and i love reading the bible.out different stories. >> bill: what does it do for you? >> it plays a big role in my life. it does me so good. i mean, god has blessed me over the past years and he has kept me safe. now the glory is all up to him. he has given me this amazing god given talent. two parents and why do i have to leave home and why is is t. so hard? did you get mad of him? >> perspective. i don't have two parents but i have two gold medals under my name. you always have to sit upside down. right side up. you always have to look at the positive things i are going to try to improve on yourself again? >> yes. >> bill: that will take you four years of training and what you did. what are you going to do differently in your life now that you are kind of independent. you can be independent by that. >> well, i want to get my driver's license so that's one thing. i'm going to start heading back in the gym and just train and i want to gain more. i want to go to more international assignments and more world champio

was written in algonkian and a bible that was the only bible authorized by congress and it says themation read it. >> where was this bible you call it what? >> the aiken bible. we bring a copy of that into new york city. >> is that aiken, south carolina? >> no name of a person. >> where are your going to show it. i want to do an ad. >> we're bringing in a number of art facts including dead sea scrolls. we're bringing them into the meat-packing district of new york city. not only put the bible on television we want for free any "new york" to come down and see these ancient documents. these artifacts were previously at the vatican. >> that's great. that is great. thank you for coming on. >> thank you so much. >> very interesting day and we all wish the pope well. we are all praying for him. your series "the bible" is spectacular. mark burnett, roma downey, thank you so much. catch "the bible" on the history. that's it for me. we'll be back tomorrow evening. don't ask. disappear! abracadabra! alakazam! [ male announcer ] and now we're making it easier to get everything for your busines

our president had his hand on the bible. this time two biblings. stories should be told. >> roma, you and mark are both believers and it is a challenging venture to take a spiritual message and put it in a very secular market place was network television. talk about how as a believer you had to approach the project and did you find that the reaction in even hollywood more positive or critical than you expected it to be? >> no, i think much more positive. we found nothing but encouragement and support. we have many friend and believers and nonbelievers throughout the hollywood connection and the e-mails and the phone calls came in all week across the board with people thrilled that the stories are connected emotionally and people are responding and people are touched and we believe that by the time the serious end and finale on eastern sunday, that these stories would have reached out and inspired our country . it is really just a thrilling week. we are up against a show about walking dead on sunday nights and the "the bible" beat it and there was a

millions will open the bible or reopen it. maybe a billion. >> a billion new people will open the bible. >> i'm a blunt person and to be honest with you a billion is a low number. >> stephen: a billion is a way low number because as the bible says pride cometh before giant tv ratings. if you enjoy watching "the bible" you want to explore the source material. i speak, of course, of the story of god and all of us a novel based on the epic tv series "the bible." all the biblical stories you loved from the series finally assembled into one book. [cheers and applause] [laughter] but as much as i love the bible, i do have one beef, a beefcake jesus. jesus makes his first appearance in this mini series this coming sunday cox be a ratings bonanza. >> sure. >> birth of jesus, his baptism and i'll remain from make any comments about jesus' hunky appearance. >> a good-looking jesus. >> stephen: yes, their jesus is way too hot. it is not project holiness when you cannot look at him without saying goddamn! [cheers and applause] more import

i grew up knowing the bible. i grew up believing in jesus christ.o with the fact of my own faith and my own beliefs getting involved, it is like how can i do someone that i know so well? what should we do? should we go to the thing that people know about our just sharing your own experience? so i think i try to do it both, a little bit. >> reporter: in their years of successful work in hollywood, mark and roma say this project is one of the most powerful productions they have ever worked with. >> it is human, it is connective, it's beautiful. and through the whole thing there is this heartbeat of faith. it is a heartbeat of god's love. the project was made to glorify god. >> wendy: it looks great. the bible mini series airs sunday nights at 8 p.m. eastern on the history channel. it will run every sunday throughout march, with the finale arriving on easter, march 31st. and there is a special section on our website, and you can watch that by going to cbnnews.com.

