{"product_id":"unprotected-texts-the-bibles-surprising-contradictions-about-sex-and-desire-isbn-9780061725586","title":"Unprotected Texts: The Bible's Surprising Contradictions About Sex and Desire","description":"“An explosive, fascinating book that reveals how the Bible cannot be used as a rulebook when it comes to sex. A terrific read by a top scholar.” —Bart Ehrman, author of \u003cem\u003eMisquoting Jesus \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBoston University’s cutting-edge religion scholar Jennifer Wright Knust reveals the Bible’s contradictory messages about sex in this thoughtful, riveting, and timely reexploration of the letter of the gospels. In the tradition of Bart Erhman’s \u003cem\u003eJesus Interrupted \u003c\/em\u003eand John Shelby Spong’s \u003cem\u003eSins of Scripture\u003c\/em\u003e, Knust’s \u003cem\u003eUnprotected Texts\u003c\/em\u003e liberates us from the pervasive moralizing—the fickle dos and don’ts—so often dictated by religious demagogues. Knust’s powerful reading offers a return to the scripture, away from the mere slogans to which it is so often reduced.\u003cbr\u003e | \u003cp\u003eBible scholar Jennifer Wright Knust addresses the big questions that dominate today's discussions and debates when it comes to sex and the Bible: Is premarital sex a sin? When, and in what contexts, is sexual desire appropriate? With whom can I legitimately have sex? Are same-sex relations permissible? In an era where the phrases, \"the Bible says,\" and \"God says,\"  are so often exploited, it is time to consider what the Bible actually does—or does not—say about monogamy, polygamy, homosexuality, gender roles, and sex.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eUnprotected Texts\u003c\/em\u003e directly and pointedly takes on widely shared misconceptions about sex, arguing that the Bible cannot—and should not—serve as a rulebook for sexual morality, despite popular claims to the contrary. From the Song of Songs' lyrical eroticism to the rigid sexual rules of Leviticus—and everything in between—Knust parses the Bible's contradictory, often surprising messages. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSkillfully revealing the latest insights from critical scholarship, Knust provides a compassionate and liberating model for navigating these deeply personal issues that affect us all.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“[Knust mines] the Bible for its earthiest and most inexplicable tales about sex…to show that the Bible’s teachings on sex are not as coherent as the religious right would have people believe.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNewsweek\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“[An] impressive and highly readable analysis of Old and New Testament Bible stories.... For those wanting to understand the Bible as a chronicle of human conduct for achieving the goals of survival, peace, and fulfillment, this is a treasure.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperOne","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44889172836581,"sku":"NP9780061725586","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780061725586.jpg?v=1730230677","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/unprotected-texts-the-bibles-surprising-contradictions-about-sex-and-desire-isbn-9780061725586","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}