[Bible-fluxx] Bible vs. Christian

[Solomon Davidoff]

Andy, 

I've got some answers for you based on classroom experience, but 
they're not happy ones . . . 

I think the favoring of "Bible Fluxx" comes from a *gut feeling* on the 
part of some that "The Bible" is a Christian term exclusively. I've 
even had students tell me that Judaism "stole The Bible" from 
Christianity, and they believed what they were saying - it comes in 
part, I think, from many Christians not really looking over Genesis 
through Deuteronomy past Sunday School. 

I'm not basing this conclusion simply on deluded or ignorant 
undergrads. I was talking with a colleague, who has a graduate degree 
in Divinity, and heard him "explain" to me why Jewish people are not 
capable of being Theologists, based on our mistaken notion that G-D has 
never taken physical form as Jesus, and the requirement of that belief 
to the study of Theology (I won't tell the full story here, it's too 
long, but anyone may feel free to ask off-list). 

Another reason for the favoring of "Bible Fluxx" over "Christian Fluxx" 
is that there are an incredible number of Christian Sects, and a number 
of them consider themselves the only valid form of Christianity - I was 
once told by a member of a particular sect that he, and friends, used 
the name of the sect itself more often because they wanted to avoid 
being "teamed together" with members of sects they did not agree with. 
Similarly, I think there might be the thought that "Bible Fluxx" 
wouldn't cause as much religion-oriented negative reaction as 
"Christian Fluxx," but I can't back that up . . . just a notion. 

Lastly, I'm not sure if this is germane, but I >have< been asked before 
by students why I would consider referring to myself as a "Jew," 
considering it's a negative word - of course it isn't, but *they had 
been raised with the belief it was!* I can see people worried that 
could happen to Christianity as well. 

-Solomon Davidoff

Andy Looney wrote:


>OK, we've had some heated emotions, and some apologies, and now I'm 
hoping 
>everyone can forgive each other and continue talking. Believe me, I 
>understand the passion being expressed here... we've had some rather 
hot 
>debates in house over this very subject. It was in fact this very 
question 
>that caused us to delay this product, while we come to a considered 
opinion.
>
>If the decision were mine alone to make, as Alex suggests, the question 
>would be settled: I definitely favor the name Christian over Bible. As 
part 
>of a line of products glorifying various faiths, cross-product 
consistency 
>demands it be nothing else. Moreover, when I hear from folks like those 
on 
>the Jewish list that they would be offended by the name Bible Fluxx, I 
>consider that important.
>
>But Kristin keeps hearing from people like Chris who insist that the 
>Christian-products marketplace would GREATLY prefer we call it Bible 
Fluxx. 
>The passion behind Chris's recent comments typify this reaction.
>
>I will not dispute that potential buyers like Chris would, if given the 
>choice, prefer we call it Bible Fluxx. To me, that's not the question. 
What 
>I want to know is, why would it be a Bad Thing to call it Christian 
Fluxx?
>
>That's the sense I get about when I try to figure out why Christians so 
>strongly say they prefer things be called Bible this and Bible that. 
>Apparently -- and I think Chris or someone on the list has said this -- 
>some people see the word "Christian" as somehow implying something 
negative 
>to certain people, whereas "Bible," at least for these people, does not.
>
>If the answer were that it's basically a matter of preference, that 
>Christians just like seeing the word Bible more than the word Christian 
and 
>are therefore 13% more likely (or whatever) to buy a product so named, 
then 
>I'd say "So what, Christian is the proper name for it. It's OK if we 
sell a 
>few less copies."
>
>But what blows my mind is the implication that we'd be shooting 
ourselves 
>in the foot by calling it Christian Fluxx. How in God's name has 
>"Christian" become a bad word? If there can be Christian Bookstores and 
>Christian Rock, why can't there be Christian Fluxx? Are you seriously 
>telling me that game-loving Christians will refuse to buy Christian 
Fluxx 
>because we didn't name it Bible Fluxx?
>
>Like I said, I've already made up my mind. I greatly prefer the name 
>Christian Fluxx, and I take seriously the statements that some Fluxx 
fans 
>might actually be offended by the name Bible Fluxx. And while I've 
heard 
>loud and clear about what Christians would prefer, I haven't heard 
anyone 
>say that the name I favor is offensive. So, unless someone can give me 
a 
>compelling explanation as to how our use of the name Christian Fluxx 
will 
>ruin everything, that's the name I intend to use.
>
>But again, I thank you all for your input. We really do value 
everyone's 
>opinion, which I guess is our core problem, since we're trying to 
listen to 
>what everyone will say about a product we make, instead of only 
listening 
>to what the target audience for that product thinks. I'm inclined now 
to go 
>with saying nothing. Thoughts?
>
>-- Andy
>
>PS: does anyone have any opinions about the topic I was actually asking 
>about, i.e. what you say if you can't think of a single fresh Bible 
Verse 
>to quote? Say Amen? Say nothing? Say "Jesus Wept?" Something else?
>
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