Beaming Books, a progressive book publisher, is publishing a series of children’s Bible stories with “political correctness” themes aimed at church readers with more progressive views than traditional Christians.
The publisher says its “Open Bible” will introduce more topics dealing with social justice, diversity and inclusion.
Some of the 52 Bible stories feature characters with black, brown, and tan skin tones. It shows more women involved in Jesus’ ministry and portrays the Son of God as a “feminist.”
Beam Book editor Naomi Krueger said the children’s series has a counterculture message and is appropriate for today’s times. “This book focuses on love and justice and is intended to be a ‘Christian antidote to white supremacy,'” Krueger said.
One of the book’s authors says their goal is to teach young people a theology of love and justice that “you don’t have to learn.”
“Most of the characters in the Bible look black, brown, caramel…I think now white kids will look at this Bible and see brown people and think, ‘Oh, brown people belong to God too,'” said the book’s author, Rev. Jackie Lewis.
Another of the book’s authors, the Rev. Shannon Daley Harris, said it’s exciting to see it being embraced by people, not just those who were raised as progressives. Still, people who grew up in traditions that no longer suit them are “growing out of theology and looking for a theology that they can grow with their children,” Daley-Harris says.
The publisher said its primary audience is children between the ages of 4 and 17. “We recognized that there were people in the market who were looking for a more tolerant Bible for progressive Christians,” the publisher said.
