Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
My friend Jim Babka emailed me about this and I was predictably appalled. Hot off the presses it's The American Patriot's Bible, a toxic mixture of fake history, fundamentalism and ignorant nationalism. The stupidity begins with the product description on Amazon:
This extremely unique Bible shows how the history of the United States connects the people and events of the Bible to our lives in a modern world. The story of the United States is wonderfully woven into the teachings of the Bible and includes a beautiful full-color family record section, memorable images from our nation's history and hundreds of enlightening articles which complement the New King James Version Bible text.
The Bible doesn't say a single word about the United States, of course, just as it says nothing about the modern state of Israel or Russia or anything else that came into existence centuries after it was canonized. The good news is that non-believers are not the only ones who think this book is repulsive; lots of Christians think so too, including Babka. Greg Boyd, a minister and author, blasts the concept. So do many of the reviewers on Amazon. The very first one says:
As an Evangelical Christian, I love the Bible. I also love this country, and I am descended from a line of men who have served in the American military since the Civil War era. However, I am deeply disturbed by this Bible and by the nationalistic "Christianity" that it exemplifies.To conflate American Patriotism and militaristic American Nationalism with Christianity is to turn America's Wars into Holy Wars. To literally weave together the Scriptures and the Flag, presenting them as one united and holy blend, is unholy. The effect is to create an "American Jesus" who is really a War God. With all my heart, I believe that to print The American Patriot's Bible is to desecrate the Word of God.
But after the anger has burnt off, I am just saddened by this Bible, deeply saddened, because I know that many American Christians, even some who attend my own church, will not feel revolted by it at all. I am terribly afraid that Thomas Nelson made a wise business decision in producing this blasphemous Bible.
Please know that there are American Christians deeply wounded and ashamed of the existence of this Bible.
You know who else would be appalled by this Bible? The religious right ministers in the days of the founding of this nation, most of whom ranted endlessly against the Constitution, particularly Article 6 and the first amendment.
Politics
Comments
Sounds like a "Mein Kampf" for the Christian Nationalist set.
Posted by: Todd Hollywood | May 13, 2009 9:25 AM
That, or a new "Turner Diaries" for religious views.
And, of course, there was no question that this thing would be a KJV bible.
Posted by: Ranson | May 13, 2009 9:29 AM
Hey, howzabout a little imprecatory prayer for the author?
Posted by: democommie | May 13, 2009 9:32 AM
How can something be "extrememly unique"? It's either unique or it's not.
Pet Peeve #42,398. Right up there with it's/its and lie/lay.
Posted by: Dwimr | May 13, 2009 9:32 AM
Crap. I misspelled extremely. Sigh.
Posted by: Dwimr | May 13, 2009 9:34 AM
So how does the Christian Nationalist crowd explain the Treaty of Tripoli?
Posted by: Finch | May 13, 2009 9:36 AM
Here you go, Finch:
http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=125
Posted by: Dwimr | May 13, 2009 9:39 AM
It would be interesting to know whether any of the material in the Patriot's Bible is of the Barton quality fake quote variety.
Posted by: Herod the Freemason | May 13, 2009 10:10 AM
Herod - the real question is how much of the
Idiot's- sorry - Patriot's Bible is NOT derived from Bartonesque 'quotes'. -DJPosted by: DingoJack | May 13, 2009 10:17 AM
Thanks so much, Ed. Now I feel the need to run a Slacktivist-style review of this pile of garbage on my blog. But I'm already doing After the Flood, a book about the "history" of Europe and the Middle East following the time of Noah. There just isn't enough time in the week to handle all the historical insipidity of the religious wackos.
