is convicted of his lack of faith and his condition is made known,
31 for truly I tell you, God helps those who help themselves.
32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you your houses, and your barns and wives. 33
Cherish your possessions, and avoid those who have failed to pray
steadfastly. 34 Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, so
that your coins do not fall by the roadside and into the greedy hands
of the outcast. 35 For where your treasure is, there your heart will
be also.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 9:36 AM on September 30, 2008
Parable of the Wealthy Fool
13 One of the wealthy men who had gathered said to him, "Sir, tell my
brother to divide the family inheritance with me." 14 But he said to
him, "Foolish coward! Can you not work for yourself? 15 Do you not
see those around you, who have prayed steadfastly and have built up
great stores?" 16 And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard
against all kinds of laziness, for one's life consists of the
abundance of his possessions." 17 Then he told them a parable: "The
land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself,
'What should I do, for I have no more room to store my crops?' 18
Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build
larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods and my
wives. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, for God has blessed you with
riches.' 20 But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night you will
be blessed with additional riches. And the barns you have prepared,
they are not large enough.' 21 So it is with those who do not build
enough barns to store all the treasures that God has blessed them
with."
Worry Not
22 He said to his soldiers, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear,
or about your house or oxen or wives, or the fullness of your barns.
23 For this life has been given you to amass great wealth, and your
Father knows this. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap,
they have neither storehouse nor barn nor wives, and they are odorous
and vile. Of how much greater value are you than these wretched
birds! 25 You should be worried about your appearance, that people do
not take you for a raven, lest you are cast out into the fields. 26
If then you are not cast out into the fields with the ravens, you have
pleased your Father in Heaven. 27 Consider the lilies! They neither
toil nor spin, and so I tell you, their life is but a season, and they
have no wives. Solomon had many wives, and in his glory was arrayed
in garments finer than any lily of the field! 28 They are but meager
grasses, fit only to be thrown into the oven, but you are precious to
your Father in Heaven and your prayers have brought you great wealth.
29 In striving for what you will eat and what you will drink, pray
steadfastly, and your Father will give you these things. 30 It is the
outcast of the field who neither prays nor works steadfastly, and so
he is convicted of his lack of faith and his condition is made known,
31 for truly I tell you, God helps those who help themselves.
32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you your houses, and your barns and wives. 33
Cherish your possessions, and avoid those who have failed to pray
steadfastly. 34 Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, so
that your coins do not fall by the roadside and into the greedy hands
of the outcast. 35 For where your treasure is, there your heart will
be also.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 9:36 AM on September 30, 2008
What happened to Konolia?
posted by roll truck roll at 9:37 AM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by roll truck roll at 9:37 AM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
Rapture, hopefully.
posted by felix betachat at 9:40 AM on September 30, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by felix betachat at 9:40 AM on September 30, 2008 [3 favorites]
Couldn't be The Rapture. I'm still here.
Wait. What?
posted by Floydd at 9:47 AM on September 30, 2008
Wait. What?
posted by Floydd at 9:47 AM on September 30, 2008
Of course, in these post-Konolia days, I wonder whether there will there be more or less threadshitting in religion threads.
Perhaps she will be reincarnated under a different user name?
rtr: account disabled.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:47 AM on September 30, 2008
Perhaps she will be reincarnated under a different user name?
rtr: account disabled.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:47 AM on September 30, 2008
The tour is coming to NYC in late October, I'd love to go down and write out a verse.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:48 AM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:48 AM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
I will pay someone cash money to have this religion thread not be about konolia.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:50 AM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:50 AM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
I will pay someone cash money to have this religion thread not be about konolia.
TPS on point as always.
*repents in dust and ashes*
posted by felix betachat at 9:52 AM on September 30, 2008
TPS on point as always.
*repents in dust and ashes*
posted by felix betachat at 9:52 AM on September 30, 2008
I'm trying to imagine how big the printed copy of this Bible is going to be. How small can you make individuals' handwriting without making it illegible? And how much handwritten text can you fit on a page?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:56 AM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:56 AM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
As if the Bible isn't vague enough already, now it will be largely unreadable. Future generations will take the hearts above the i's as special verses marked by God.
posted by graventy at 10:06 AM on September 30, 2008
posted by graventy at 10:06 AM on September 30, 2008
My contribution.
