Rethinking Sex and The Bible: An ‘Unprotected Texts’ Book Review
Sex and the Bible. Wow. It is a topic that most Christians shy away from, yet every single person has an opinion. The book ‘Unprotected Texts’ by Jennifer Wright Knust dares to go where most Christians will not. I was excited to read it, and a bit terrified to review it. I could almost hear the angry comments from numerous Christians out there wanting to know how I could read, and also write about a topic like this.
Here is my reason. It seems like the main war that we Christians fight against each other these days is of a sexual nature. We are up in arms about anything to do with sex. Be it gay marriage, gay relationships, divorce, adultery, abortion and finally sex itself. We condemn, we accuse, we berate and belittle and most of all we judge; oh how we judge. The worst part about it all, in my opinion, is the main phrase we use to back up our actions is “the Bible says.” We say it with the most amazing conviction. We use it as our “ace in the hole” so to speak.
I delved into this book with the most open mind I could have, and it took no time for Jennifer to get right into the heart of the matter. She digs so deep into the sexual secrets of the Bible that I figured I’d get struck down for even reading it. It seems that the Bible reads like a mid-afternoon soap opera, or something you would surely turn off if it came on as an evening drama and your children were in the room.
‘Unprotected Texts’ read, to me, like a textbook. Jennifer has obviously done her homework about this topic. I will tell you honestly, that it was a hard read for me. She has studied the Hebrew, the Greek, and pretty much any other interpretation of the Bible to get down to the absolute facts of the matter. However, for a girl like me (who has not made a career out of studying the Bible) a good portion of this book was over my head. That being said, the way in which this book was written proved to me that Jennifer Wright Knust knows her stuff.
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When I look back over my notes on the book, I had jotted down at least sixty or seventy examples that Jennifer lists as reasons why the Bible can not be used as a sexual guidebook. There are contradictions all over the place. For instance; I know we always state that the Old Testament was old law and was supposed to have been done away with when Jesus came and died on the cross. So, at least in my head, that is what kept going through my thoughts when I was reading about the contradictions between the Old and New Testament. However, what got me was when Jesus states that marriage is basically a weakness. That if you truly love and want to serve Him you are to give up your earthly ties. Yet, later on in this same New Testament Paul states that although celibacy is the highest achievement, we are way too prone to desire to achieve it so we should get married so that when we have sex (because we are just completely out of control) we at least won’t be sinning.
So, correct me if I’m wrong, but does the New Testament basically say that since we can’t control ourselves, we should get married, just so we can have sex? Because that sounds like the most horrible reason ever to get married, and, moreover I’m pretty sure that if any of us were reading this in a book given to us by a premarital counselor we would throw it in the garbage and deem the guy who gave it to us a quack. But because it is The Bible, we change the facts around, pretty up the language and then use it as a weapon.
Now, before you harness your keyboards and start typing at me, please take a second to hear me out. I’m not saying The Bible is not a Holy book given to us by God. I’m not saying that we should not read and study it to learn everything we can. I am saying that perhaps our “ace in the hole” is not so much that, and we need to be a little more open-minded about this particular subject.
As previously stated this book was not an easy read, however, it made me think, and for that I am very thankful for the opportunity to delve into this topic. If you are more of a scholar than I am you may enjoy the actual read more than I did, but I really do recommend this book and more importantly an examination of the subject matter. Having hard and fast rules are often more hurtful than good because often times they grow into prominence from tradition rather than truth.
If you disagree with my opinions or the opinions of this book (as I’m sure a lot of you do), let me know your thoughts, but, more importantly, let me know why.
Click here to check out ‘Unprotected Texts’ on Amazon.
A free copy of this book was provided to me for this review. The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 9:25 am
Maybe I’m forgetting the scriptures, but when does Jesus say that marriage is a “weakness”, and when did Paul say that celibacy is the “highest achievement”? I’m no bible scholar, but I can’t recall anything they said that would go that far.
In my reading of scripture, the perspective I’ve gathered is that marriage is a good thing, but that it can distract us. I am married, I love my wife, and the strength of the love for my wife can distract me from loving God. She is very high on my priority list. This makes it more difficult, though not impossible, to be fully devoted to God. When Paul talks about whether we should get married or not, I don’t think that he considers celibacy as a great “achievement”. In 1 Corinthians 7:33-34 Paul says that a married person’s interests are divided between serving God and his spouse.
