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
“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
“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
Teresa J. Hornsby is associate professor of religion at Drury
University and is the director of Drury’s Women and
Gender Studies Program. A popular teacher, speaker and media
consultant, she has published a wide variety of articles,
essays and reviews on gender, sex and sexuality-related issues
in biblical studies and religious life.
Amy-Jill Levine is
E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New Testament
Studies and director of the Carpenter Program in Religion,
Gender and Sexuality at the divinity school and graduate
department of religion, Vanderbilt University.