knows their bible here. >> reporter: and the faithful are taking to twitter. the handsome actor who plays christ in the mini-series is trending under #hotjesus. neighbors have been hosting viewing parties complete with study guides, boosting viewership. >> i think it's just great. the bible is being spoken of by millions and millions and millions. >> reporter: and with an estimated 88% of americans owning a copy of the good book -- >> i will be with you. >> reporter: -- hollywood has faith in an audience for bible stories. chris jansing, nbc news, new york. >> and that's our broadcast on this friday night and for this week. thank you for being here with us. don't forget, we're back on the air tonight with an all-new "rock center" at 10:00/9:00 central. live from this very studio. i'm brian williams. lester holt will be here with you tomorrow. we will look for you back here on monday night. in the meantime, please have a good weekend. good night. >>> right now at 6:00 only on nbc a south bay family is lashing out at the vta after a worker is killed on the job.

or reopen the bible. maybe a billion. >> reporter: the story has captivated hollywood for decades, from the 10 commandments to mel gibson's "the passion of the christ" which broke box office records. why does the bible fascinate both believer and non-believer? bruce, author of "walking the bible," says the reason is in the mystery of the details. >> there is this desire to reconnect with the story. that continues today. i think if you can prove that one screw existed, you can prove the whole machine existed. >> reporter: and hollywood's search for biblical answers and ticket sales doesn't end with the mini series, russell crowe will star in a movie about noah's ark next year. >> already underway, thank you. >>> when we come back, the video shooting straight to the top of the "instant index," the flower girl who took everyone on quite a ride. ...so you say men are superior drivers? yeah? then how'd i get this... [ voice of dennis ] ...safe driving bonus check? every six months without an accident, allstate

first, me reading the bible - just like jimmy swswaggart. no, i don't hit it on my hand or anything like that. but we went out to north shore congregation israel reformed synagogue here in the chicago area, and we will come and talk shortly to rabbi bronstein, who does a wonderful job on our dimensional triangle. but what i did is i just - i wanted to take a bible, and i picked up one of the psalms. the psalms, in many cases, are, well, they're songs about the great mythic tradition. and i just picked one psalm, i think it's 139, unless it's 136, but it's right in the 130s, and i'm just going to read it, and listen for how the creation myths, the liberation myth or exodus myth, and then the sinai myth are encapsulated in this. and then you can kind of imagine david perhaps - king david sitting around playing his lyre after the goats are milked or whatever they did back there or the figs are eaten, and he's singing the mythic drama, and people are sitting around the campfire, and they're listening, and it's undergirding or underscoring their

and another exclusive the creators of number one series the bible. they will be here to talk about emergency from moses to jesus to pope francis and beauty queen >>. >> geraldo: time for prime time report tonight. my brother investigates the charge a christian dating website failed to check out a sex predator that went after a beauty queen. >> he seemed like a caring person. >> spontaneous love connections like this one depicted in the iconic moment from world war ii has been replaced by the internet. now online dating has surpassed even the bar scene in terms of meeting your match. but here in san diego, 37-year-old sean banks is sitting behind bars accused of raping a woman that he met on a christian dating site. now investigators are hearing from women around the nation about the man who alleged to be a serial rapist. >> if i would have listened to my instincts i never would have continued to talk to him. i trusted this christian persona that was displayed. >> 26-year-old miss irvine in the beauty pageant was looking for a lasting relationship whe

they don't know the bible story. that we have a responsibility, the bible is the corner stone of our culture, literature. not to teach it in schools as religion, but to teach it as literature or history. >> i read the bible when i was younger. i did have it as western civilization. and i am glad that i did. one thing i wish i had that i didn't was actually the koran as part of modern society. do you think we should learn -- children should learn more about that? >> i think kids should be exposed to all the religions of the world that we can be tolerant. our duty as christians is to love all people. >> our thanks. it was a pleasure to meet her. still to come, the vatican has been racked by scandal over the past few years. the communications director for oepous day and a nun who left the church join us to discuss the future. that and my thoughts on the new pope, yes, i am catholic. and that's "out front." as certified recovery specialists at lifelock, we're dedicated to getting you back on track from identity theft. to

