Two anecdotes from blogger Milk Pig:
1. Bible Stories
X, a high-ranking leader with the cultural section of a major newspaper, took a fancy to a limited-edition Bible at a private bookstore, and asked the proprietor, L:
X: How much for this Bible?
L: It’s not for sale.
X: Why not?
L: How can you ask how much a Bible costs?!
X: …so how does one obtain this Bible?
L: The person must truly understand the Bible.
X: (quickly) I’m studying the Bible.
L: So you mean you already have lots of Bibles?
X: (smiles) Yes.
L: That’s avarice, you know.
X: Then what does it mean to understand the Bible?
L: You buy a lot of books, and then, without even asking, slip the Bible among them and hand over your money.
(beat)
L: Asking about the price when you buy a Bible….you people, you’re only fit to buy Bible Stories.
2. The Story of the Bible
After the proprietor said, you people, you’re only fit to buy Bible Stories, in determination I went online to order Bible Stories (圣经故事).
The book arrived. Flipped a few pages. Thought it a bit weird.
Suddenly discovered….I had actually bought The Story of the Bible (圣经的故事).
Bible storybooks and van Loon’s children’s books are all available in a wide variety of editions and translations, many with cover art.
- Milk Pig’s blog (Chinese): Bible Stories, Stories of the Bible
- Image from Dangdang
- Earlier on Danwei: Bootleg faith