Good Book

"A smart, fearless deconstruction of evangelical attempts to ""save"" the Bible, Good Book is compellingly written, persuasively argued, and brilliantly feminist. Jill Hicks-Keeton has written a necessary book for our moment. --Rhiannon Graybill, Rhodes College Good Book is essential reading for anyone who struggles with the logic of evangelical biblical interpretation and can't quite put their finger on why. Hicks-Keeton lays bare the rhetoric of self-salvation that threads through New Testament interpretation in evangelical circles to reveal the sheer political power that generates enormous economic benefit for purveyors and sows social discord in faith communities. Good Book is a timely intervention when people need spiritual connection and meaning-making--but for whom ""the Bible-benevolence script"" offers neither. --Katherine A. Shaner, Wake Forest University School of Divinity Evangelicals have long engaged in the ruse of selective literalism, but Jill Hicks-Keeton's remarkable book demonstrates the many ways ""Bible redeemers"" have twisted the Scriptures to their own purposes. ""It takes a lot of work to make Jesus good for women,"" the author argues, and Paul is even more of a challenge. The author's obvious command of the Bible makes her arguments difficult to refute. This is a wise and provocative--not to mention controversial--book, one that every Christian should take seriously. --Randall Balmer, author of Saving Faith: How American Christianity Can Reclaim Its Prophetic Voice The Bible looms large in our society and casts a long shadow. Hicks-Keeton sheds light on shadow by examining how the insistence that the Bible is good serves other agendas that perpetuate harm. This book is for anyone who wants to wrestle with the Bible's complex legacy and continued influence in our lives. --Blake Chastain, host of Exvangelical and author of The Post-Evangelical Post (Substack) Hicks-Keeton's Good Book is a magnificent critique of the toxicity of White evangelical apologetics--""Bible benevolence."" Hicks-Keeton deftly analyses some of the most quoted, and most contentious, biblical passages as they are used by those who would contort them into something they're not: in this case, good for women. The book exposes just how intertwined--and dangerous--the policing of gender performance and attempts to save the Bible really are. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to add to their feminist research and teaching arsenal. --Meredith J. C. Warren, University of Sheffield"