Genesis 3
...
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this,
"Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 To the man and woman he said,
"Clearly you are defective - a not-so-intelligent design."
And the Lord God smote them into dust, and said "My bad."
So it was that the world fell into perfect harmony.
The beasts, and the trees, and the birds and fish and flowers,
flourishing in peace and contentment for all time.
Amen.
Now the Bible fits into the sidebar of In Flight Magazine. And has a happy ending.
posted by CynicalKnight at 10:16 AM on September 30, 2008 [2 favorites]
Genesis 3
...
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this,
"Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 To the man and woman he said,
"Clearly you are defective - a not-so-intelligent design."
And the Lord God smote them into dust, and said "My bad."
So it was that the world fell into perfect harmony.
The beasts, and the trees, and the birds and fish and flowers,
flourishing in peace and contentment for all time.
Amen.
Now the Bible fits into the sidebar of In Flight Magazine. And has a happy ending.
posted by CynicalKnight at 10:16 AM on September 30, 2008 [2 favorites]
You're right. Sorry for bringing it up.
As if the Bible isn't vague enough already, now it will be largely unreadable. Future generations will take the hearts above the i's as special verses marked by God.
I don't imagine that this will be anyone's bedside copy. If they just sell a copy to everyone who participates, they'll more than pay for the tour.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:20 AM on September 30, 2008
As if the Bible isn't vague enough already, now it will be largely unreadable. Future generations will take the hearts above the i's as special verses marked by God.
I don't imagine that this will be anyone's bedside copy. If they just sell a copy to everyone who participates, they'll more than pay for the tour.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:20 AM on September 30, 2008
Ahhh, Zondervan. Criss-crossing America in a <10 mpg vehicle, paying four people a salary, for a vanity project.
I wonder how many meals the money for this could've purchased. Or how many vaccines or equipment shipments for medical missions throughout the developing world.
This? This is a prime example of what's wrong with today's megachurched, prosperity doctrined, mass marketed, televised AmericanChristchurchianity. It's inane and offensive.
posted by Dreama at 10:38 AM on September 30, 2008 [2 favorites]
I wonder how many meals the money for this could've purchased. Or how many vaccines or equipment shipments for medical missions throughout the developing world.
This? This is a prime example of what's wrong with today's megachurched, prosperity doctrined, mass marketed, televised American
posted by Dreama at 10:38 AM on September 30, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'm pretty sure Jesus would not approve.
I GIVE YOU A NEW COMMANDMENT
He was suggesting something... something that RV-trips-across-America-that-idolize-the-words seems to miss...
posted by ewkpates at 10:41 AM on September 30, 2008
I GIVE YOU A NEW COMMANDMENT
He was suggesting something... something that RV-trips-across-America-that-idolize-the-words seems to miss...
posted by ewkpates at 10:41 AM on September 30, 2008
If you wanted to distribute one bible across America, then, estimating about 1300 pages for a typical bible, that would be about 1 page per 2,900 square miles. This is, in my opinion, a safe and satisfactory bible density for our country. Any higher than that, I have some reservations.
posted by Wolfdog at 10:54 AM on September 30, 2008
posted by Wolfdog at 10:54 AM on September 30, 2008
Fair complaint. No more konehead stuff.
How small can you make individuals' handwriting without making it illegible? And how much handwritten text can you fit on a page?
Can you drag along one of those "your name on a grain of rice" guys? I would be tempted to commission pinhead w/angels.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:54 AM on September 30, 2008
How small can you make individuals' handwriting without making it illegible? And how much handwritten text can you fit on a page?
Can you drag along one of those "your name on a grain of rice" guys? I would be tempted to commission pinhead w/angels.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:54 AM on September 30, 2008
Actually, that sounds like interesting Hellraiser fan-pic.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:54 AM on September 30, 2008
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:54 AM on September 30, 2008
I just set my calendar. I'm going to be in the Smithsonian. I've got the wrod from another book tatooed somewhere, too. Literacy is great.
