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kkmmph's review against another edition
5.0
I cried when I finished this book because it was over. Rachel Held Evans poured so much of herself and her struggles into "Inspired." I have had many of the same questions that the author struggles through, and she dives deep into scripture and research and wrestles as she remembers that "...the question we have to ask ourselves is this: are we reading with the prejudice of love, with Christ as our model, or are we reading with the prejudices of judgment and power, self-interest and greed?"
This book is for all those, Christian or not, who have ever wondered about the stories in the Bible, if they're true, what do they mean, why are they important.
RHE tackles big issues and small issues all throughout this book. One of my favorite things about the author is that she leaves room for everyone at the table, and that we all don't have to be in agreement. Our God is big enough to handle our conversations.
RHE brings in many esteemed theologians including Peter Enns, N.T. Wright, and Kathleen Norris among others, yet she also weaves in pop culture references to keep her writing from sounding like an academic paper.
God's love, the way He wants to gather us and tell us a story to help us understand, is in every page of this book. I am so grateful for the gifts that RHE shares with us in "Inspired" and I await her next book.
I received an Advance Reader's Copy from the publisher.
This book is for all those, Christian or not, who have ever wondered about the stories in the Bible, if they're true, what do they mean, why are they important.
RHE tackles big issues and small issues all throughout this book. One of my favorite things about the author is that she leaves room for everyone at the table, and that we all don't have to be in agreement. Our God is big enough to handle our conversations.
RHE brings in many esteemed theologians including Peter Enns, N.T. Wright, and Kathleen Norris among others, yet she also weaves in pop culture references to keep her writing from sounding like an academic paper.
God's love, the way He wants to gather us and tell us a story to help us understand, is in every page of this book. I am so grateful for the gifts that RHE shares with us in "Inspired" and I await her next book.
I received an Advance Reader's Copy from the publisher.
stylishlyshelby's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a long time RHE fan, I'll never forget reading Welcome to Monkey Town (renamed Faith Unraveled) nearly 5 years ago after moving to Colorado the first time in 2012. Every book of hers, since then, has made a lasting impression on my perspective and my faith walk, her personal journey and deep reflective way of sharing is moving and deeply meaningful.
If you've never read Rachel Held Evans before, I recommend starting with A Year of Biblical Womanhood, it's a great reminder that the Bible is an old text and that our walks maybe different but what unites us to our God is that we are wonderfully made. Her last book, Searching for Sunday, was a breath of fresh air for me. I was struggling to feel at home in our new church and yet, reminded at the same time that even if it feels hard God is there.
In, Inspired; Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again, I found myself in a similar state of meditative reflection prayerfully thankful for the text in front of me. As I had had similar feelings that I couldn't give a voice too. Each of RHE's books are best read in small chunks, with coffee and journal at hand. I found myself reading a page and simply reflecting on it, if not a page, reflecting on the story she tells or sometimes even a sentence stops me in my tracks.
I found the layout of this book most interesting, with a retelling or telling of a biblical story and then a chapter on the issue surrounding that story. Each section begins with the retelling of a biblical story in a new modern way, for instance, the story of Job is written as a screenplay, obviously, it's not the whole book of Job because that would be exhausting to read. Then RHE really dives in the text, examines the biblical history, theology surrounding that principle and modern implications of the text. RHE is not a voice everyone is going to agree with, but she stirs a conversation about the Bible and theology that is deeply needed in churches and our culture today.
"While Christians tend to turn to scripture to end a conversation, Jews turn to scripture to start a conversation." pg 24
As a Mennonite, War Stories was particularly hard to read and deeply introspective for me. She talked about the texts of terror and how although scripture can leave us inspired, in some places it leaves us with an open wound and more unanswered questions. It hurts and pains me to read about rape, ethnic cleansing, and brutal violence, I also loved what she said about these hard to read pieces of scripture. It said a lot of things I resonate with but could never put into words on my own. Thank you, Rachel, for giving my thoughts voice.
"It's not always clear what we are meant to learn from the Bible's most troubling stories, but if we look away we learn nothing." pg 77
While we all come to the Bible with a different perspective, past teachings, and personal experiences this is what illuminates the scripture. There are so many ways to read the stories written here and so many different ways to understand the people of Israel, our Messiah, and the teachings He brought.
"When God gave us the Bible, God did not give us an internally consistent book of answers. God gave us an inspired library of diverse writings, rooted in a variety of contexts that have stood the test of time precisely because, together, they avoid simplistic solutions to complex problems. It's almost as though God, trusts us to approach them with wisdom, to use discernment as we read and interpret, and to remain open to other points of view." pg 108
If I had to choose a favorite book of the Bible, I have to admit that Esther is a top contender. In Resistance Stories, RHE dives deep into the story of Esther and breaks down this book with no direct reference to God and yet He is deeply interwoven into this disturbing and intoxicating story with twists and turns at every corner. I'm so glad I'm not alone in my love for this story and for how it feels so incredibly relevant and deeply personal at the same time.
I'm so grateful we don't have a book that is black and white, with only one right point of view. I'm grateful God gives us unique stories and perspectives to read and approach the Bible with wisdom and wonder as we interpret and grow and live our lives.
I was a member of the Inspired Book Launch Team and received a copy of this book for free in return for a fair and honest review.
If you've never read Rachel Held Evans before, I recommend starting with A Year of Biblical Womanhood, it's a great reminder that the Bible is an old text and that our walks maybe different but what unites us to our God is that we are wonderfully made. Her last book, Searching for Sunday, was a breath of fresh air for me. I was struggling to feel at home in our new church and yet, reminded at the same time that even if it feels hard God is there.
