New Bible bashes sales of 50 Shades of Grey in Norway - one of Europe’s least religious countries

(REX Features)

A new translation of the Bible has topped the bestseller list in one of Europe’s least religious countries. The new version, replacing a 1978 edition, sold 160,000 copies in 2012, beating Fifty Shades of Grey.

Only 1 per cent of Norway’s five million population regularly attend church, and about 72 per cent are thought to be atheists.

Church officials have acknowledged that heavy marketing helped its success. It was promoted in the same way as a pop fiction novel, raising anticipation by giving out teasers of biblical stories ahead of its release.