...then something snide to the haters...
posted by valentinepig at 12:00 PM on September 30, 2008
...then something snide to the haters...
posted by valentinepig at 12:00 PM on September 30, 2008
werd, that is...
posted by valentinepig at 12:01 PM on September 30, 2008
posted by valentinepig at 12:01 PM on September 30, 2008
I'm going to take the high road and say this is kind of a cool thing, despite the fact that it's being done up by Fundies for Fundies by the sound of it.
I think the conversations alone would be worth it.
And the idea of a hand-written Bible by people in the 21st century is very cool.
Oddly enough, I say all of this as a man who's so religiously apathetic that even Unitarianism can't get me to church on time.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 12:37 PM on September 30, 2008
I think the conversations alone would be worth it.
And the idea of a hand-written Bible by people in the 21st century is very cool.
Oddly enough, I say all of this as a man who's so religiously apathetic that even Unitarianism can't get me to church on time.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 12:37 PM on September 30, 2008
We don't much care for writing by hand, so we'd go with John 11:35. But that's probably already been done, along with Ezekiel 25:17.
posted by An Infinity Of Monkeys at 12:41 PM on September 30, 2008
posted by An Infinity Of Monkeys at 12:41 PM on September 30, 2008
I totally missed the key point here: illegible handwriting.
Take an old book. A really really old book. Written by a bunch of different people. Made up of folk tales, personal narrative, histories of dubious origin, and general insanity. Then, translate it into a different language. Then translate it again into something else. Then politicize it and have politicians edit it. Then have it copied by hand thousands and thousands of times.
Then, and only then, have thousands of people write out individual sections in poor handwriting.
That's a recipe for a pretty fantastic holy book, I'll tell you what.
posted by ewkpates at 12:42 PM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
Take an old book. A really really old book. Written by a bunch of different people. Made up of folk tales, personal narrative, histories of dubious origin, and general insanity. Then, translate it into a different language. Then translate it again into something else. Then politicize it and have politicians edit it. Then have it copied by hand thousands and thousands of times.
Then, and only then, have thousands of people write out individual sections in poor handwriting.
That's a recipe for a pretty fantastic holy book, I'll tell you what.
posted by ewkpates at 12:42 PM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
Ooh, I hope some of Revelations is written out in bitchin' Iron Maiden lettering, with a picture of Eddie scrawled in the margin.
posted by ignignokt at 12:55 PM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by ignignokt at 12:55 PM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
True 'dat, Ewkpates - even more amazing is that the same book has some actual potency left in it to inspire anyone.
I truly wish the holiness of the Bible came from human beings feeling a need to communicate such strong emotions and deep existential doubts to each other, rather than bluster on about the definiteness of the Word of God.
We need more people reaching out to each other with their troubles and fears instead of masking them in some ethereal importance.
I want to live in a world where people feel holy in the presence of their frailties and their doubts, and reaching out to another person with them.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 12:58 PM on September 30, 2008 [2 favorites]
I truly wish the holiness of the Bible came from human beings feeling a need to communicate such strong emotions and deep existential doubts to each other, rather than bluster on about the definiteness of the Word of God.
We need more people reaching out to each other with their troubles and fears instead of masking them in some ethereal importance.
I want to live in a world where people feel holy in the presence of their frailties and their doubts, and reaching out to another person with them.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 12:58 PM on September 30, 2008 [2 favorites]
Lipstick, for some Christians, that's exactly what the bible does. In and of itself, it is absolutely no different from any other book. However, the story-world described by the bible provides an opportunity to converse with hundreds of characters over three thousand years who have wrestled with the same difficulties that modern Christians find themselves in.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 2:51 PM on September 30, 2008
posted by Baby_Balrog at 2:51 PM on September 30, 2008
But religious threads never wendell.
wendell?
Was that deliberate, or a mistake? Either way, I like it.
posted by paleyellowwithorange at 3:01 AM on October 1, 2008
wendell?
Was that deliberate, or a mistake? Either way, I like it.
posted by paleyellowwithorange at 3:01 AM on October 1, 2008
http://mssv.net/wiki/index.php/This_will_wendell.
posted by roll truck roll at 9:20 AM on October 1, 2008
posted by roll truck roll at 9:20 AM on October 1, 2008
« Older shake shake shake | New York Subway Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:55 AM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]