The Misconceived Conception of a Baby Named Jesus

The following is a short interview with Bill Burkland, the author of a soon to be released book entitled "The Misconceived Conception of a Baby Named Jesus." The book is available for preorder now.

Why did you write The Misconceived Conception of a Baby Named Jesus?

I began the book because I wanted to make people laugh, and finished the book because I wanted to make them think. Sometimes humor is the best way to approach controversial or sensitive subjects.

What sort of controversial subjects do you touch on in the book?

Well, the book essentially challenges the entire Christian origin story. It challenges everything from the prophecies (and prophets) hundreds of years prior to the birth; it challenges the notion of a virgin birth, the role of the Wise Men and shepherds, the absurdity of miracles, and it challenges how Gospel writers like Luke, stitched together their stories. It challenges these stories through parody and satire.

Why did you reach out to exChristian.net?

When I read through the posts on this site and similar sites, I see pain and hurt, that is very heavy. It is the type of pain that leaves deep scars. My hope with The Misconceived Conception of a Baby Named Jesus is to provide a moment of relief from those feelings and empower those people to take a step back, shake their heads and smile, a subversive and irreverent smile.

Why do you think exChristians, in particular, would enjoy the book?

ExChristians will enjoy the book because they will recognize the characters, myths and stories of the bible and will smile at the way they are turned 180 degrees into something entirely new. The book takes what is familiar and reverent and turns it into something irreverent and new.

Who are some of your favorite characters of the book?

Mary is the strong-willed, kick-ass 14-year-old heroine of the story who is pregnant and who rebels against her parents because they want to define the pregnancy as Divine. This is a very different Mary from what you read in the Bible. I had the most fun writing about the Wise Men who are a bit like the guys in the movie The Hangover, a fun-loving group of drunken stoners who are unfortunately distracted by a baby. They provide some of the best dialogue and humor in the book.

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