I also don’t think that Paul intends to say that we are basically animals and can’t control ourselves so we should get married. We are able to control ourselves, but there are strong attractions that can tempt us. Every person is different. Some people are made to be single, but some people are better off being with someone. Of course I can’t know, but I’ve wondered if some of the Catholic priests involved in sex scandals were men who should have been married?
Outside of that, I agree with much that you said. The Bible doesn’t make a very good rulebook, no matter what you are talking about. It wasn’t meant to be a rulebook. Even the rules from the Old Testament (The Law) were incomplete, they couldn’t redeem mankind. Good Biblical scholarship I believe takes some flexibility, not to ignore or distort what it says, but to navigate the contexts, the languages, the cultures.
I’d never heard of that book, but I’m curious now so I’ll have to look it up.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 10:34 am
Good stuff, Tiff. You’ve addressed something I view as one of the major problems Christianity and all religions pose. Hostility toward sexual expression. We all fundamentally crave four things. Water, food, sleep, sex. Not necessarily in equal proportion, but the point remains. Repressing something that your brain fundamentally craves only leads to perversion and the examples are all but endless. Starting with the Catholic priests, and continuing with story after story of religious figures perverting sex and getting arrested for it. I just yearn for the glorious day when you and everyone else in my life recognize the Bible for what it is. An outdated document written by some of the most uneducated and superstitious people in the Middle East 2,000 years ago when there couldn’t have been any real philosophy, only mythology. Let’s move on and live in the now.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Just because a document is old doesn’t mean it is “outdated”. That is partially why many people argue against using the Bible as a rulebook or handbook. Using the Bible as a rulebook is like using an owner’s manual for a 54 Chevrolet, to operate my 2004 Hyundai. But that is not what the Bible was written to be. If read properly as a historical piece of literature with a variety of genre’s and contexts, then there is great value and truth to be gained from studying it.
And just because someone wrote something 2000+ years ago does not mean that they were unintelligent. Education was always very important for the Jewish people. They were apparently intelligent enough to write something that has lasted for well over 2000+ years, and is still taken seriously. If there were no philosophy within the Bible then I highly doubt anyone would take much time to consider it except for historians.
To truly live in the “now”, you must consider the lessons of the past, or else you are doomed to repeat history.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Andy M, all of your comments today have had me deep in thought. Thank you, truly, for your insight.
You bring up a great point.
“To truly live in the “now”, you must consider the lessons of the past, or else you are doomed to repeat history.”
This kicked my butt. I don’t like that, but you are so right. My whole life I have hated history. I have hated learning the same story over and over. I used to say “It happened thousands of years ago, who CARES?!?!?!”
But, you make a good point. I guess I should start paying more attention.
I guess to learn from it I don’t have to dwell on it and I can still live in the “now”.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Matt, in all honesty, I have a really hard time with the Bible as well. I can not tell you the last time I actually sat down and read it. I even bought a new one in hopes that it would help me want to get back into it. However, my aversion to the Bible is slightly different from yours.
I have a really hard time trusting something that has been used countless times (and, in reality continues to get used) as a weapon against me. I can’t recall a time that someone said to me “hey, you are making a really wrong choice – have you read in the Bible how much God loves you?” Instead it is a reference for condemnation and hurt and for that reason I feel like I have grown to really dislike it.
I’m trying to come back from it. I’m trying to trust the Bible. But, for now, it sits, collecting dust, representing nothing more than a large list of do’s, don’t's and judgements.
Your comment had me thinking all day. Thank you.
Oh, and, I am all for living in the “now”.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Matt- just a couple of thoughts in addition to what has been said. Can’t it just as easily be argued that giving one’s self everything the brain wants leads to perversion? Prisons are filled with people who took what they thought was rightfully theirs, things that came naturally, things they were hungry for, and families and lives are lost and scarred for generations because of it. Maybe we need more than our impulses and the mind to tell us what is best, because impulses and minds vary greatly.