Posted by: Geds | May 13, 2009 10:22 AM
Crap, given the ideology and mentality of the local community, I'll be running into folks who consider this book gospel (irony) within a few weeks... *sigh*
Posted by: dogmeatib | May 13, 2009 10:45 AM
For more patriotic fun(damentalism), check out the American Patriots Bible official website. It includes sample pages, many of which are comprised of patriotic photos plastered with quotations, as you'd probably already have guessed. They also have a video (youtube version) that does a bait and switch, having the Founders ask "upon what principles of law and government would her constitution be formed?" and then saying the 13 colonies had already answered that question: the Bible!
Posted by: jpf | May 13, 2009 11:20 AM
I tossed the book into my Amazon Wishlist.
It's not that I think it's worth reading, but in my discussions with the more right-wing Christians I'm constantly being tossed a title of a book and being told, "If you would just read THIS, you'll change your mind!"
I've collected several such books, and have made lots of comments in the margins. It's helpful to research the wingnuttery. And it's about as fun as a two-week visit from an unpleasant relative.
I'll order it when the used price falls under a buck. Or I'll pick it up at the Salvation Army bookshelf. That's where I got my Rush Limbaugh titles.
Posted by: calladus | May 13, 2009 11:35 AM
Oh dear, the introduction has a large photograph of "President Barack Obama" in it, describing his presidency as the culmination of MLK's dream, and including his quote "Change has come to America". The wingnuts aren't going to like that much.
Posted by: tacitus | May 13, 2009 11:40 AM
Following up Dwimr's point: ... and there/their/they're, your/you're and till/until.
To put it sarcastically: "Its iteratively overly redundant, but their just trying to underscore the point so much till you're brain burns."
Posted by: Umlud | May 13, 2009 11:53 AM
Without reading the thing, I have a strong feeling that its message is something like Christian Identity Lite.
Posted by: Jon Lester | May 13, 2009 12:02 PM
'extremely unique' as opposed to somewhat unique?
Posted by: Dr X | May 13, 2009 12:06 PM
So, during the American Civil War, which side was Jesus on?
Posted by: Ray | May 13, 2009 12:08 PM
I see that others noticed. Sorry for the unnecessary superfluous comment.
Posted by: Dr X | May 13, 2009 12:08 PM
Greg Boyd writes:
I could not agree more with this statement.
We are all familiar with the way that past personalities and their exploits become legendary in the retelling. Pity it is history that is so carefully primped and posed.
What, I wonder, can we do to stop a trend that takes place over multiple generation? So much is lost in translation. There is always some way to color the historical record.
Short of universal recording of all the activities of all people, I don't see how this sort of thing can be prevented. Therefore, it must be either tolerated or fought. Education would seem to be the best weapon but, given its current state, I'd rather arm myself with a big stick.
Someone surely has a better idea?
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | May 13, 2009 12:23 PM
I just dropped out of warp speed reading my bible all over again and I'll be damned if I can find any mention of America or anything else that doesn't resemble the struggles of isolated bands of desert nomads.
I'll read it again. Back in a minute.
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | May 13, 2009 1:01 PM
On May 13, 2009 11:35 AM, calladus posted:
It's not that I think it's worth reading, but in my discussions with the more right-wing Christians I'm constantly being tossed a title of a book and being told, "If you would just read THIS, you'll change your mind!"
If it is a book other than the Bible, you could say, "I do not believe the Bible. Why should I read some other book? Is the Bible not good enough for you?"
Posted by: Blue Nine | May 13, 2009 1:05 PM
Nope. Still nothing.
What can I possibly be missing?
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | May 13, 2009 1:06 PM
Posted by: Martian Buddy | May 13, 2009 1:07 PM
The incorruptible word of Dog had been corrupted repeatedly. A version was once printed that quoted Jesus telling the prostitute to, "Go, and sin on more."
Seems that a simple transposition of letters would be manageable by an all powerful whatchamacallit.
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | May 13, 2009 1:25 PM
If you go to Amazon, you can tag this book as 'Lying for Jesus'.
Posted by: Matt | May 13, 2009 1:48 PM
I take this'll sit on the shelf next to The Patriot's History of the United States, probably with the tagline "Watch us do to Christianity what we did to American history."
