History Channel--The Bible

History Channel is creating a new 5-part mini series based on Bible stories. The project seems mostly evangelical, telling the stories not from a historical point of view, but from a Bible-as-history point of view.

I have to say, this is yet another blow in a long line of disappointments from the History Channel. First came ancient aliens, now we're just going to present Bible stories as fact? This is another way of appealing to their red-neck, conservative viewer base, instead of trying to further the public's understanding of history.

The series will be promoted on a commercial basis, and has partnered with some of the nation's biggest churches, including Focus on the Family and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. The DVD's will come with books and a study guide, which indicates that it is supposed to be an educational tool. Joel Osteen, pastor of a megachurch in Houston, said he believed the mini-series would "reach believers and non-believers alike." Somehow, I have my doubts.

An article about the series can be found here.