Like Andy said, the Bible is a lot of things but it is also God’s truth, his story spoken to and through humanity and demonstrated in the person of Jesus (I will spare you the God becomes man bit as I know you’ve heard it all); the point is that the truth and the ultimate demonstration of love are timeless. That’s why it still speaks today like it spoke then, and why it still divides today like it divided then. If you’re looking for contemporary wisdom, look no further than everything that’s already around you. The Bible isn’t puzzling because it got it wrong thanks to a bunch of outdated know-nothings, the Bible is puzzling on purpose because (Christians believe) it was a message that flips conventional wisdom on its head. It is very intentionally the opposite of man’s wisdom, and God is clear that he uses not just the elites, or intellectuals, but also the lowly, the outcast, and more to share the message in different ways. You seem to be implying that the Bible should be more common sense, but if that is a primary criteria, why even consider faith? We ourselves already have all the common sense we need.
I don’t understand the timing criticism. If the Bible were finished in 1750 or 2050 would you be more likely to believe it? Then we’d hear from skeptics asking “why did God supposedly wait so late into human history to share this supposed message of good news.”
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 1:54 pm
I just read this post so I’m a little late but that was awesome Ian.
Simply giving in to “natural desires” leaves anything and everything open to what any specific person would consider a natural desire.
Ted Bundy, Charles Manson… they would have loved it.
“How dare you judge me for wanting to murder someone! You are so intolerant!”
As a man, I am inclined to want to have sex with every attractive woman I meet. This is destructive. I would hurt myself, hurt other women, hurt my wife, etc.
I do not act on my natural desires because God has given me, through His word, a better way to live that requires me to be a better man to my wife, a better citizen, family member, etc.
How many more destructive examples do we need of people wrecking their lives by giving in to natural desires?
Here’s news for ya… christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven because they accepted the free gift of salvation that is offered to everyone.
Catholic priests, pastors, christian leaders, etc mess up. They’re human and weren’t doing what they preached. Just like millions of parents.
Maybe we should bash all parents because of the few who are really bad at it and for the few who even kill their kids.
Yet another example of people highlighting the 1% and focusing on that instead of looking at how many truly great spiritual leaders there are.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 10:54 am
It seems to me, that because the Bible was primarily written by men, sexuality and all things sexual seem to be slanted toward the way men perceive sex and women. I think prejudices are not divinely inspired.
Frankly, that goes for Islam too – cover your hair, cover your arms and legs ladies – if I see that pony tail I might go crazy and have to have sex with you!
To a modern mind, it’s hard to understand the rationale behind monitoring and creating religious and civil laws around, others’ personal, sexual ways of being.
The viewpoint seems to be men and especially women, can’t be trusted in sexual matters and need to be told what to do about a natural, innate, bodily function.
Frankly, I haven’t seen too many women going around raping or sexually attacking men, exploiting the male body for entertainment purposes, using the Internet in their free time for sexual purposes…so I can see if God might want to put some religious restrictions on men, it actually that might solve a lot of problems…but that’s not really what seems to be occurring.
What I don’t understand is this whole concept of controlling women through religion & law, to HOPEFULLY, INDIRECTLY control or correct the sexual acts of men.
So I wonder, are modern religious forces that are behind limiting birth control, sex education, abortion or keeping women under veils, punishing women by forcing them to pay a social/physical “penance” of sorts for anything sexual that they have or have NOT yet done.
Are women from a religious perspective, supposed to automatically take on a “martyr” role to save men from their sexual deviance or crimes? Maybe “scapegoat” might be a more accurate term.
Though I have a profound respect for the ideas that seem divinely inspired in all religions, I think that matters of the flesh are not divine – these are human concerns.
It appears that many of the men that wrote or edited the Bible were conflicted between their belief in God and their love/obsession surrounding sex. Which may be a reason Mary Magdalene, a favorite of Jesus, ended up becoming a prostitute one day, after a writer/transcriber decided that status might suit her better.
I’d be interested in reading this book – because I’m sure the author discusses some of the questions I have with regard to the way sex and sexuality is treated in the Bible and the way it effects people in modern society.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 1:30 pm
I just wanted to say that from an eastern perspective in particular many of the restrictions on women, such as veils, segregated places, and such are often understood even by the women as a way their culture is respectful of women rather than oppression.
