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Paul John Farrell

Illustrated Stories From The Bible Paperback – December 15, 2005

by Paul Farrell (Author)

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An adult parody of children's Bible-story books. Because it is extremely accurate -- even anatomically accurate -- in depicting the often shocking tales that make the bible an ethicist's nightmare Illustrated Stories From The Bible can be recommended for children no more than one could recommend the Bible itself. Each tale (illustrated by cartoonist Kathy Demchuck) is told in the wide-eyed, isn't-God-wonderful manner of the books usually employed to entice children into churches. Each story is followed, however, by a rationalist's ethical critique that draws upon the best modern scholarship concerning the Bible. Stories include: Elisha and the Bears; Jephtha's Daughter; Little Gershom's Penis; Uriah the Hittite; David's Census; Moses Helps God Understand; Slaughter Of the Midianites; Famine In Samaria; Where Giants Came From; Wives For the Benjamites; and When Jesus Drowned the Pigs.

Print length

176 pages
Language

English
Publisher

American Atheist Press
Publication date

December 15, 2005
Dimensions

6.9 x 0.5 x 9.9 inches
ISBN-10

1578849225
ISBN-13

978-1578849222
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul Farrell was born in Perth, Scotland, and moved to Canada when he was thirteen. With a degree in Political Science and a Masters in Public Adminisration, he has made a career in the health-care industry in British Columbia -- while living the life of a semiprofessional soccer player as well! Like everyone, Paul was born an Atheist, but then he was reared as a Roman Catholic. In his early twenties he became a born-again Christian and began researching topics from evolution to abortion. He developed into a fervent apologist for fundamentalism and frequently debated issues from the fundamentalist perspecive. Ultimately, his intense and thorough studies led him out of the Bible and Christianity altogether. He became a born-again Atheist. "I found myself in the embarrassing position of having to admit that the Bible god was not the loving, divine being that I had been defending. Instead, it was a rather unsavory character conjured up in the minds of men. It was sobering to realize how easily I had managed to gloss over critical biblical problems during all my Bible studies. I resolved to present these issues in a way that could not simply be swept under the rug and ignored."

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ American Atheist Press (December 15, 2005)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1578849225
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1578849222
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.9 x 0.5 x 9.9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #919,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,290 in Christian Bible Criticism & Interpretation

Customer Reviews:
49 ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

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Probably won't find this in a pediatrician's office...

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2012

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Colorfully-illustrated Bible story books were a ubiquitous part of doctor and dentist waiting rooms when I was a kid. They covered well-known scriptural tales such as Noah's Ark, The Exodus, and Jonah's encounter with the whale (or great fish, if you prefer). However, I certainly don't remember any of them being quite as gritty and logical as this fine, subversive work from writer Paul Farrell and artist Kathy Demchuck.

The mayhem on the cover should give you an idea of what's inside: the author presents and analyzes a number of the darker, X-rated Bible tales that don't find their way into the typical children's pictorial tome or Sunday school class. Most of the material presented here is from the Old Testament, like the genocidal conquest of the Promised Land and God's harsh judgments on His people, although a couple of New Testament incidents such as Jesus' casting of demons into a herd of swine get some coverage.

Each of the controversial accounts in "Illustrated Stories from the Bible" are presented in modern-day language with a number of accompanying black-and-white line drawings that spare nothing in their frank depictions of copulation, war, and divine punishment (they're not quite up to, say, Neal Adams' standards, but they get the job done). The stories are followed up with a detailed yet readable author's commentary discussing the text's logical, moral, and historical problems in unsparing (and sometimes humorous) language.

I can attest from my years of church attendance that pastors readily justify controversial divine activities, so Mr. Farrell's work will unfortunately be trashed by the faithful as a Satanic hatchet-job. For example, God's assistance with the extermination of the Canaanite races or mowing down His own wayward followers are touted from the pulpit as examples of the Lord's holiness and justice when confronted with wickedness. That sort of "logic" is quite common when approaching Biblical massacres - as the saying goes, one death is a tragedy, but 20,000 deaths is merely a cautionary tale.

I doubt that you'll stumble across "Illustrated Stories from the Bible" while waiting for your child's teeth to be cleaned, as it isn't appropriate for kids due to the graphic nature of the illustrations (nudity and gore abound). However, I recommend it for curious adults raised on Bible story books and for mature youth who are asking questions about religion. I'm certainly keeping my fingers crossed for a "deluxe" painted version (heh).

12 people found this helpful

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Rorke

Well Done and Disturbing

Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2011

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I held off on buying this for some time, thinking it would be amusing (in a sick way) but rather skimpy, and I read it was in black and white. I'm sorry I waited so long. There are three parts to the stories told.