i said, well, check it in the bible. >> reporter: this mini series is a dramatization of the bible'sduced by reality tv guru mark burnett and his actress wife, roma downey. >> change the world. >> reporter: its success largely due to the one quarter of americans who identify themselves as evangelical christians. pastors have been promoting the show from their pulpit. >> to get people to actually want to open god's word, the bible, and begin to understand it. >> reporter: at least seven other biblical movies are in the works right now. russell crowe is playing noah. >> talking to russell crowe the other night and roma was laughing, saying -- >> our arc is bigger than your arc. >> reporter: christian bale apparently set to play moses. and there's talk brad pitt might take on the role of pontius pilate. >> i will crush any rebellion. >> reporter: with "the bible" and everything else to come, hollywood is now chasing the christian dollar. but as one believer just told me, the word of god is written. he didn't leave us a youtube clip. the book, they say, will always be better than the mov

and another exclusive the creators of number one series the bible.hey will be here to talk about emergency from moses to jesus to pope francis and beauty queen the devil on a christian website. want to give your family more vitamins, omega 3s, and less saturated fat? it's eb. eggland's best eggs. better taste. better nutrition. better eggs. it's eb. it shows. we don't run like that. we build john deere equipment the way we always have: the right way. times change. our principles don't. you don't just have our word on it. you've got our name on it. that's how we run. nothing runs like a deere. discover the full line of riding lawn equipment at johndeere.com/howwerun or your local dealer. >>. >> geraldo: time for prime time report tonight. my brother investigates the charge a christian dating website failed to check out a sex predator that went after a beauty queen. >> he seemed like a caring person. >> spontaneous love connections like this one depicted in the iconic moment from world war ii has been replaced by the internet. now online dating has sur

the bible president obama took his oath on is the bible that roger taney relied on to say that african-americans should never be citizens. host: how was lincoln viewed by the press at that time? what do modern presidents learn from that experience? guest: he was an extremely controversial figure. it was a 50/50 split. lincoln only got 40% of the popular vote. he was ridiculed by the press. he was lampooned. he was caricatured. at the same time, he had a cadre of people that adored him. by 1864, he puts together a majority of northern voters. in the instance of the 13th amendment, he uses all of that power and good will. we hear sally field say you are the most loved man in america. he was the most hated, but he was also the most loved. we will be screening the spielberg movie at the hotel where the lincoln family estate in the 10 days running up to the first inauguration. it is very historic and evocative. i guess they have not forgiven him for running out on the bill. host: we're going to go to benjamin from rhode island on the line for democrats. caller: good morning. i am very inspired and ha

they both are hoping their bible series will be used to teach young students the foundation of the bibles impact on art, literature, history and human development. >> heather: so what were they like in person? >> incredibly warm, incredibly friendly i love them. just a good couple, a good example for a lot of people. >> heather: for everyone, especially on this easter weekend. >> kelly: exactly. >> heather: thanks, kelly. the obama administration announcing a sweeping new regulation that are sparking worries of pushing gas prices even higher. we'll tell you about the new rules and how they might cost you at the pump. >> kelly: and plus, a growing look at tensions on the korean peninsula. kim jong-un making a new call to arms today. how serious is the threat? we'll discuss it next. what's droid-recognition ? understanding you clearly... what is the capital of zimbabwe ? ... the first time you ask with the google voice search. the droid razr maxx hd by motorola. droid recognition. droid powerful. can you start the day the way you want? can orencia help? could your "i want" become "i can"?

