The Mad Morality: Or the Ten Commandments Revisited

by Vernard Eller

Harken, Disciples of MAD. This Signet edition of THE MAD MORALITY is an authorized version of the original book published by Abingdon Press. . . .

Genres: Religion, Humor, Nonfiction

254 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Vernard Marion Eller was an American author, Christian pacifist and minister in the Church of the Brethren.

Reviews

[Michael David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fond reader of MAD books for years, but I haven't read a MAD book as unique as this. This book features a lot of text in comparison to the other MAD books. Instead of using only cartoon sketches to portray man's hypocrisy, this book places a commentary on the Ten Commandments vis-a-vis the classic MAD art taken from other MAD books.

This is MAD at its most serious and intelligent, and I'm impressed, because this book is a masterpiece. I enjoyed how Eller posited that the Ten Commandments is God's way of giving us the most freedom without impinging on other people's right to be free, and how he used illustrative examples from MAD's creative pool to show how every one of us repudiates His commandments at some point in our lives. In addition to this, Eller also translated the Ten Commandments into something that remains relevant even to people of today.

I love having fun, but, ultimately I still want to be wiser. The MAD Morality offers both fun and wisdom, and that's why it gets high marks from me.

[FranklinTV · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea why I bought this book when I was young - why MAD would publish the religious musings of a minister is beyond me. More amazing is the fact I have kept this book for almost 40 years with no intention f even looking at it. I guess I really am sometimes more a collector than a reader.

[Juniper Pagter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this book made me think far more about the ten commandments, far more than I would regularly. However, I do think Eller defends the commandments far too dogmatically to the point of arguing frankly indefensible positions. Though this was quite thought-provoking and humorous along the way!

[David Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The strangest of the Mad tie-ins, this 1970 book is a sort of post-"Gospel According to Peanuts" or pre-"The Philosophy of the Simpsons," an attempt by a religion professor to popularize the Ten Commandments using examples by the Usual Gang of Idiots. Odd, yes, but it sort of works.