First: the illustrations- Yes, Kathy Demchuck's illustrations are line drawings with no color. And yes, they are very well done. I liked them much more than I expected! Some are quite amusing, while others express the emotion of the stories very well. One example of this is the story of the man who picked up sticks on a Sunday and was murdered on god's orders for doing it. The drawings really make you feel his fear.

Second: the stories themselves: Paul Ferrell brings them to life by rounding out those bare bible words and presenting them as the actual stories they are. He has to add a few rounding details to a couple of stories, but those don't interfere with the story as the bible tells it. For instance, he gives a reason why the man was picking up sticks on a Sunday. The only other real additions are in describing the emotions of the characters. Where the original text says someone was upset, for example, Ferrell uses words to describe/illustrate these feelings (their crying, fear, etc.). Having read the originals of these stories myself, I can honestly say he hasn't changed anything of substance. I imagine that literal minded christian who read the excerpts online (there is a web site) would be VERY disturbed and threatened by the way the pictures and words make the stories real. It's easier to explain away something like god sending a bear to maul children when you don't have to see it happen or hear exactly how the victims and their parents would have felt.

Third: The commentary after the stories. These are not a mere one skimpy page of comments, but several pages per story of serious discussion. Ferrell highlights common apologetic arguments made by those who defend these barbaric tales, with clear and sensible rebuttals to those pro-bible arguments.

Why do christians stand by these stories? Well, the more liberal christians (like my family) don't. The see them for what they are: stories meant to illustrate a point. Or stories from another time and culture that are so outdated that sometimes no one can even figure out the point. (Which is why preachers the world over fight about what they mean.)

More literal christians face a conundrum: how can they reconcile these stories with the teaching that their god is all good, all loving, and all merciful? Almost all christians believe the myth that "god is love" because that's what they were taught as children. The Jesuit quote says, "Give me the child, and I will mould the man." Almost no one comes to chistianity with no previous knowledge of it, reads the bible in full, studies it well, and then decides, "god is love." Usually, a person is brought up christian, fed cutsie bibles, children's christian TV and movies, and censored Sunday school lessons. They have it driven home - "God is love! God is merciful! Jesus loves you and all the little children! You owe him for everything!" By the time they read/hear the truth, they have that thoroughly driven into their heads, forcing them to defend the cruel parts of the bible, ignore them, or move past christianity.

Therefore, a lifelong, literal minded christian must either defend the bible in any way possible or admit that they were taught a load of baloney. It's like trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Cognitive dissonance at it's finest! God killed David's son in order to punish David? Well, there MUST be a GOOD reason! No, there isn't. And that's the point of this well done book. No one wants to admit they were wrong about something big. That can be really frightening! I've been there myself.
(Although in my case it was admitting to myself, my family and all my friends that they were right - my fiancée was a total worthless jerk - and I had to tell them all I had figured it out and broke off the relationship. It was the hardest thing I had ever done. Losing my religion took a lot more baby steps, pegs in holes, and cognitive dissonance to happen. )

So, this book serves it's purpose well. It highlight's some of the bible's dirty secrets and explains the arguments for and against them.

14 people found this helpful

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ZeframCochran

Good to see the shadowy bits brought to light.

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2017

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Awesome read. I enjoy reading about different religions; although I am not religious. This book should be read as it was intended, bringing light to the shadowy parts of the christian bible. The author went into the science of analyzing the stories from an objective view (with satire), but for the most part objective. Good book. It was sort of large in size, you know for easy carrying purposes. It is a great conversation starter, if you are into those kinds of conversations. It is a good buy, if only for the entertainment.

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Carolyn Brannan

but good to know the literature

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2018

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Scary that this is used to teach children or to scare them!!!
Do not believe this is the way, but good to know the literature.

One person found this helpful

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CL Putnam

The ugly, gory truth of the "loving god's" acts of torture and violence

Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2013

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If the hideous, blood-drenched stories in the Bible were re-packaged under a different title, I guarantee that book would NOT be permitted in any school--much LESS a church! These are some of the most vile and gruesome accounts that show that the "holy" Bible is in reality a sick, perverted work of "snuff porn" and genocide. When people ask me why I became an Atheist, I tell them, "Because I read the Bible!"

CL Putnam, author of "Bible Stories Mother Never Told Me"

2 people found this helpful

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Jim

A Horrifying Must Read

Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2012

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I've read the bible, but it has been awhile. The stories are so horrible your first reaction is to say "know way these are in the bible." Then I picked up my bible & followed along. They are all in there! This book demonstrates how immoral the bible is along with Christianity. The main question is should you let your kids read it? If you let them read the bible then there is no reason not to let them read this. I probable won't hand this book to them on their own, but I will go over some of the stories with them. The best use of this book is to give it to Christians to make them aware how horrible their holy book is.

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Andrew Clarke

of course we know it's all BS

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2019

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but it is still great to read through the evidence that confirms this. at least i hope so or i am in for an eternity of pain from our loving, merciful god

tino123

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 3, 2016

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Fun.