If you're not into the whole brevity thing...

Almost two years ago, I wrote an (omg award-winning) article about Christian manga comics published by Zondervan, the religious division of Harper Collins (it's mission: "To be the leader in Christian communications meeting the needs of people with resources that glorify Jesus Christ and promote biblical principles."). The piece examined Zondervan's if-you-can't-beat-em-join-em approach to proselytizing through pop culture.

They've really outdone themselves now. Zondervan's latest offering takes a stoner masterpiece and uses it as a platform to examine "serious existential questions" that "run the gamut from the meaning of life and enlightenment, to the fundamental nature of truth and love." What artistic masterpiece was the inspiration for this probing exploration? The Big Lebowski, of course! I know that when I was smoking weed, drinking White Russians, and quoting Walter Sobchak, Donny, and the Dude in college, I was definitely pondering the bigger questions.

The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Coen Brothers will hit the shelves next month; in it, author Cathleen Falsani will address moral themes in all the Coen Brothers movies, from Blood Simple to Raising Arizona to No Country for Old Men.

"Nobody fucks with the Jesus" has never made more sense.