Eve Isn't Evil - by Julie Faith Parker

About the Book

Combining feminist readings of familiar texts with personal stories, this book helps students question their assumptions about the Bible, develop their own interpretive abilities, learn some of the Bible's big theological ideas, and connect the Bible with their personal faith journey.

Book Synopsis

Foreword INDIES 2023 Finalist for Religion

"Tackles scripture from a broad-thinking, feminist perspective. . . . Smart and impressive."--Publishers Weekly

One reason the Bible has endured for millennia is its ability to reach our common humanness and give uplifting insights about struggle, resilience, and hope. Intertwining academic knowledge and candid, personal, and sometimes humorous stories, Julie Faith Parker helps readers engage biblical texts with both mind and heart--to learn the Bible's stories, explore theological ideas, question common assumptions, develop interpretive skills, and grow in their own faith.

The title chapter demonstrates how feminism interprets the Bible with fresh eyes and offers empowering insights, an approach used in the rest of the book. In each chapter, Parker reads biblical texts through a feminist lens. The book discusses both neglected and well-known Old Testament passages with one chapter on the New Testament. Parker's reflections show how vital our readings of the Bible can be as a source of strength, guidance, and joyful defiance.

Additional features include questions for conversation or reflection and an overview of the entire Bible, summarizing each book in one line.

From the Back Cover

"An amazing book of power, insight, and challenge"

Combining feminist readings of familiar biblical texts with personal stories, Julie Faith Parker helps us engage the Bible with both mind and heart--to learn its stories, explore theological ideas, question common assumptions, and grow in our faith.

"An amazing book of power, insight, and challenge. Parker inspires compelling conversations that illuminate Eve and all her descendants."
--Phyllis Trible, professor emerita, Union Theological Seminary

"If you love the Bible enough to ask it hard questions, Eve Isn't Evil is not to be missed."
--Jonathan Merritt, author of Learning to Speak God from Scratch; contributing writer for The Atlantic

"For many members of biblically based communities of faith who support what Parker describes as 'liberty and justice for all, including people who identify as female, ' Parker's interpretations will be welcome and even joyous news."
--Susan Ackerman, professor, Dartmouth College

"Eve Isn't Evil lays out a powerful and persuasive case by inviting the reader to discover the gifts of feminism--'self-respect, opportunity, and joy'--reading the Old Testament as a very human book."
--Kyong-Jin Lee, associate professor, Fuller Theological Seminary

"I'm so grateful for the way Parker has made her brilliant academic work accessible and inspiring to nonscholars (like me!). This book reshaped parts of my heart, my mind, and my faith--it's a must-read."
--Shauna Niequist, New York Times bestselling author of I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet

"A timely, much-needed book. Parker takes an honest, accessible, personal, and pragmatic approach to biblical interpretation. I strongly recommend Eve Isn't Evil!"
--Alice Yafeh-Deigh, professor, Azusa Pacific University

"A remarkable work of scholarship and storytelling."
--Javier A. Viera, president and professor, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

"A wonderful book. Readers will inevitably be convinced of two things: feminists can love the Bible, and Bible lovers can (and probably should) be feminists!"
--Mark Allan Powell, professor (retired), Trinity Lutheran Seminary

About the Author

Julie Faith Parker (PhD, Yale University) lives in New York City where she is a visiting scholar at Union Theological Seminary and biblical scholar in residence at Marble Collegiate Church. She has taught biblical studies at General Theological Seminary, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Colby College, and also at New York Theological Seminary, where her students were incarcerated in Sing Sing Prison. Visit her website at juliefaithparker.com.