‘Bible is way more hip than GQ’ – Magazine under fire for putting holy book on irrelevant list
GQ magazine has felt the biblical wrath of Twitter after placing the Christian holy book on a list of over-rated literature. The magazine described the Bible as “self-contradictory, foolish, and even at times ill-intentioned.”
The foundational scripture of Christianity (which also receives some respect in Judaism and Islam) was placed 12th in the list, in-between ‘The Ambassadors’ by Henry James and ‘Franny and Zooey’ by J. D. Salinger. The list was compiled by GQ editors and names 20 “Great Books” that, in their opinion, have not aged well and 21 alternatives to read instead. The disparity is due to Mark Twain’s ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ being picked as a text that should be struck from the canon by two editors.
Presenting the 21 most overrated books ever (and 21 books to read instead) https://t.co/hj0knmxpndpic.twitter.com/Cz0RuKuYWg
— GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) April 21, 2018
The Bible, novelist and poet Jesse Ball explained, is “rated very highly by all the people who supposedly live by it but who in actuality have not read it.” He says that “those who have read it know there are some good parts, but overall it is certainly not the finest thing that man has ever produced.”
Ball’s suggested alternative is ‘The Notebook’ by Hungarian writer Agota Kristof, a book that he said would suit readers who believed the good parts of the Bible “were the nasty bits.”“The subtlety and cruelty of this story is like that famous sword stroke (from below the boat) that plunged upward through the bowels, the lungs, and the throat and into the brain of the rower,” he said.
As might be expected, the labeling of the Bible as not being a must-read didn’t go well with some people. Evangelist Franklin Graham suggested GQ editors should read the scripture again and accused the magazine of attempting a “surgical excision of books that serve to keep traditional values alive.”
.@GQMagazine included the Bible in “21 books you don’t have to read before you die.” They couldn’t be more wrong. Guess they can’t explain why the Bible is the bestselling & most widely distributed book in the world. Maybe the editors should read it again. https://t.co/nPqeMI5KV3
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) April 21, 2018
A FOX News panel branded the GQ list “foolish and shame[ful]” and a “deconstruction of the Western civilization.”
‘It’s a Shame’: GQ Magazine Puts the Bible on List of Most Overrated Books Ever https://t.co/B0OYzKd3UI
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 23, 2018
Wow. What a way for GQ to show this irrelevance. The bible is way more hip than GQ.
— Brian Houston (@BrianCHouston) April 23, 2018
GQ adds Bible to list of most overrated books. Actually the Bible is: the most translated book, ever; written by 40 authors over 1600 + yet 1 continuous theme; Billions sold/more than any other book; many have tried to outlaw or destroy it + yet it remains. Overrated, not likely
— CathyLBryant-Authorن (@cathy73280175) April 23, 2018
I note GQ editors didn't put Koran or Hindu books etc in their list--but the Bible is (#12). That's cause God's Word convicts, & GQ editors don't want to acknowledge they're sinners in need of salvation & need to submit to God's Word in all areas of life https://t.co/O0jkfOHp3j
— Ken Ham (@aigkenham) April 23, 2018
The Bible wasn’t written to be on the NYTimes Bestseller list. It was written to impress GQ Magazine... it was written to breath into our lives and has accomplished just that for centuries. GQ will come and go. But God’s Word will last for eternity. #ChondaSays!
— Chonda Pierce (@chondapierce) April 22, 2018