they say look, it's not in the bible, it wasn't what was intended, you know. god never wanted anything other than a man and a woman to marry and so on. as somebody who is very well versed in the scriptures and indeed uses them a lot and has done with the president, what do you say to those people who use the bible and its scriptures as a sacrosanct defense, if you like, against moving times? >> you know, it's something that i think we have to grapple with because on the one hand as you highlight, piers, there are verses in the old testament and the new from deuteronomy to the apostle paul that speak to issues related to homosexuality. on the other hand, jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love god and to love your neighbor and to let that spirit of love dominate in terms of your actions and the way that you approach the world. the epistles go on to say the greatest of all of these things is love. so we can't talk about one aspect of the bible but not speak to the leading factor, the factor that christ highlighted the most, which is the love th

they say look, it's not in the bible, it wasn't what was intended, you know.er wanted anything other than a man and a woman to marry and so on. as somebody who is very well versed in the scriptures and indeed uses them a lot and has done with the president, what do you say to those people who use the bible and its scriptures as a sacrosanct defense, if you like, against moving times? >> you know, it's something that i think we have to grapple with because on the one hand as you highlight, piers, there are verses in the old testament and the new from deuteronomy to the apostle paul that speak to issues related to homosexuality. on the other hand, jesus said that the two greatest commandments are to love god and to love your neighbor and to let that spirit of love dominate in terms of your actions and the way that you approach the world. the epistles go on to say the greatest of all of these things is love. so we can't talk about one aspect of the bible but not speak to the leading factor, the factor that christ highlighted the most, which is the love that we ha

i didn't watch the bible because i know how it ends.to tell you it's great to see a show like the bible beat everything on tv. i doubt anything hollywood as much since the price of cocaine and hookers that much. there is a culture that views religion as competition. there are three agents, campus and government. and aussie religion as former competition, one they don't believe religion should be necessary. therefore, if you believe in god it makes it almost impossible to believe in your marxist professor. >> eric: 37% of america calls themselves christians or at least really to the christian philosophy but the growing sector, the most -- i'm sorry, the sector that is growing the most is called the nuns. atheist people that describe to none of the above. ten years ago there was 15% in america, now it's up to 20%. what is going on. >> andrea: i think the culture has gotten so coarse that people are loan any li in the since they are groping for something outside of themselves. the culture doesn't provide it in this country. all the culture

. >> think lout the bible and especially in stories about jesus, events like the appearance of angelsthe virgin birth and the resurrection, require people to have faith. biblical scholars and religious leaders will tell you what jesus christ's passion is to them. and you'll walk with me through jerusalem's only city and the first accept try world of jesus christ. >> this is a house going back 2,000 years, this is where kaiapas lived. >> new testament sclar jerome murphy o'connell hooz appeared in three specials about jesus? when you look at the -- but of course, retelling of the story is a new performance. >> whenever we look at the bible, we have to keep in mind what we're reading, we're not reading a history book. >> father jonathan morris advised mel gibson in the making of "the passion of the christ." >> whether or not the death of a man named jesus of nazareth actually happened. another question is whether he was the son of god and whether he was divine and that cannot be proven. >> i try to poke holes at the things when i'm examining them and i could not poke any legitimate hole

the bible is a cornerstone of our culture. >> the couple believe the bible is the foundation of societybeyond their christian faith. >> this is the most important story in the history of western civilization. it was important to make it in a way that was heart thought and relevant. >> we really wanted to make the human story, to allow it to be emotionally connected so the people could engage and relate, not just a story of people thousands of years ago. >> what was it like for the two you of growing up and realizing that you wanted to accomplish something greater, you wanted to accomplish the american dream? >> we both come from very poor countries in very working class neighborhoods. we came to america in search of the american dream with nothing. this is a country that opens doors. >> the couple living their life beyond the dream. >>heather: they are hoping their bible series will be used to teach young students the foundation of the bible, to show its impact on art, literature, history, and human development. >>gregg: a disturbing medical sign, could cold sores be linked to memory lo

