Another in my mini-interview series.

This time with Brendan Powell Smith the genius (if I may say so) behind “The Brick Testament“. If you don’t know what that is then where have you been? In their own words:

The Brick Testament is the largest, most comprehensive illustrated Bible in the world with over 3,600 illustrations that retell more than 400 stories from The Bible.

In my words – it’s stories from the Bible re-told using lego and its characters. Absolutely fantastic stuff. Anyway my thanks to Brendan and on with the interview.

1. What’s on your current / recent reading list and why?
I just ordered the newly published book Jesus: Neither God Nor Man by Earl Doherty.  Since it remains a subject of fascination for me, I try to stay current on the scholarly study of the origins of Ancient Christianity, and I’d found Doherty’s previous book The Jesus Puzzle to present a theory on Christianity’s origins with more explanatory power than any other I’ve come across to date.  But just to provide his theory with some contrast, I also recently read Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium by Bart D. Ehrman and reread Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews: A Jewish Life and the Emergence of Christianity by my former thesis advisor at Boston University, Paula Fredriksen.

2. List one bit of advice you try to live by?
“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.”

3. Half-full, half-empty or static and why?
Half-empty.  I find that having pessimistic expectations leads to more pleasant surprises and less disappointment.

4. What would you say to a child / young person wanting to do what you do?
Concentrate on being very, very lucky

5. Name one thing would you like to do that you haven’t already?
Illustrate the rest of the Bible in LEGO.