Bible 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.Unprotected Texts 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.Skillfully revealing the latest insights from critical scholarship, Knust provides a compassionate and liberating model for navigating these deeply personal issues that affect us all. --Book Jacket.
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