Book with bible stories

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure if this should go in religion.

I'm an atheist, but my 8 year old has declared himself a Christian. I've told him a few bible stories but I've forgotten the details or didn't know most of them. He asked me last night for a book with the bible stories. So, I'm looking for a book that early elementary can understand, hopefully read. It would be great if the stories were presented as "maybe true, maybe not, maybe partially true, maybe just based on truth, no one really knows so you have to decide for yourself" but I understand that may be a tall order. Any suggestions?

Also, any advice on how to answer the question "What did Jesus look like?" without getting too deep into racial issues, geography, history, etc.?

I've offered to take him to church/Sunday school and he has no interest whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Just get him a children's Bible. You fill in your thoughts about truth, whatever. We have a scholastic children's Bible. Pretty easy to read and understand. It doesn't say anything about the stories being "Truth" just a kids version of the real thing.

[Anonymous]

There are books that do just what you're describing, e.g.,:
https://www.amazon.com/What-You-Believe-Big-Questions/dp/0756672287/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472158750&sr=1-1&keywords=what+do+you+believe

I would get him a basic illustrated bible, e.g.,:
https://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Illustrated-Bible-Small/dp/0756609356/ref=pd_sim_14_26?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=13N7BR8RZPEA68HZZJ1G

Bible stories supply the backbone for many modern stories, e.g., East of Eden is Cain and Able. I read bible stories along with folktales and Greek myths, book of saints along who's who in mythology.

I also think fiction stories can support Christian beliefs that are shared by many other religions and beliefs. Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant is a metaphor for Christ as is Aslan in C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Humility, putting others before yourself are universal.

Here are some beautiful picture books to add to the mix:

Each Kindness:
https://www.amazon.com/Each-Kindness-Addams-Award-Awards/dp/0399246525/ref=pd_sim_14_78?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EBJ4XYH25T97X7RQJ231

Martin's Big Words:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1423106350/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1423106350&linkCode=as2&tag=wdwdad-20

Zen Shorts
https://www.amazon.com/Zen-Shorts-Caldecott-Honor-Book/dp/0439339111/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472158693&sr=1-1&keywords=zen+shorts

[Anonymous]

Also, OP, in answer to your question about what Jesus looked like, no one knows. More than likely he looked like a Sephardic Jew. Given the time in which he lived, he was probably short and rather tan, and doubt he would be able to shave, so probably a beard.

B/F the settlement of Israel, Palestinian Jews lived in the region, e.g.,:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Jews_of_Peki'in,_c._1930.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/GvR1fQlUd-c5ghEAF_zHZ7upv-XBqwqnOX4CYFsTCPQ5gtBhQ02Jm283UTU5OzF8psshAO26kEztabfFOK4sWiMKJBkHiy3hXDgyUew4M-PthSmYBmT-wXCCy28vt7FipA

Sephardic Jews also lived in many regions of world like Greece:

http://www.quest-cdecjournal.it/img_slideshow/354_300_large

http://jewishstudies.washington.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Salonika-baron-hirsch-ghetto-cropped-300x140.jpg