he came on this program to promote the bible.has a controversy on his hands and he is not available to come on. that tells me all i need to know. he knew this was going to cause. it works to his ad vantage, linda, we are buzzing it. now more people will watch it. >> i don't necessarily think that this is the kind of controversy that will create buzz to watch the show when i was looking to review the book i spoke to several priests and they said it's going to be a success no matter what because television is so devoid of religious programming and religious people are desperate for it: i don't think this will add people to watch it. they are looking at it online, they see it and they say oh my god no pun intended it dots look like the devil. >> do you want to revise your opinion this is a coincidence and burnett couldn't come on tonight because he had a prior engagement of some kind and would not want to speak to 5 million people about his mini series? do you want to do all of that? >> i think he figured he doesn't want to get too

>> yes. >> the bible is a long book. of it, and you are very, very true to the stories. i know that was important to the two of you. you tell a very particular story which you see as one story, don't you? many stories tied together, one story of god calling a people for the benefit of the whole world. am i wrong? >> we see it as one continual love story. god's love for all of us. a lot of people look at it in snippets. or small pieces. it's one arcing story. from genesis to revelation. one continuous story. >> why did you need to do it? it sounds like. you don't take on something like this unless you felt compelled. >> we felt like a seed was sohn sown in our hearts. we felt called to do it. it was a great opportunity that we could step in together and work together on this and we're still speaking to each other. >> and you're still married. >> how long was that? this is a long process, and you guys are really working together for the long time. >> on location in morocco for how many months? >> five plus. we had dust in

did anybody watch the bible series? >> just parts of it. >> no, i what's busy going against the 10 commandments. >> i want to know why they always have british people playing the character? >> why does jesus look aryan, did you see that? that greek soccer player would have loved this jesus. >> i thought jim jbullet was jesus. >> they should be a bunch of italians fighting among themselves. >> i have some movies you will like. bill, you said say ton would return in the form of a kenyan-born president. >> i don't want to say happy, but it is smug. >> at first i thought this was not intentional. mark burnett was the producer and he was given to the obama campaign in the past. but who is the producer of celebrity apprentice? it is headed by none other than donald trump who thinks he was born there. >> and each of them thinks the other is satan. >> exactly. >> if this is bush, they would have gotten a guy who looked like him and named him george wsatan. who cares? he is the president. they will take shots at the president in

reality tv programs are inexpensive sigh compared to the bible. the cable stations all across the spectrum are producing much better television. and i think perhaps it is the unsatisfying sugar high you might get from watching one reality show. you actually want to see something of substance, great acting ande really great lighting. it tells a story and it tells the importance of communicating to younger people and it is visual. everything they look at -- if you study the revolution, you read the story about the evolution and then you click on the link to watch a video about gorming washington being sworn in as the first president. that is something happening in hollywood. >> i don't think our country is polarized by religion. we stored it in the attic like old furniture and replaced it withing more contemporary which is disposable entertainment like pornography that fills people's time. i don't think it is a rejection of religion. it is a rejection of truth. we are seeing an end of truth and replacing relativism. once you let go of religion, you

this bible changed the world. i'm kirk cameron, 400 years ago our forefathers risked their lives to bring this bible to the shores of america, because it contained the principles for economic liberty, political liberty and religious freedom. it was the first complete english translation, complete with chapters, numbered verses and over 300 thousand utterly unique study notes. it actually came out before the king james version, and because the government didn't authorize it, it was outlawed. but it was a bible by the people, for the people. the book that built america. and now for the first time in 400 years it's available again in a beautiful leather edition. i have one and i want you to have yours too. please visit genevabible.com and get your copy of this rare and historic version of god's word today. order today, and get a free dvd of kirk cameron's latest film, monumental, the untold story of americaís beginnings. >> 21 minutes after the hour. monster beverage company defending the energy drinks against accusa

