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Bible Illuminated: The Book New Testament | 
 enlarge | Creator: Forlaget Illuminated Sweden
Publisher: Illuminated World
Category: Book
List Price: $35.00
Buy New: $21.25
You Save: $13.75 (39%)
New (28) Used (4) from $20.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 20510
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 261
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 8.2 x 0.5
ISBN: 919766944X
Dewey Decimal Number: 225.52082
EAN: 9789197669443
ASIN: 919766944X
Publication Date: October 28, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Book Description
A homeless man walking. A soldier preparing for combat. A mother nursing her newborn child. Never before has a publisher illuminated the Bible with such an array of striking, even provocative contemporary photographs. Wrapped in an arresting cover, Bible Illuminated: The Book: New Testament presents The Bible in a full-color, glossy magazine format, set in running text with no verses, inviting readers to step into the Bible and experience it in a whole new way. The Book, using the Good News Translation as approved by the American Bible Society, will introduce believers and non-believers to a culturally relevant, accessible Bible and will encourage dialogue between people from all walks of life. When was the last time you picked it up and read it?
Learn More About Bible Illuminated: The Book (See a larger view of pages from The Book when you click on any of the images following in this section.) Who created The Book? The company that created The Book is called Illuminated World. The co-founder and creative visionary for the Bible Illuminated is Dag Soederberg, former CEO of one of the largest advertising firms in Scandinavia. Dag's passion for photography and innovative design helped with the creative direction of such a huge undertaking. He loves art and finding unique ways to present traditional things in a non-traditional way, a part of his advertising background that definitely shaped The Book and ultimately its look and feel. His vision from the beginning was to re-brand the Bible for a consumer audience but remain true to the text (which is why The Book uses the standard Good News Translation).   What is the goal of publishing The Book? There is no religious mission behind The Book. We believe that its success will be driven by the fact that this is not coming from any specific faith, religion or church. We are from many faiths, backgrounds, and beliefs; ultimately we are trying to create something for the many and not just for the few. The goal is to drive an emotional reaction and get people to think, discuss and share. It's meant to trigger bigger moral questions that will in turn help people to understand the common heritage between all religions through the Bible's text. We hope people will find the images, design and layout intriguing?intriguing enough to talk about the actual stories in the Bible and what the morals and lessons mean to them. The more you know, the more you can participate in discussions about the world and understand the bigger picture. What does The Book look like? Bible Illuminated:The Book looks like a high-end magazine. It presents the New Testament as it's never been seen before in full-color, glossy format, illustrated throughout with striking, sometimes provocative, contemporary photographs. It is meant to be comfortable and easy to flip through and used as you would use any Bible. There are no verses and the text runs with columns and paragraphs just like in a magazine.
Who is Illuminated World trying to reach with The Book? The Book is meant for anyone and everyone. It is for people who currently own a Bible but never read it, people who don't own a Bible or would never even consider picking it up, as well as people who currently read or use the Bible, but want to experience this new, innovative design.  
What do the highlighted passages and sentences mean? The meaning of these passages is open to readers. We highlighted and underlined passages throughout The Book as a way to draw the reader's attention and provide an opportunity for reflection. What should people do with The Book? We want people to be able to flip through the pages and find something that they relate to, whether it's an image of a war-torn soldier or homeless person, a celebrity or an endangered animal?or a certain passage paired with a powerful image that resonates with them.
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| Customer Reviews:
 An Overpriced Trojan Horse November 18, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book resembles a magazine with glossy paper, including the thin paper cover. It is not sturdy and my copy is showing wear after a small amount of gentle use. The cost is quite high for a magazine-like binding. I had thought it would be more like a coffee table book with a sturdy binding, possibly hardcover, but that is not what this is.
Regarding the text itself, the American Bible Association has given permission for The Good News version of The New Testament to be used in this publication. So this is not a new translation of text, if you are looking for a more modern language translation perhaps you should look into "The Message" by Eugene Peterson (it can be viewed online for free or purchased in book form).
The font is two different sizes, is quite small, and is laid out in either three or four columns. Readers over age 40 may need to don their cheaters to read this book. The typical Bible annotation with numbers and chapters is not here so it really looks like a magazine article layout (it is slick and modern looking). Also some of the text is highlighted with yellow block, and other times the text is in red font, which naturally catches our eye. At times the highlighted text also appears as a caption to the accompanying photograph. I had trouble at times connecting the meaning of the quote with the chosen image. It is interesting to ponder why that little blurb was selected versus some other. Also some photographs have their own caption (not a Bible quote) to explain a little about what we are looking at.