In, Inspired; Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again, I found myself in a similar state of meditative reflection prayerfully thankful for the text in front of me. As I had had similar feelings that I couldn't give a voice too. Each of RHE's books are best read in small chunks, with coffee and journal at hand. I found myself reading a page and simply reflecting on it, if not a page, reflecting on the story she tells or sometimes even a sentence stops me in my tracks.
I found the layout of this book most interesting, with a retelling or telling of a biblical story and then a chapter on the issue surrounding that story. Each section begins with the retelling of a biblical story in a new modern way, for instance, the story of Job is written as a screenplay, obviously, it's not the whole book of Job because that would be exhausting to read. Then RHE really dives in the text, examines the biblical history, theology surrounding that principle and modern implications of the text. RHE is not a voice everyone is going to agree with, but she stirs a conversation about the Bible and theology that is deeply needed in churches and our culture today.
"While Christians tend to turn to scripture to end a conversation, Jews turn to scripture to start a conversation." pg 24
As a Mennonite, War Stories was particularly hard to read and deeply introspective for me. She talked about the texts of terror and how although scripture can leave us inspired, in some places it leaves us with an open wound and more unanswered questions. It hurts and pains me to read about rape, ethnic cleansing, and brutal violence, I also loved what she said about these hard to read pieces of scripture. It said a lot of things I resonate with but could never put into words on my own. Thank you, Rachel, for giving my thoughts voice.
"It's not always clear what we are meant to learn from the Bible's most troubling stories, but if we look away we learn nothing." pg 77
While we all come to the Bible with a different perspective, past teachings, and personal experiences this is what illuminates the scripture. There are so many ways to read the stories written here and so many different ways to understand the people of Israel, our Messiah, and the teachings He brought.
"When God gave us the Bible, God did not give us an internally consistent book of answers. God gave us an inspired library of diverse writings, rooted in a variety of contexts that have stood the test of time precisely because, together, they avoid simplistic solutions to complex problems. It's almost as though God, trusts us to approach them with wisdom, to use discernment as we read and interpret, and to remain open to other points of view." pg 108
If I had to choose a favorite book of the Bible, I have to admit that Esther is a top contender. In Resistance Stories, RHE dives deep into the story of Esther and breaks down this book with no direct reference to God and yet He is deeply interwoven into this disturbing and intoxicating story with twists and turns at every corner. I'm so glad I'm not alone in my love for this story and for how it feels so incredibly relevant and deeply personal at the same time.
I'm so grateful we don't have a book that is black and white, with only one right point of view. I'm grateful God gives us unique stories and perspectives to read and approach the Bible with wisdom and wonder as we interpret and grow and live our lives.
I was a member of the Inspired Book Launch Team and received a copy of this book for free in return for a fair and honest review.
jlrowse's review against another edition
5.0
I started this book last year, and then Rachel Held Evans died and I couldn't pick it back up without crying. No, I didn't know her, but all of her books have spoken to me and made me feel less crazy about my own faith, and I was just so sad to lose her writing and her voice. So a year later, I picked it back up during Lent and vowed to finish it, and it is exactly what I expected--fierce teaching about The Gospel of Jesus paired with not-so-subtle actionable steps for rank-and-file Christians to take if they wish to improve their families and communities. I think I will make reading this book a Lenten tradition every year.
rohadi's review against another edition
probably better to read this rather than the ancient 'how to read the bible for all its worth'.
ccnolan's review against another edition
5.0
hallelujah 3 months later I have finished. MORE OF BOOKS LIKE THIS. Made me think deeply about who our culture shuns them and why. They are probably often people that should be celebrated bc they see through a different lens. May we know them, may we be them. I'll need to re read this. There's a lot to it that is hard for me to wrap my mind around as someone who has been part of the generic evangelical movement their whole life. Leaves me semi confused, which I already was, on how to handle scripture.
karinapplesauce's review against another edition
5.0
I first heard of Rachel Held Evans when she came to a writing festival at my college, but I didn't really think much of it. I periodically read some of her blog posts that people posted to social media, felt like this was someone who I understood and related to, and I took it for granted that she would speak up about things that I was thinking. I never read any of her books because reading religious books never really appealed to me outside school. And then Rachel died.
I had this on my list for a while but picked it up when, of all the motivations, Kobe Bryant died. Kobe meant a lot of things to people, he just didn't mean much to me. Being heartbroken about a public figure...well, even though I didn't feel it for Kobe I kept thinking about Rachel again. So I listened to the book.
And for someone that can often feel alienated by how the Bible is presented...this didn't disappoint.
I had this on my list for a while but picked it up when, of all the motivations, Kobe Bryant died. Kobe meant a lot of things to people, he just didn't mean much to me. Being heartbroken about a public figure...well, even though I didn't feel it for Kobe I kept thinking about Rachel again. So I listened to the book.
And for someone that can often feel alienated by how the Bible is presented...this didn't disappoint.
katelynnjoy's review against another edition
4.0
I related to so much of Rachel's personal story that was woven throughout this book. I loved the nuanced and reverent way she wrote about Scripture. I wish this book was twice as long!
hazycozmicjive's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Rachel Held Evans is a blessing
jaysaenz's review against another edition
4.0
Rachel Held Evans books always seem to show up exactly when I need them.
robwil's review against another edition
4.0
Simpler explanations than most other books on this topic.