the bible does not contradict true science. macon that district the passing fads of scientific theory that are always evolving. for example, it used to be thought that the does mows always existed. but then we had sir frederick coil who named the big bang theory who said guess what the universe had a beginning 13.7 billion years ago. again, frederick coil a cambridge mathematician said the chance of inanimate matter. >> bill: do you believe it started 13.7 billion years ago. >> i think it could have been. one of the things fundamentalists christians say the earth is 6,000 years old. the bible never makes that claim. >> bill: you are a smart guy and i want to it take it out of the theological realm. you know the evolutionary theory. my belief system is that there is a higher power. and then the evolution was the way he created the world. now, i was taught in my catholic school that a lot of the stories in the bible are allegorical. for example, there are -- in the old testament where you stone people, you have slaves, obviously

keep our heads down and read our bible. read our holly books and that's going to work. >> bill: i think it's happened already. so outrageous what's gone on here. >> for america that's sad. america as a result will become poorer and weaker and less influential in the world. it happened in the former soviet union. >> you know what i would do if i were president, i would say i would name the districts we just named here and i would say knock it off. respect easter. easter is a good thing. you don't have to believe in jesus. the kids like it. it's not a spring egg. it's an east err egg. >> when you said a spring egg. i thought there literally was a spring on an egg. i didn't know what you was talking about. >> bill: item on chinese menu. >> we need good judges, bill. we need judges that don't make up stuff that's not in the constitution. >> bill: we need leaders in this country. leaders who respect the tradition of the country. >> spread the good word. that has to be done by christians. exactly. >> bill: next on the run down, b

the "bible" has millions tuning in every sunday night.hat number really expected to be just as high tonight when the show's finale airs. so what's the fascination with the story that's as old as time? kristin bellgrin takes a look. >> god warned me! he told me to build a boat. >> reporter: it's been called the greatest story ever told, and it seems the "bible" hasn't lost its touch. >> i think that what this miniseries shows is that if you make it good and you make it appealing, that the audience will show up to watch religious-themed entertainment. >> reporter: and the audience has done more than just show up. after tonight's finale, an estimated 100 million people worldwide will have watched the history channel miniseries, some hosting viewing parties, using study guides, and tweeting. the actor who plays christ is trending under the hashtag hotjesus. for executive producers bark burnett and his wife, roma downey, who stars as mary, it was a no-brainer. >> you think about it, shakespeare wouldn't have existed really without the bible. >

coming up, question about history channel new hit series "the bible."or playing the devil looks like the president. is it a plan or a coincidence? we will tell you what the producers are saying next on "the five." ♪ ♪ [ female announcer ] going to sleep may be easy, but when you wake up in the middle of the night it can be frustrating. it's hard to turn off and go back to sleep. intermezzo is the first and only prescription sleep aid approved for use as needed in the middle of the night when you can't get back to sleep. it's an effective sleep medicine you don't take before bedtime. take it in bed only when you need it and have at least four hours left for sleep. do not take intermezzo if you have had an allergic reaction to drugs containing zolpidem, such as ambien. allergic reactions such as shortness of breath or swelling of your tongue or throat may occur and may be fatal. intermezzo should not be taken if you have taken another sleep medicine at bedtime or in the middle of the night or drank alcohol that day. do not drive or operate machinery until

it's a surprising hit series about the bible that's setting new record ratings.ith the third episode airing tonight, many expect the series to hit another heavenly audience high. abc's gio benitez has the story. >> reporter: the history channel's the bible is a heavenly hit. >> the bible premiered with epic ratings. >> guys, certainly intervened in the ratings as well. >> how many people, more than 13 million on its first night. more than "american idol". why is there so much interest in a story so many already know? >> his name is jesus. >> this isn't your grandfather's bible. >> i'm loyal to my husband. >> everybody seems to be good looking, there are gorgeous sunsets. big production values. >> reporter: it's the brain child of megaproducer mark burnett, krcreator of "survivor" and his wife roma downey. >> jesus walking on water. i mean, it's epic stuff. >> reporter: the ten commandments from 1956 is the best known hollywood rendition. >> behold his mighty hand. >> reporter: but burnett said it was time for an updated version. >> follow me! >> reporter: it has