I was confused by many of the images selected and some of the captions and some of the quotes, and pondered for days what the source of my discomfort was and why I was reacting negatively to the book. Many of the images are not closely tied to literal interpretations of the text nor are they just artistic abstract images or nature images. Sometimes when a photo has an excerpt from the Bible I just don't understand the matching of the image to the text, no matter how long I contemplate it. Other times it seems the captions led me to a belief that was apart from what the Bible was saying, extrapolating a notion in the Bible to possibly relate to air pollution, meat eating, global warming, over-consumption, poverty, access to modern health care, gender inequality in education and access to prescription drugs for HIV positive people in third world countries.
The second and more dangerous issue is that through these images and the added, new text inserted by the book's creators, the message that comes across to the reader that is above and beyond what Christians usually take from the content in the New Testament. In other words a message from this book is not the same or typical messages gleaned by those who read JUST the text of the New Testament. Christians believe the Bible is the word of God and Christians take the Bible's words, combine them with prayer to listen to what God leads them to do to put God's words into action. However in this book, the creators have added the word of man (their words) mixed in with the Bible's words, combining it with God's call to help others. The creators of the book call readers to take action, to take specific actions, political and social actions to fulfill the stated goals of the United Nations. Instead of leaving the reader to contemplate, pray and figure out how they can apply the word of God and Jesus Christ to help their fellow man with their direct actions, the publishers boldly tell readers what they would like to see the reader do (support the United Nations and to donate their money for one thing).
I am referring to the portions that reference "Eight Ways to Change the World" which is a goal of the United Nations called the `Millennium Development Goals' which they hope will be realized by the year 2015. Readers are called to action by supporting initiatives of the United Nations and to donate their money (just one dollar you donate can help...) to such causes as improving medical care for pregnant women in third world countries to try to lower the maternal mortality rate, and also a call to action to get more prescription drugs for Africans with AIDS, to name just two. In case you think I am exaggerating, I have an email from Dag Soderberg that confirms this stated objective, to try to influence readers to support the United Nations objective. Some of the photographs in this book first appeared in a show featuring photographs to support "Eight Ways to Change the World". It seems that Dag Soderberg then hatched the idea to bring the message of that show to Americans and other English speaking peoples by combining that message with a New Testament Bible (the Bible is book that repeatedly sells the most copies year after year).
A section of the book has photographs of some people who have lived in this last century who the authors feel have done work to change the world for the better. Some include Angelina Jolie, Bono, Muhammad Ali, Al Gore, and Che Guevara. I will leave you to decide what you think about the individuals selected. Perhaps you will have some issues as I did. One would think that a New Testament that guides Christians might show Christians who have done good works. Instead I arrived at the conclusion that non-believers are `good people too' and didn't need the Bible to guide their actions. We all know that Godless people, and people of other faiths can do good things but why include it in a New Testament Bible? The fact that the most Christian book in the world has a `religion doesn't matter' notion is a bit hard for me to take.
Another impression I received was that the Bible is outdated and perhaps not the best advice to take. I point to the spread of what I thought was a gruesome image of a rich white woman tearing apart a roasted goose with her bare hands (an unrealistic and creepy image). The Bible text with it puts down what we call `being a vegetarian'. Will that not tick off and gross out the vegetarian social activists out there and lead them to put down The New Testament as outdated and just wrong? In another section the statement that women must submit to their husbands is highlighted but text about how a husband needs to treat his wife well is not highlighted. Another recommendation that women must have long hair goes against what many modern women choose concerns their hair length.
I called this a Trojan Horse because I think that people will seek to buy this because they want the message of the Bible with an appealing visual element, but instead they receive messages from non-Christians urging them in words and powerful images to take social and political action to support the initiatives of the United Nations. Readers who look only at the photographs, captions, highlighted text and read the new section about the United Nations will be more susceptible to that influence than those who already know the content of the New Testament or those who actually read the text in this version.
So who are the creators or illuminators as they call themselves? From the official website, we learn that creator of "Illuminated World" is Dag Soderberg who " is a spiritual but not particularly religious individual". The others involved are investors and business people. From the publishers website I learned this:
"Are any of the founders or business partners of Illuminated World religious?
"There is no religious mission here. We believe that the success of The Book will be driven by the fact that this is not coming from within any specific faith, religion or church. We are from many faiths, backgrounds and beliefs and ultimately trying to create something for the many and not just for the few."
According to Bible Illuminated website, they are currently working on their version of the Old Testament. Also shared is that the organization has future plans to do translations of other religious books as well.
 Review November 7, 2008
I have to admit that when I first saw this book, I was apprehensive to read it. Bible Illuminated the Book: New Testament touches on a very sensitive subject matter, even though I had no predetermined clue or thoughts about this book either good or bad.
Bible Illuminated is one of those books that you want to put on display for all to see and read. It is written in such an easy text that anyone can read it with no problems. The pictures shown throughout this book are so breathtaking, they are like art. They are so crystal clear you can stop even the smallest of details not to mention that the pictures just jump off the page at you.
