In 2003, I had an interview published in the Door with “The Reverend” Brendan Powell Smith, creator of the web site The Brick Testament, which depicts Bible stories using Lego blocks. Since that time, Smith (who is not a real clergyman) had published a book of some of the best scenes, and now he’s got a second one, The Brick Testament: The Story of Christmas.

He’s an interesting fellow. The web site (much more so than the books, from what I’ve seen) includes some very literal depictions of some very disturbing Bible passages. But Smith doesn’t seem to have any deep-seated animosity towards religion (or if he does, he hid it well during our interview). Rather, he’s fascinated by the stories and enjoys playing with them and making people look at them from a new perspective. He is more of a prankster, an agent provocateur.