Had you ever wondered what 200 foreskins looked like in the hands of David or why women in the first century church weren’t allowed to speak during services?
Combining real Bible verses with whimsical illustrations and tongue-in-cheek commentary, Awkward Moments (Not Found In Your Average) Children’s Bible, may be a gag gift for some or a tough pill to swallow for others this Christmas.
Written by a childhood Catholic, ex-“born again” believer, now uncertain believer Horus Gilgamesh, hopes to challenge people to read the Bible as opposed to following its instruction blindly.
“The goal of the project,” says author Horus Gilgamesh, “is to challenge readers from all walks of life to gain a better understanding of the content of the Bible and its context in modern day culture. The fact that our fans report shooting milk out their noses from laughter is just an added bonus.”
A recent Pew Research Center survey shows an overwhelming lack of Biblical knowledge among Christians in the U.S., with 55% unable to even name the four Gospels.
From some of the most awkward moments in your favorite childhood Biblical tales to those shock-and-awe flashes of scripture in stories we never knew were in the Bible.
Why would God try to kill Moses? Why would God send bears to tear 42 boys to pieces? Why does Jesus demand that his disciples eat his flesh and drink his blood – literally?
On its very first day of online sales, Awkward Moments (Not Found In Your Average) Children’s Bible became the #1 Bestseller on Amazon.com’s Humor & Religion category. This was a week before the book was set to officially release on October 31.
Illustrator Agnes Tickheathen believes the book isn’t just about sticking it to the clergyman but it’s about empowering Bible believers to know the full story.
“I don’t have any trouble with people believing in Noah’s Ark. What I have a problem with is that most people completely gloss over the fact that this wasn’t just the backdrop for a colorful story of adventure and perseverance,” said Tickheathen. “It is a gruesome story of God, our Father, having a mighty temper tantrum that led to the mass slaughter of his own creation – worldwide. The same God who would come to earth in the form of his Son? How do we reconcile these differences? These are the questions that I am fascinated by.”