The Objective Standard Blog

Monday, July 17, 2006

God’s Word Cast in Plastic

Posted by Alan Germani at 4:42 pm

If you want a good laugh—at the expense of a bad book—check out the work of Brendan Powell Smith at www.thebricktestament.com. Smith explains the project and its beginnings in the introduction to his first book, The Brick Testament: Stories from the Book of Genesis:

There I was enjoying a leisurely lunch one evening at the local Taco Bell when suddenly my bean burrito burst into flames and I heard the unmistakable voice of God. “Brendan,” it said, “from this day forth you will illustrate for me my most holy of books, The Bible, completely in LEGO®.”

“Surely there is someone more qualified than I for this task,” I humbly replied. “For I am but a simple man with no special talent for building with plastic bricks.”

“Who are you to question the will of God?” the angered voice boomed back. “Was it not I who created the world from nothing and whose hands control the destiny of mankind?

“But I’m an atheist,” I protested.

“Then you are especially unqualified to question me!” came the response. “Now get to work!”

Smith has indeed gotten to work. Since his religious experience at Taco Bell, he has published three books and built an extensive website, using hundreds of photographs of cleverly arranged LEGO® bricks and characters to depict—and parody—biblical tales and teachings. In each Brick Testament installment, a straight, unembellished translation of the Bible lets the irrationality of the book speak for itself, while Smith’s ingenious LEGO® depictions serve to visually concretize the absurdity and evil that fill its pages.

This is expertly executed humor: While Smith’s project illustrates the havoc that religious beliefs wreak on human life and happiness, his treatment appropriately mocks religion, showing it to be what it fundamentally is: metaphysically impotent and utterly laughable.

The three Brick Testament books—Stories from the Book of Genesis, The Ten Commandments, and The Story of Christmas—make great gifts or coffee-table décor and can be purchased here. The vast website contains dozens of additional Bible stories and can consume hours of your time in what seem to be minutes. For a sampling of the hilarious world of The Brick Testament, see two of my favorite sections, The Teachings of Jesus: On Love and The Law: False Prophets.

Note: Due to the nature of the Bible, The Brick Testament contains images of violence and sexual acts.

Posted in: Religion, The Arts