When my friend Norman Jeune of Christians in Context first told me about his idea to create theological trading cards, I have to admit I felt quite a bit of jealousy. Why didn’t I think of this?! My jealousy turned to excitement when I got my box in the mail. There are nearly 300 cards (think baseball cards without the gum) of theologians and heretics. These are a blast and a great way to keep up on who’s who in church history. There is a picture (when we know what they looked like!) on front and a wealth of information on back. I can’t believe they found a picture of Nestorius! Poor guy, he was not even an advocate of the heresy which goes by his name. Nevertheless, he made it on the team of “Orthodoxy Dodgers”!
This is the kind of stuff Howard Hendricks talks about when he tells Christians to “color outside the lines”! Bravo Norm.
10 replies to "Theological Trading Cards!"
What are the odds my teenager will say “this is much cooler than that iPad I wanted for Christmas. Thanks Dad you’re the best.”
Real happy to see this finally come to fruition for Norm. Loved working on them back in ’07 with him.
Bart: Oh boy! Free trading cards!
CMP–
Norman Juene may be about 20 years late on the idea.
Ned Flanders on the Simpsons gave Bart and Millhouse the theological trading cards back in Season 5 episode 1 (1992):
Milhouse: Wow! Joseph of Arimathea! 26 conversions in A.D. 46.
Nelson: Whoa, a Methuselah rookie card!
Flanders: (chuckles) Well boys, who’d have thought learning about religion could be fun?
Bart: Religion?
Milhouse: Learning?
Nelson: Let’s get out of here!
But seriously, Ed Reese (of the Reese Chronological Fame) came up with the idea in the 1980’s. To my knowledge he was the first and likely the source of the spoof on the Simpsons.
I still have the set.
“C.I. Scofield is one of the “Christian Hero Trading Cards” (#2311) by Ed Reese.”
Quote taken from the following source. Apparently other people bought the set too.
http://tribulationperiod.com/blog/?p=6850
*drool*
Well this just got added to my Christmas list.
Who came we order this box of theological trading cards through? Are they available online!
Thanks,
Sorry! Just saw the link ! thanks for bringing this to our attention Michael!
I can’t envisage much trading going on. Michael, I’ll trade you all the guys I think are heretics, if you give all the guys you think are heretics.
Yeah. Maybe they should have come out in waves?
I imagine the Calvins, Luthers, and Augustines will be hard to find. While (as in history) poor Melanchthon will be totally overlooked and forgotten. He probably wasn’t even included in the set!
Seriously, clever idea – a good way to spark a little church history interest in kids and teens.
recieved a set the other day. Very nice job on the cards. A great gift for the history buff on your list….