It is sometimes said that at the root of journalistic power is not what we report, but in what we decide not to, writes James Sturcke.
Keep that in mind while considering that a version of the Bible designed to be read in less than 100 minutes was published today.
A former headteacher, the Rev Michael Hinton, has managed to condense the 39 chapters of the Old Testament and 27 of the New Testament into a few pages which, the publishers claim, "picks out the principle [sic] stories of the life and ministry of its central character, Jesus Christ".
BBC Radio 4's Today programme was among the first to test out the new - abridged isn't the word - book.
Guest reviewer Rhidian Brooks liked it. Creationism was over in a paragraph, he told listeners, and by page five Moses has already given the commandments (Though shalt read faster, as Cellmaster quips). "It's 7.45am and Jesus has already arrived," Mr Brooks declared.
Also appearing was the Guardian's John Crace, who'll be writing a three-minute version of the book in tomorrow's paper. He dubbed it the Ronseal edition: "It says 100 minutes on the tin and that's what it is." But the book feels like it's been written by committee to please all denominations, he said, and he doubted it would convince many readers to embark on the whole thing.
Elsewhere, and not for the first time, a modern treatment of religious doctrine has divided followers.
Storyteller's World is not amused by "yet another example of Christians selling out to a vapid, trivial, and shallow contemporary culture that wants everything now and for no effort, instead of resisting all that and telling the Truth".
Maggi has reservations but is a willing to give it a chance, "If the 100-minute Bible at least whets a few appetites, that will be a good thing".
Ingrid questions the wisdom of chopping out Revelation 22:18-20:
"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
Indeed.
* 100 minutes? Far too long. Have a go at summarising the Good Book in 100 words by adding your comment below. We'll highlight the best entries in a future blog post.