I’m not saying I completely buy this, but I see how people can hold that perspective. Watch Rick Steve’s Iran special, it is an hour long show where he travels to Iran and experiences their culture firsthand and sees some of the reasons they do things like they do, much of which is very foreign and even offensive to us.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Hi Andy- I probably wasn’t very clear when I mentioned Islam. I was actually referring to extreme forms of religion – whether Christian, Islamic, etc. I know that all religions have degrees and variations, which is why religious people that are not extreme support the separation between church and state, believe that a woman can choose how she dresses based on her religious beliefs – like most that are practicing Muslims in Egypt and moderate countries.
I have been to Egypt a couple of times and have had good Egyptian friends and others that are Muslim, so I have first hand knowledge of very tolerant, kind Muslim people. However, my comments were not about them. The only time a religion concerns or bothers me, is when it attempts to effect the rights or freedoms of people in general. That’s the point where I draw the line.
To be honest, Biblical beliefs tend to infringe on me more regularly via politics, law, etc. more than Islam. I suppose if I lived in Saudi Arabia, my concern would be different.
My questions still stand regarding religious/sexual ideas in the Bible and restrictions that spring from that and shape law and lives.
My feeling is that humans are responsible for the bastardization of God’s word and will
continue to be. Which makes it hard for me to get behind religion, but a lot easier for me to get behind God.
I will try to catch the show you mentioned, it sounds really interesting. I think it is important to do whatever we can to in order to understand ither people better.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 8:54 pm
I understand where you are coming from. In the U.S. it is Christianity that is at times trying to enforce morality, similar to how Islam’s morality is law in many Middle Eastern countries. It isn’t good, and thankfully many Christians even oppose such legislation here, such as myself.
I’m glad to hear that you have Muslim friends. I didn’t mean to make any assumptions about you, I just always try to add in new perspectives. Unfortunately there are too many people who can’t see much of a difference between our peaceful Muslim neighbors and the Taliban or terrorists. I’m no expert, but I’ve been fortunate enough to have had my eyes opened a bit.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 11:04 am
Darling Tiffany~ Thank you for your bravery in broaching this subject. I actually have a heart to talk about such a “secret” subject. So thank you for being willing to read her book and post about it.
I appreciated Andy’s response as well – I definitely agree with his one paragraph:
“The Bible doesn’t make a very good rulebook, no matter what you are talking about. It wasn’t meant to be a rulebook. Even the rules from the Old Testament (The Law) were incomplete, they couldn’t redeem mankind. Good Biblical scholarship I believe takes some flexibility, not to ignore or distort what it says, but to navigate the contexts, the languages, the cultures.” And not to say Andy doesn’t believe the same (I assume he does), but I did want to “add” to this by saying God’s word IS absolute truth… whether a “rulebook” or not, it is [suppose to be] the Ultimate Authority for a Christian’s life. Jesus is the one we are suppose to devote our entire selves in following… to becoming like. (anyway- moving on)
I do agree that celibacy is a “good thing” for those that can devote their lives to the service of the Lord & not fall into temptation (though God’s amazing strength, because as humans we are doomed to fail of course)…. having a spouse makes you have to devote (divide) some of you heart, time and mind, on the world (your spouse & children) and therefore cannot devote your entire heart to heavenly things. I have never read that the Bible states that celibacy was the “highest achievement” but I also have never researched much into the Hebrew/Greek etc. This is the first time I’ve ever heard is spoken as such.
I would be interested in reading her book…. I “struggle” (not sure that is really the right word) right now though… I believe we live in a time where Christians are being deceived and swayed by the “new golden rule” of relevance in today’s society. As Christian’s we [should] feel as though we walk a “fine line” of accepting the person, but not the sin of a person. It is a confusing road to follow. And yet – I see recently, so many “born again Christians” who in essence, are beginning to accept sin. I agree that the Bible is not a “rule book” per sa, but the Bible and Jesus’ life were very clear that there are some things that are BLACK AND WHITE sin. In today’s society, Christian’s try and be so PC in our world, try not to offend, etc. that we choose to be silent about sin; accepting of it. And I think sexual sin (“gay marriage, gay relationships, divorce, adultery, abortion and finally sex itself”) is one of the worst “issues” that we are silent about. BUT THEN, there are those Christians that “condemn, we accuse, we berate and belittle and most of all we judge”. It appears that we as Christian’s cannot fine the “fine line” that Jesus perfected! Loving the sinner, hating the sin. He called out sin. He did not allow sin to just be “relevant” in his time and just sit quietly by. ESPECIALLY when it came to sins of Christians. When we are talking about the sins of the sinner who doesn’t know they are a sinner (confusing?) that is a bit different story. But when we are talking about the sins of the “chosen”, Jesus COMMANDS us to call out the sin, in love and humility of course, but we are to call out sin as sin.