Every time I pick up this book I discover something new. It is like Christmas every day...you never know what you are going to get but when you open your present you are delighted. Mr. Forlaget did a good job with Bible Illuminated considering the subject matter. He could have injected his beliefs and thoughts into this book but instead he kept it pretty true to the original but just with some modernization. Which I felt did not hurt or hinder this book in any way. Pick up a copy of this book and read what every one else is talking about.
Fascinating! November 6, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
When picking this up I had nothing to compare or contrast it to. But all of a sudden I found myself interested in exploring the Bible, in a context I could appreciate. Having a background in design I was instantly attracted to the concept for this book. I will be reviewing this book based more on the design aspects, because that is what i know!
Though the symbolism might not be as easy for me to understand compared to someone with a good knowledge of the Bible I still enjoyed trying to make the connections between the quotes and imagery. I found this translation of the Bible surprisingly simple to understand. I was expecting to have to do a lot more deciphering to understand it. That makes it all the more attractive to read, I can just read it!
Bible Illuminated is literally a magazine and a thin one at that! It actually reminds me of NEED Magazine, which is a humanitarian magazine with breathtaking photography and powerful stories. Both Bible Illuminated and NEED Magazine are laid out beautifully, no clutter only the essentials.
I love how Bible Illuminated tells a complete story using all sorts of imagery including celebrities, historic events, strange fashion-like photography and computer festivals among other things! I like how each section for the most part, used it's own specific theme for photography to separate it from the others. That definitely added to the idea of a magazine with different stories or sections.
It was very helpful for me to have quotes pulled out but for consistency it would have made more sense to stick with maybe large quotes and highlights and gotten rid of the red quotes and black boxed quotes. Too many ways to do one thing gets a little bothersome. Also because this is literally a magazine it's a little hard to read without fearing I would damage it, I think maybe a slightly thicker cover would help make it easier for reading it wouldn't flop around as much. Magazines tend to slip right out of my hands and land on the floor!
I know that the Old Testament is set for release in 2009. I hope this will not be the final book from The Illuminated World. I would be very interested to see if they will continue on this project with other religious texts. That would be amazing.
I know some people are questioning this version of the Bible, but for me I find it fascinating. Honestly, I can't think of a more attractive way to be presented this text, but then again that's just me! I know I will definitely be exploring Bible Illuminated for years to come. This is a fascinating piece that deserves multiple readings.
 Amazing November 5, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have been blessed in my life to be able to read the Bible several times over in several different translations and you know what? It's a great book. If you haven't read it you should give it a try! There is a reason it is the most popular book in the world you know :)
This month I was given the amazing opportunity to preview a new Bible version- Bible Illuminated. Honestly I think it is easily the most incredible version I have EVER seen.
The photos are incredible- just looking at them gave me VERY strong emotions and then to have them paired with the Word of God was just intense. It truly had me captivated.
The Bible Illuminated would make an excellent Christmas gift too.
You've got to be kidding me. October 28, 2008
8 out of 15 found this review helpful
On October 27 2008, the National Public Radio program Marketplace offered a review of this new edition of the Christian New Testament. What's new about this Bible? Not the translation--this is the "Good News" translation from fifty years ago, but without the text divided into chapters and verses. Instead, the text is run together as a continuous story for each book.
But in the tradition of 21st Century marketing, what's new are pictures PICTURES! They are scattered through the text. GREAT PICTURES--like Andy Warhol in the Revelation of St. John. And in the Gospel of Mark alone, there are snaps of Al Gore, Angelina Jolie, Bono, and Bill Gates--and Bill Gates is NOT the Prince of Darkness! What does that have to do with the Gospel of Mark? Beats me.
So what? Here's what: a new annotated translation of the New Testament, even one based on the most current New International Version (NIV), would really be useful, especially one taking into account the points raised by Dr. Bart Ehrman in "Misquoting Jesus." Dr. Ehrman lists several of the most famous New Testament verses and stories that are in fact later additions. Or an edition of the New Testament, that include commentary from people like Jack Miles ("Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God")--that would really be interesting--and useful. But a New Testament, reprinting an old translation with new photos of Bono? That's one step above the Bible with the fake gospel made famous in Irwin Wallace's "The Word"--and a small step at that.
Who needs another Christian New Testament, featuring the worst of Vanity Fair ie the first fifty pages are ads for Versace, Chanel, Gucci, Prada and Satan--I mean Microsoft? Ultimately, this is a $35. magazine ($23.10 on Amazon) that religious grandparents will waste their money on, in a futile effort to bring the proverbial Good Book to a new generation.
Are you interested in the Christian New Testament? You're far better served by the following:
Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why (Plus)
God: A Biography
Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God
And if you're not interested, there's always:
The Word
But the movie with David Janssen--believe it or don't--is actually better than the book:
The Word
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