The word of God in a comic book?

This thought was posted on Thinkaloo on 21 February 2008 by member ben

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A cartoon in Denmark on prophet Mohammed produces riots and protests among Muslims. The Catholic Church of England on the other hand uses cartoons called manga (a Japanese-style comic book) to recruit young people into priesthood. Not every Christian church uses cartoons for recruitment, but I think this might be an interesting new way to appeal to the religious sentiment of young people and bring them closer to the Church.

I think of it this way. The cover of which book would be more appealing to an 8-year old to open, take a look and read? A dark cover with a Cross and the world Bible on it? Or a colorful comic book with the Messiah in a cartoon figure on it?

If the way young people communicate has changed, shouldn't the Church also change the way it delivers God's message to them? There is certainly a lot of good argument against such kind of modernization by the Church but at the same time I think we need to be open to new ideas and ways the word of God can be delivered.

The manga might be a modern way but not the most appropriate. As long as it makes us think what the best way to deliver the message to young people is, I think it is a positive experiment. What do you think?