For Card Players, a Jesus Deck

THERE are Jesus posters, Jesus pins, Jesus watches and even Jesus T shirts. Now there is a Jesus deck--the standard deck of playing cards made into a colorful bit of Gospel propaganda by Manhattan's U.S. Games Systems. Clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades become the suits of Luke, Matthew, Mark and John. The cards carry the evangelists' traditional symbols: the winged ox for Luke, the winged man for Matthew, the winged lion for Mark, the eagle for John. The standard 13-card suits prevail, designated one through king, but every card is a "picture" card, decorated with a biblical quotation and a full-color Gospel scene that seems a cross between tarot cards and Peter Max art. From the ace of Luke to the king of John, the scenes tell a chronological story of Jesus' life. The king of Mark, for instance, is the Crucifixion. The jokers are "fools for Christ." A booklet accompanying the deck suggests variations on standard games. "Go Fish" becomes "Go Seek." "War" becomes "Peace" (though the higher card still wins). "I Doubt It" becomes "I Believe." There are also "Inspirational Solitaire" and "Gospel Bridge," and a variation of gin rummy called "Witness" that requires the winner to read aloud the Scripture texts on the winning cards. U.S. Games' next project: a Moses deck.

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