Wait, this isn't a joke, right?
Posted by: Hap | May 13, 2009 2:00 PM
Matt stated:
Great idea. Kind of like following Phrangylua readers to a poll P.Z. wants to overwhelm. I added the following tags to this book: propaganda, political propaganda, revisionism, historical revisionism, dominionism, theocracy, and Christianism.
Posted by: Michael Heath | May 13, 2009 2:50 PM
Added "Poe's Law" as a tag as well.
Posted by: Michael Heath | May 13, 2009 2:58 PM
Crudely Wrott, I speculate the reason is that, unlike your Bible, the American Patriot's Bible contains the apocryphal Book of Bob (or, as it is sometimes called, the Book of Jones.)
;)
Posted by: Chris Winter | May 13, 2009 3:11 PM
Michael Heath:
Can you tag it as "posthorse oats"?
Posted by: democommie | May 13, 2009 3:11 PM
I believe Jesus made it clear to render unto Ceasar what is Ceasars and render unto God what is God's. He also made it clear that His kingdom is not of this world. What Christians should ultimately care about is worshipping God, witnessing the Gospel, and advancing His Kingdom to come.
I get a kick out of these right wing neos who want to use the Bible as their justification for their hate and racists attitudes. We are running the risk in our situational ethics society of becoming as bad as any extremist people ever did.
Posted by: Stuart Johnson | May 13, 2009 4:09 PM
I believe Jesus made it clear to render unto Ceasar what is Ceasars and render unto God what is God's. He also made it clear that His kingdom is not of this world. What Christians should ultimately care about is worshipping God, witnessing the Gospel, and advancing His Kingdom to come.
I get a kick out of these right wing neos who want to use the Bible as their justification for their hate and racists attitudes. We are running the risk in our situational ethics society of becoming as bad as any extremist people ever did.
Posted by: Stuart Johnson | May 13, 2009 4:09 PM
So there was a religious right in 1789? What a stupid, stupid thing to write.
Many Anglicans ranted against the constitution because they were Loyalists. It was the first civil war, or didn't you learn that in school?
What awful commentary. You can't fill Cotton Mather's shoes, that's for sure.
Posted by: Jeff | May 13, 2009 4:21 PM
Why, Chris Winter! How have you neglected to mention the book of Bubbah which covers everything you need to know concerning old trucks, stills and difficult births?
Just the other day I was inspired by Bubbah 5:32. "And in thy wanderings, should you find a hidden place and be in urgency, piss only on the ground over which you have prayed a blessing. No one will ever notice. Pray up a latrine in the manner your lord approves and you shall give offense to no one and you shall have all your needs fulfilled."
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | May 13, 2009 4:33 PM
Ah, the Patriot Movement. There's a sorry phenomenon that we will unfortunately be seeing more of in the coming months and years.
Posted by: Sadie Morrison | May 13, 2009 7:30 PM
I just dropped out of warp speed reading my bible all over again and I'll be damned if I can find any mention of America or anything else that doesn't resemble the struggles of isolated bands of desert nomads.
I'm sure there are plenty of similarities between the stories of the Bible and America, at least around the time of the founding. Even setting aside the whole "not opposed to slavery" bit, there are loads of similarities. For example, compare this piece written during America's founding:
...compare that to any number of Bible verses:
And don't these descriptions remind you of certain jealous someone?
Posted by: Citizen Z | May 13, 2009 9:17 PM
Citizen Z, sure. No real surprises. Most people usually resist being told what to do. The more so when they are threatened or cajoled into doing so despite lack of evidence.
The way of people changes little. It's just the assholery behind trying to explain such ways to the advantage of an elite or priestly class that frosts my ass. It evolves rapidly.
Plaintive exhortations relating to old stories are worthwhile for their moral lessons. They are not justification for doing anything.
The worthiness of doing something is decided by individual humans in unique circumstances on the fly in real time. It is a deeply human art. Not always done perfectly. But what of that?