So back to the book (sorry, I like to stray), I am intrigued to read her book, yet also feel cautioned and guarded that it is not another attempt to have Christian’s be complacent when dealing with sin.
TIFFANY DARLING~ Thank you again for posting this….. I am ExCiTeD to read others thoughts!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 1:22 pm
In a sense, yes, we are called to call out sin for what it is. But Jesus had the interesting tendency to call out the sins of those who wanted Him to call out the sins of others. When the religious leaders called on Jesus to condemn a lowly sinner, he always turned it around on them instead. He did this every time someone started to point at someone else’s sin. I get the feeling that we shouldn’t ever point fingers unless it is at ourselves. The problem with “hate the sin, love the sinner” is that I don’t think you can point a finger at someone’s sin, without pointing a finger at the person as well.
“gay marriage, gay relationships, divorce, adultery, abortion and finally sex itself”
I actually disagree that these things are black and white issues. If you would like I can explain my reasons, but as that could go on a bit I’ll leave it at that for now. I do agree that we are to speak the truth, and not just blindly accept culture. But consider this. The people that Jesus “offended” were not the everyday people. No, Jesus “offended” the powerful and the rich. I think we Christians often offend the wrong people.
I will say, the controversial topics are almost always the most fun to discuss.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 11:14 am
Reading a few of the other responses above, I want to say that the Bible (God and Jesus) LOVE SEX! They created it! It is good and perfect and wonderful – in the proper setting. God created sex to be WONDERFUL AND AMAZING between one man and one woman that are Married. Today’s perversions, exploitation and control – are NOT OF GOD. Humans, in our sinful nature, have taken what God intended for good (sex) and have distorted it.
God’s word was not just written by men… it was divinely inspired by God himself (men were just the vessels that wrote it on paper). God’s word is as real and true as it was 2,000 years ago. My faith and belief in God, lead me to believing the Bible as ultimate truth. For those that do not hold to the same beliefs as I, we obviously won’t hold to the same standards… hence debate over the subject would be fruitless. But it is “intriguing” to hear others thoughts on such a heated subject.
Friday, February 25, 2011 at 12:06 am
No one should be shamed, push shame on or oppress others in any way in the name of God, Jesus or the Bible. It breaks my heart and angers me when the nicest of people, Tiffany, among others live with a guilt and shame of past actions and think that any sorrows that they experience in life are punishments from a God that they are told over and over again is loving, kind and merciful. Doesn’t it seem like a bit of a contradiction? As far as the accuracy of the Bible, that has been argued for some time now as there are many books that are missing so it is not a true and complete work. It was, afterall, put together by man and they used their discretion to their benefit in controlling the masses. It’s worked so far. Much like you stated in your post that its easy to move words around to benefit whatever point religion is trying to make in support of their beliefs; even if it means being hurtful and passing judgment and condeming the acts of others.
My friend, I hope that you quit being so hard on yourself.
) God is an omnipotent being according to what religion states. He already knows it all so what is there to fear, question or be ashamed of by simply doing what you are biologically programmed to do? Live. I personally do not think you or anyone will be punished for it and I would but this life and whatever, if any, the next holds that I am closer to the truth than farther from it. The God I believe in will not punish me for simply being human.
PS. I watched 8: The Mormon Proposition and Jesus Camp and was thoroughly disgusted and it reinforced my belief that religion is the problem. Not God.
Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 1:51 pm
If the author’s goal was to open a debate on the subject of sex in the Bible then she has definitely succeeded with you and your readers – fantastic! This really is a hot-button topic in today’s culture so I appreciate you taking it on here.
Thanks for being on the tour.