Christians: Do you think your Christian religious leaflets need 'modernising' or more subtlety?

[The13thDukeofWybourne]

I was standing outside a shop and reading a book I had just bought. A woman approached and mentioned about a Bible study group.She must have come from the church next door and she proffered me a small leaflet.I politely said 'No. But thankyou, anyway. I hope you have good luck.'Then as she walked off, I thought: 'You know, I used to like R.E. at school. I like the R&S section of yahoo answers.'I'd also just bought this book in Waterstones'. I was looking in the philosophy and religious section. Point is, she caught me at a good time.Thing was, my book on boxing had a modern, black and white picture of Muhammed Ali on the front. An icon of the 20th Century. I don't care for him at all personally, but it was an arty, good-looking picture - that was the point. Her leaflet in comparison, was like these JW magazines: a bit 'Enid Blyton like' illustrations. It was a typical (stereotypical maybe?) leaflet. I found that off-putting. Why is a serious message portrayed badly?I mean, the message itself is the important thing, just as the writing and not the cover on my book - but why are the pictures so drab, or always depicting the same style of illustrations in those weak looking colours?The fact that a) it is a leaflet and b) it is stylised shows that the intention is to capture the attention of the recipient - why done in such a way?Adam B: I didn't buy the book because of the cover. No-one 'got me' in that respect. I have a degree in English Literature - I don't buy books because of their cover! My point is, if what you say is true, why isn't it just a print-out of words? Why any illustrations? That says to me there is a point to the illustrations. If I was serious, it wouldn't matter to me if it was just a word document. But how many people out there are like that?Peter L: I'm afraid whilst more modern, they are equally as off-putting IMHO. Some people might find the comic side of it patronising.I appreciate your problem though. Maybe it is 'our' or 'my' problem, in that I can't find something as innocent looking like that inherently humourous or underlying serious. And the expense too; obviously it shouldn't have to cost too much; but why print any?

[wanglecore]

well you might call the 2000 year old repeatedly mistranslated middle eastern superstitious mythical idea that a sentient entity created everything and relayed details of its creation and a whole bunch of other stuff to a select few humans via god-knows-what a "serious idea", but i beg to differ

[Bastardchild0669]

yes, you're probably right. i'm an atheist so no amount of glossiness or modern-day minimalist B&W would make me take the leaflet anyway... but you're 100% right in that they seem to have no-one who looks after the actual marketing of their pamphlets and paraphernalia. They tend to use cheap paper, poor printing, (or worse : photocopying), and as you said, drab washed-out colours.Maybe it's because there's no real substance to their message!!

[AdamB8713]

Because we aren't trying to sell it. To get you to buy they have to make it 'pretty'. And of course they got you. You answered the question yourself... the important thing is the message and the literature we offer always has a thought provoking question or statement and we are looking to appeal to people who have questions or are looking for some answers. I personally think the illustrations are just fine.

[PeterL0465]

Have a look at these then,http://www.comictrax.net/Comictrax.htmor thesehttp://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0080/0080_01.aspfull list herehttp://www.chick.com/catalog/tractlist.asp**re: " use cheap paper, poor printing, (or worse : photocopying), and as you said, drab washed-out colours."The majority of us print these off at home so our equipment doesn't have the professional glossiness that you'd expect from a print shop. Most print shops charge a fortune for these tracts and as we give them away we'd have to be multi millionaires to be able to afford them.

[annabo]

Where I live they give out some really scary leaflets to let you know God is comming tomorrow and all sinners who haven't repented will go to the hot fires of hell.It scares me so much that throw them away.I will rather stay away from that scary god

[ALANR4724]

evangelical ministries are pretty slick,when it comes to getting their message across.checkout Holy Trinity Brompton or All Souls,Langham Place!