Encourages you to form your own opinion about what the Bible says about sex and gain a deeper understanding of your own sexuality.
Translation & Annotation by Teresa J. Hornsby
Foreword by Amy-Jill Levine
Paperback
5½ x 8½, 208 pp | 978-1-59473-217-1
A fresh look at the Bible reveals a richness of insight about sex and sexuality
For some people, the Bible’s perspectives on sex may seem too one-dimensional or antiquated to apply to modern-day life. Others may hold up the Bible as the ultimate moral guideline when it comes to sex and human sexuality. A close reading of the Bible reveals that while its rules and lessons about sex and sexuality may not be applicable to all people at all times, this sacred scripture does offer surprising insight into our modern sexual lives.
This intriguing guide demystifies the Bible, synthesizing basic historical, theological, literary and linguistic ideas about the Bible’s texts with our modern attitudes about sex. Thoughtful new translation and provocative commentary bridge the divide between biblical authority and our present-day views on gender roles, marriage, sexual orientation, virginity, lust and sexual pleasure. Drawing from Hebrew and Christian scripture, it examines the ways that the language of religion and the language of sex intersect.
Now you can discover what the Bible says about sex with no previous background in theology or religious history. This SkyLight Illuminations edition offers insightful and engaging commentary that explains the historical context and religious worldviews of those who wrote the Bible as well as the role their perspectives play in current social debates. You will be encouraged to form your own opinion about what the Bible has to say about sex and gain a deeper understanding of your own sexuality.
“Comprehensive yet accessible. By providing details about translation and context, Hornsby demonstrates how sex and holiness are intertwined.”
—Alice Hunt, associate dean for academic affairs and assistant professor of Hebrew Bible, Vanderbilt University Divinity School
“Marvelously accessible, [a] spirit of delight, humor and knowledge jumps off the pages. After reading this work, you will think much more carefully about the way the Bible gets used—and often abused—in contemporary discussions of our intimate lives.”
—Peter Browning, chaplain and associate professor of philosophy and religion, Drury University
“Insightful, scholarly and thoroughly readable … begins to move its readers in a more informed and healthier direction when seeking to understand sexual issues in biblical texts.”
—Ron Miller, professor of religion, Lake Forest College; author, The Hidden Gospel of Matthew: Annotated & Explained
“Worthy.... Reader-friendly.... Enlightening.... Would make for a fun and informative group Bible study.”
—Books & Culture: A Christian Review
“Opens the door for easy conversation about the one thing church members really want to know about, but are afraid to ask! Engages the reader through an intelligent and honest look at sex texts of the Bible.”
—Rev. Sarah Stephenson, senior pastor, Central Christian Church, Springfield, Missouri
“An especially friendly and smart exploration of what the Bible really has to say about sex.”
—Vancouver Sun
“Handy ... can be used to do one’s own interpretive, educational, and pastoral work.”
—Waterwheel
“Wonderful.… A disembodied spirituality is an abstraction, essentially irrelevant to the human experience of the holy. What we need is a full-bodied spirituality, reflecting both the light and dark of our sexuality, and [this book] shows us that we have had it all along.”
—Rabbi Rami Shapiro, author, The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature: Selections Annotated & Explained
“This book is a treasure.”
—Frances Kissling, president, Catholics for a Free Choice
