Get Religion, In 100 Minutes or Less. The Bible in Brief ©

Religion was once thought to be a reflective path.  Theologians were said to be thoughtful souls; they immersed themselves in theory and philosophy. They garnered greater understanding, slowly.  Many criticized those that invested little time or energy in understanding God.  Those that professed devotion; yet, only attended services on the high holidays or the Sabbath were judged severely.  In those days, life was a travel, not merely a tour.

Now, in this whirlwind-world, religion and faith are for sale.  A buyer can grab the notes quickly.  They can grasp all they need to know of the Bible and man’s beginnings in 100 minutes or less.  A new version of the Holy Book will be available at your local bookstore before long.  The title is the 100-Minute Bible.

The Reverend Dr. Michael Hinton and his 100-Minute Bible. Canterbury Cathedral. [Gerry Penny/EPA]

This manuscript is meant to be appealing; it is called a page-turner.  “The Book” is for those that do not have the time or inclination to read the “original” text.  The author, former headmaster and Reverend Michael Hinton said, "We have majored on Jesus, because he is the central figure in the Bible." 

The most popular tales are told in this edited version.  Cleric Hinton remarked “the stories that have entered the common consciousness, like Noah's Ark, Jonah and so on" are those he chose to include.  According to the author, the lexicon is not lost; it was looking for an audience.  Hinton believes that his work has found one.

An advisor for the publication, Reverend John Pritchard, voiced his opinion of the writing; "I don't think most people know the Bible very well.  This is an attempt to say, 'Look, there's a great story here. Let's get into it.”  Getting into the legends will be easier.  The author worked to involve the reader.

Len Budd, publisher of 100-minute Press offered his own review.  He said, "This is a book for adults and has been written in a style to encourage readers to keep turning the pages, without resorting to any literary gimmicks.”

The text is expected to top the bestseller list.  Thus far, 11,000 copies of the small leaflet have been printed.  These have been distributed to churches and schools.  However, the hope is that soon, readers will flock to the wisdom.  They will find the word of God in the 100-minute Bible, Cliffs Notes© for the harried consumer.