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | May 13, 2009 9:48 PM
Citizen Z:
Yupper. The Babble is the blueprint for MerKKKa alrighty right.
That's why all of the Gap stores (mixed fibers) and Red Lobdsters (shellfish)--not to mention all of the malls that are open on the sabbath--have been razed to the ground by a smiteful GOD!!
Posted by: democommie | May 14, 2009 6:24 AM
Juxtaposing Ed's comment with the book's description shows the linkage between this book and the real Bible:
Posted by: Ex-drone | May 14, 2009 7:11 AM
Martian Buddy (24) writes:
In the New KJV, do the American Christian Nationalists become the lost tribe of Israel? Surely they are the Chosen People.Posted by: Ex-drone | May 14, 2009 7:28 AM
Posted by: Martian Buddy | May 14, 2009 11:35 AM
Didn't the Mormons already do that?
Posted by: jpf | May 14, 2009 4:40 PM
That "Patriot's Bible" sounds really, really pathetic. But then, you can use verses from the Bible(or any other holy writings, for that matter) and make them mean whatever you want them to mean.
Anne G
Posted by: Anne Gilbert | May 14, 2009 10:57 PM
It saddens me that so many people, including those who call themselves "Christians," are judging this bible by saying it is proclaiming America, in the context of its government, as being Christian. This couldn't be further from the truth. It is simply celebrating Christians in America who are patriotic. Is there a problem with Christians being patriotic? Of course not. Secondly, the idea that Thomas Nelson and a man of integrity like Dr. Richard Lee, the general editor, would ever "blaspheme" God's Word is preposterous. These articles, stories and illustrations are a "compendium" to the bible. None of the Books of the Bible, chapters, verses or words were changed in any way. I encourage everyone to not "judge this book by its cover" and get a copy for yourselves before assuming that The American Patriot's Bible is trying to make Jesus out to be an American patriot or that American government is Christian. When people say "America is a Christian nation" that is not implying that American government is Christian. It is implying that most Americans have been and consider themselves Christians, including many of the founding fathers. This confusion is rampant and is rarely clarified. This bible is a wonderful celebration to the many Christians in our nation who have shown their patriotism in many ways. I encourage everyone to get a copy and see for themselves before judging this book by its title or its cover.
Don White Jr.
Posted by: Don White Jr. | May 22, 2009 5:48 PM
ALL Americans NOW know that America WAS FOUNDED on Godly principals.
The American Patriot’s Bible clearly states the facts on just how God has been and will continue to be a part of this great nation. So many are fearful of this bible and I simply cannot understand why.
Our schools and History classes at all levels should read and understand the TRUE facts of our nation. Understand the strength of the great men who formed this nation and just where this strength was obtained. The American Patriot’s Bible clearly shows this.
The American Patriot’s Bible offers the true facts of over 300 different people, places and times in America when Godly principals and a Godly foundation were part of decisions and strength which formed this great country.
9/11 was not that long ago when this country was shocked with the disaster of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. On that day and many weeks which followed churches across America were standing room only. The United Stated Flag was completely sold out; you could not purchase one anywhere in the United States. WHY? Because everyone turned to God during this time of need.
The American Patriot’s Bible is God’s word, God’s involvement in the great men who made this nation what it is today.
Everyone should have a copy. Our history has included God, not just for the United Stated of America but for the world.
Posted by: Wayne Carrel | June 5, 2009 1:16 PM
Most Americans as so gullible that, if they read books at all, they will believe anything. UFOs as well as this garbage.
Posted by: 2003m3 | June 18, 2009 12:36 AM
yeah, let's all judge it based on one idiot's review. Try reading it.
Posted by: gh | July 5, 2009 4:18 PM
We sell that Bible, and I am not offended at all. Maybe because I'm not looking to be offended. God bless y'all!!
Kyle
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Posted by: Kyle Fallon | November 6, 2009 7:05 PM