An unconventional but sometimes persuasive biblical reading.
King challenges mainstream Evangelical thinking on same-sex relationships in this revisionist Christian work.
Although the book’s title may seem ridiculous at first glance, King isn’t being facetious. The author, the founding pastor of the Reignite Palm Springs Apostolic and Prophetic church, argues that God does, in fact, have a plan for the LGBTQ+ community and that it’s telegraphed in Scripture. While addressing the six so-called “clobber passages”—those lines in the Bible that conservative Christians most frequently cite to argue that God deems homosexuality to be immoral—King lays out how misinterpretations, misunderstandings, and ahistorical homophobia have caused people to use these references in ways that the writers of Scripture did not intend. He also analyzes the history of the modern church, arguing that Evangelicals, in particular, have lost their way, suffering from the “spirit of stupor” mentioned in the Book of Romans. According to King’s interpretation, God has a plan for the LGTBQ+ community, just as he had a plan for the gentiles in biblical times. Specifically, the author says that God intends to make the LGBTQ+ people “the object of His affection,” which will awaken the Evangelical community “from their spirit of stupor.” When Evangelical Christians persecute LGBTQ+ people or attempt to expel them from their ranks, he asserts, they are, in fact, working against God’s plan—the last thing that any devout Christian should want to do. King writes with urgency and precision, whether offering close biblical analysis or sifting through salient research: “Sexual orientation is a fundamental attraction; it’s the way a person is wired.” That said, King says that he believes that the Bible is the literal word of God, and that it does indeed have plenty of criticisms of nonreligious members of the LGBTQ+ community. As such, his arguments are unlikely to draw many secular people to religion, which one of his stated aims. Still, his willingness to challenge the status quo should be of interest to Bible scholars and theologians, and his interpretation could aid LGBTQ+ Christians and their allies as they look to counter anti-gay arguments.
An unconventional but sometimes persuasive biblical reading.Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2021
ISBN: 978-1525586620
Page Count: 276
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: Nov. 18, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
The heartbreaking story of an emotionally battered child delivered with captivating candor and grace.
The former iCarly star reflects on her difficult childhood.
In her debut memoir, titled after her 2020 one-woman show, singer and actor McCurdy (b. 1992) reveals the raw details of what she describes as years of emotional abuse at the hands of her demanding, emotionally unstable stage mom, Debra. Born in Los Angeles, the author, along with three older brothers, grew up in a home controlled by her mother. When McCurdy was 3, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Though she initially survived, the disease’s recurrence would ultimately take her life when the author was 21. McCurdy candidly reconstructs those in-between years, showing how “my mom emotionally, mentally, and physically abused me in ways that will forever impact me.” Insistent on molding her only daughter into “Mommy’s little actress,” Debra shuffled her to auditions beginning at age 6. As she matured and starting booking acting gigs, McCurdy remained “desperate to impress Mom,” while Debra became increasingly obsessive about her daughter’s physical appearance. She tinted her daughter’s eyelashes, whitened her teeth, enforced a tightly monitored regimen of “calorie restriction,” and performed regular genital exams on her as a teenager. Eventually, the author grew understandably resentful and tried to distance herself from her mother. As a young celebrity, however, McCurdy became vulnerable to eating disorders, alcohol addiction, self-loathing, and unstable relationships. Throughout the book, she honestly portrays Debra’s cruel perfectionist personality and abusive behavior patterns, showing a woman who could get enraged by everything from crooked eyeliner to spilled milk. At the same time, McCurdy exhibits compassion for her deeply flawed mother. Late in the book, she shares a crushing secret her father revealed to her as an adult. While McCurdy didn’t emerge from her childhood unscathed, she’s managed to spin her harrowing experience into a sold-out stage act and achieve a form of catharsis that puts her mind, body, and acting career at peace.
The heartbreaking story of an emotionally battered child delivered with captivating candor and grace.Pub Date: Aug. 9, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-982185-82-4
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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