A condition of faith must be that it understands the Holy Spirit as being able to break through the obfuscating layers of human-generated lies and deceit – that God can and will intercede directly on behalf of those ready to accept Him. In other words, we have to trust that He will speak to attentive and open-hearted readers of the Soldier’s or Marine’s Bible, no matter how it’s been packaged, or what chauvinistic dross His word has been placed alongside. Possibly, these military readers may also come to notice the disparity between the pronouncements of George W. Bush and those of Jesus Christ, and begin to question the wisdom of following the teachings of the former, instead of the latter.

sidenote: just to clarify, i think the greatest blame lies with our government and military masterminds, not the soldiers on the ground.

You should post this in Vox Nova so people can see what you meant. Well… those who didn’t understand you…

I doubt I’ll ruffle many feathers if I say only one thing. What those people have tried to do to the Bible is blasphemy in the truest sense I can think of. I’m not a person who ever uses that term but it’s the one that fits. I have a lot to say but none of it is really new, perhaps if anyone here feels so inclined as to google The War Prayer by Mark Twain you’ll get how I’m feeling after reading the back of what they did to the Bible.

I’m sorry I can’t even bring myself to think of what those people have done as being a Bible, only what well intentioned but woefully and terrifyingly misled people have done to a Holy book, one who’s every page and story have as their ultimate and final message nothing less than real forgiveness and peace.

I would be angry if I thought that this was some kind of malicious joke, but knowing that it’s attempting to weaponize the message of God in order to help dying men and women to somehow cope with the hell they are bringing to earth, all I can do is feel sad that this will be sold by and to Christians of nearly every type with no thought to the irony that a sculpted piece of chocolate formed into the shape of the body of Christ is what the culture and many of the faithful are calling blasphemy.

I feel numb.

In response to adamv, there’s actually more than just the covers that is different in these “bibles.” Inside, there is an essay on Roman centurions, praising them as model men of character (this essay is directly followed by the Apostle’s Creed!), there are all sorts of hymns about the various branches of the U.S. military, there are military prayers and quotes from military leaders. These “bibles” are specially designed to prevent pacifist readings of the Scriptures.