Jtjp

Keep it.
Expand on it a bit more.

RSD

Tell more! Tell us why the statements are significant to the person that does it. Otherwise he's just Joe Smith down the street. Oh no! He thinks the Bible is rubbish! But why? I mean the first line grabs your attention, but the rest of the paragraph really doesn't say anything.

HippoHead

You people are only understanding one part of this!
It's not jus about religion! I just threw that in in case it was insultng. There are other reasons why he does this bible thing.

1) Tells us he's not religious, despite the reader finding out later that he runs a religious cult, making it fishy business as to how he became the leader of that in the first place.

2) Tells us he's stupid. He can't read a book unless it has pictures.

3) This novel he's starring in (the one I'm writing) doesn't have any pictures. He's implying that the very novel he's starring in is rubbish! Irony!

RSD

Ok, but see we didn't have that information. Especially 1 and 2. How could we know he's non-religious? He could have a picture-book Quran for all we know. Or The Pop-up Book of Scientology, written by Tom Cruise.

Just because he was pretending to read doesn't mean he can't read. That could simply mean he's disinterested in it and chooses to pretend reading for show. You have to explain that better.

If you like it, then keep it. Sometimes what makes sense to you, doesn't make sense to everyone. Especially when you have inside jokes/information about your writing that others aren't clued into.

Wintermute

Not being able to read makes one stupid? I think the word you're looking for is illiterate.

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"I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read." - Samuel Johnson

HippoHead

I worded that a bit wrong. Meh.

writer_87

I feel that writing is simply an art of personal opinion. It may not be my opinion or even your opinion but it certainly appears that it is how the Prime Minister feels and whether or not anyone agrees with it, it does not effect how your character will act or think.

I hope you do extend on this because it is definitely an interesting piece of work.

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MiloDaePesdan

Err. Is it ironic when someone tells you something is ironic?

I'm with God on this.

That line has more impact than telling the book is rubbish. "It doesn't have any pictures" is an example of showing. And I'm find myself wanting to know more about this Prime Minister--deranged characters that can reach insane heights are fun.

The moderates--you know, normal Christians--would have a giggle. Extreme Christian fundamentalists are definitely not going to like the book. And yes, unfortunately they exist. The only difference this has from prodding the anthill that is the Muslim religion, is that the Muslims have a far more reactionary gang of radical sots drunk in the rhetoric of their imams.



Milo
Drink your beer, there are sober religions everywhere.

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HippoHead

I see where you're coming from with that one line of impact. Now that I read it, it does seem more powerful. I'm gonna need me a new epic first line of dialogue!

kaybee

I'm a Christian as well, and do not find this to be overly insulting, simply because it's a character speaking. There are so many different people with different opinions here in the world, and your character/dialogue reflects that. As far as the blasphemy...it's a matter of opinion. I think it would be fine to keep, as long as you refrain from Christian/Jesus/God/Bible bashing. That would be offensive, and would likely cause you to lose reader's interest.

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