Alan Cooperman refers to John’s Story, “a 2006 novelistic re-telling of the Gospel of John by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.”  The pair also wrote Mark’s Story.  They are the co-authors of the Left Behind series of books, sharing their take on The Rapture.

Cooperman suggests LaHaye and Jenkins didn’t write the books “for the money,” but perhaps that was a tongue-in-cheek comment, given that their Left Behind books generated millions upon millions of dollars in sales.  Not to mention the movie rights.  Cooperman also points out that the authors are biblical literalists who add to the canon in their latest works.

For instance, the water-turned-into-wine by Jesus at the wedding at Cana was “aged not only to the perfect season, but also to the perfect day, yea, to the perfect hour.”  More interesting was the newly-mentioned miracle of Jesus giving life back to an insect he had swatted when it bit him on the neck.  One wonders precisely what is the lesson or revelation about God in this “sign,” as the authentic Gospel of John would call it.  Scholars will have to sort out that one, I suppose.

People can choose to read this stuff if they want, of course.  I just hope they don’t take it too seriously.  When fundamentalists start monkeying around with scripture, it can get pretty darn confusing.

But, apparently, it brings in a hefty profit.