How (Not) to Read the Bible: Making Sense of the Anti-women, Anti-science, Pro-violence, Pro-slavery and Other Crazy-Sounding Parts of Scripture

Written by Dan Kimball and Sean McDowell

Narrated by Dan Kimball

Is Reading the Bible the Fastest Way to Lose Your Faith?

For centuries, the Bible was called "the Good Book," a moral and religious text that guides us into a relationship with God and shows us the right way to live. Today, however, some people argue the Bible is outdated and harmful, with many Christians unaware of some of the odd and disturbing things the Bible says.

How (Not) to Read the Bible tackles big questions like:

• Does the Bible degrade women?
• Is the Bible anti-science?
• How could a loving God command such violence in the Old Testament?
• Does the Bible endorse slavery?

Bestselling author Dan Kimball guides you step-by-step in how to tackle many of the real questions that people wrestle with when reading the Bible and how to make sense of many of the more difficult and disturbing Bible passages.

Filled with fun stories, insightful information, and responses to popular cultural objections, How (Not) to Read the Bible is a lifeline for anyone—Christians and doubters alike—who are confused or discouraged with questions about the Bible.

Yes, there are puzzling and disturbing Bible passages. . . But there are explanations!

*Accompanying images and reference tables are available in the audiobook companion PDF download.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Dec 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9780310113775

Dan Kimball

Dan Kimball is the author of several books on leadership, church, and culture. He is on staff at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California. He  also is on faculty with Western Seminary and leads the ReGeneration Project which is encouraging theology and mission to be part of younger generations lives and churches. He enjoys comic art, Ford Mustangs, and punk and rockabilly music. His passion is to see the church and Christians follow and represent Jesus in the world with love, intelligence, and creativity.

Reviews for How (Not) to Read the Bible

[Tim Nussbaumer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Highly highly recommend. For folks that have studied Scripture for a while, it won't be a lot of new information necessarily *(depending on your faith tradition). But. He has done the best job I've seen at articulating the principles in a way that makes sense. This is a great addition to books like "Blue Parakeet" to help keep people from reading the Bible in a way that will cause them to lose their faith. Thank you Scribd, but please make accompanying pdf's easier to access.

[Sheldon Feakes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found the book itself edifying. The only drawback was the author narrating his own work as if he were reading it for the first time.

[Ronnie Chrisman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one I'm definitely going to buy. Fantastic book.

[sherrie herter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is excellent. It explains the parts of the Bible where it seems God is so unfair or cruel. I will never read The Bible the sane again. Now I know who God really is. DONT miss this book.

[Rebecca Zahrte · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic book that takes on some very tough criticisms and views of the scripture. An excellent read to help Christians and Non-Christians alike understand scripture better.

[Jamil Khoury · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Such a great book, very easy to follow and suitable for laymen and beginners. The only downfall of it is the voice of the author as a narrator. I would suggest a better voiced narrator.

[Mitch Lyon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Although there are some fluffed up portions of the book, I think Kimball does a really great job of explaining some of the difficult texts in the Bible. I feel I have a better understanding of some biblical passages thanks to this book!

[Caroline Talitha Saliba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Although at the beginning I found it to be very slow and repetitive, I can say I like it very much because it’s clear, it’s balanced and it’s close to the text without being literal.

[Craig Johnson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Recommended with reservations. Many great insights and valuable clarifications on ancient words and subsequent translations, plus helpful perspectives that provide an overview to understanding the Christian Bible. Kimball's God is consistently male and personified; symbolic, literary, and hyperbolic language is readily acknowledged in some places but accepted as literal in other areas; the book is silent on 'magic Jesus' questions (virgin birth, resurrection, miracles); and he's mute on verses used to confront contemporary issues, such as LGBTQ people.