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Permission Granted--Take the Bible Into Your Own Hands

Jennifer Grace Bird (Goodreads Author)

3.77 · Rating details · 69 ratings · 19 reviews

Millions of people around the world look to the Bible as a source of encouragement and faith formation, a reminder that God is love and is in control, and a guide to living one's life the way God desires. But this treasured book has also been misused and manipulated by many, placed on a pedestal of untouchability, and protected from questioning and honest engagement. In 'P ...more

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Paperback, 208 pages

Published March 27th 2015 by Westminster John Knox Press

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Apr 05, 2015 eden rated it did not like it

Shelves: quit-for-good

In the first few pages of this book, Bird does the following:

1) Significantly misstates a quotation attributed to Aristotle. The real quotation goes, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it". Bird's version leaves out "to be able", implying that if you're truly educated you will entertain other thoughts. Whether this is simply negligence or purposeful editing to better support her project, who knows? Neither option inspires confidence. (If you' ...more

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Mar 09, 2015 Jeanie rated it did not like it

Shelves: less-200, netgalley, bad-theology, false-teacher

I was sorry to have chosen this book and I would advise anyone not to make the same mistake. Take for example on page 27…In fact, if you pay close attention to Genesis 2-3, you will see that it is actually God who has misled the humans, not the serpent. Hmmmm. Hmmmm seems to be her favorite word and gotcha to pointing out her point. I was pretty much done when she goes on to say that she was glad Eve took the bite. Knowledge is a good thing and for Eve to want that, how could that be wrong.

Ther ...more

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Mar 31, 2015 Rebecca Engebretson rated it it was amazing

I received an advanced reader copy from Westminster John Knox Press.

Permission Granted- Take the Bible into Your Own Hands by Jennifer Grace Bird is an engaging book I highly recommend. I've been waiting for years for this type of book to be published. As an avid female reader, I've wanted to read a book that directly addressed complicated Biblical issues in an academic manner. In Bird's book, you won't find any humorous stories about everyday life. Instead, prepare yourself for a thought provok I received an advanced reader copy from Westminster John Knox Press.

Permission Granted- Take the Bible into Your Own Hands by Jennifer Grace Bird is an engaging book I highly recommend. I've been waiting for years for this type of book to be published. As an avid female reader, I've wanted to read a book that directly addressed complicated Biblical issues in an academic manner. In Bird's book, you won't find any humorous stories about everyday life. Instead, prepare yourself for a thought provoking study of difficult stories, people, and specific scripture found in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The Garden of Eden, the role of women in the church and family, rape, and genocide are a few examples of the topics covered in this book.

Throughout the book, Bird encourages the reader to explore difficult issues through a non-traditional lens. The author provides historical detail and background from Hebrew and Greek translations to expand the reader's understanding of difficult concepts. Personally, I found the chapter about the role of women in marriage particularly fascinating. I really appreciated the author's research approach. A couple of times while reading, I had to put the book down and just think about the ideas presented. At no point in the book does Bird talk down to the reader. Instead, Bird is always affirming that it is ok if these topics are hard to reconcile. Bird's style is easy to read, a perfect mix of academic research and a conversational tone.

This book is appropriate to read as an individual and would also work as a small group study. Thought provoking questions are included with the chapters. Also, relevant scripture suggestions are made, but not included in the book. I suggest this book to a group that enjoys working through difficult topics and is comfortable with different points of view. Not everyone will be comfortable with the author's interpretation of particular texts. By the end of the book, I was curious to hear more about how the author worked through these issues on a personal level. Little is devoted to this, leaving the reader to ponder the book well after it is finished.
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May 30, 2015 Jerry Hillyer rated it did not like it

Title: Permission Granted

Author: Jennifer Grace Bird

Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press

Year: 2015

Pages: 176

"To the Church, then, has been given the charge of proclaiming the Word of God. This revelatory Word is not a concatenation of human opinions and ideas but rather is God's own proclamation, the very means by which he speaks, even into postmodern society."--David Wells, Above All Earthly Pow'rs, 176

If I had been paying attention, I would have seen the endorsement by Rachel Held Evans on t ...more

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Feb 08, 2016 Jen rated it did not like it

Shelves: netgalley, didn-t-finish, lent-read

My thanks to NetGalley and Westminster John Knox Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

Ok, going to try to use the "criticism sandwich" method to review this book. Please note that I just couldn't subject myself to more than 37% of this book, so the below is only for the first 37% and the last bit that I had skimmed to.

Positive-top piece of bread

She seems to be a liberal, which means she isn't anti-homosexual. So when she discusses sex in the Bible, she doesn't ruffle my feather ...more

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Apr 21, 2015 Babs rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015-challenge

Permission Granted- Take the Bible into Your Own Hands-Jennifer Grace Bird

Each year more and more people leave the church and abandon their religious roots. Too many have reached adulthood still holding onto the interpretations of the Bible handed to them as children. Those childish interpretations seem to leave them coming up short in times of doubt or when seeking answers. This type of book has been long overdue for publication. Bird’s book: Permission Granted-Take the Bible into Your Own Hand ...more

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Aug 17, 2015 Marilyn rated it really liked it

I was fortunate to grow up in a home and a church where I felt free to question scripture. I learned early on that just because an idea is in the Bible, it does not mean that it is life-giving, loving, helpful, or even correct. My personal litmus test for reading the Bible will always point me toward Christ and the fullness of life for all people. Thank you for your research and your honesty Jennifer Bird. You will, no doubt, cause a lot of people to squirm!

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Oct 23, 2016 Beth Peninger rated it liked it · review of another edition

Thank you to NetGalley and Westminster John Knox Press for this free readers edition. In exchange I am providing an honest review.

It took me over a month to read the book once through. Then I decided I couldn't say I had read it until I read it again, that time it took me one day. Yes, just one day. I determined to get through it, having a first read as a basis for the second read.
The first read through I just read the book. The second time I read the book as the author intended - using the Bib Thank you to NetGalley and Westminster John Knox Press for this free readers edition. In exchange I am providing an honest review.

It took me over a month to read the book once through. Then I decided I couldn't say I had read it until I read it again, that time it took me one day. Yes, just one day. I determined to get through it, having a first read as a basis for the second read.
The first read through I just read the book. The second time I read the book as the author intended - using the Bible also. Since it's my review I get to make it as short - or as long - as I want. You can read the review - or not. That's your choice! *wink*
In Bird's introduction and chapter 1 she explains why this book has come into existence. She uses her own background as the reason why she first started wondering if everything she was reading in the Bible was exactly as she was reading it or if perhaps context of cultural etc really might matter. In the introduction she gives the reader two points that I really appreciate, they are perhaps the first of her many "permission granted" points.
1. God gave you your brain, so it has to be okay to use it.
2. If they are worth your devotion, God and the Bible can handle your intellectual pursuits. (My take on this particular point would be - God is not the one threatened by any questions etc we have, it's everyone else who is threatened. He's bigger than that.)
Chapter 1 finds Bird discussing what the Bible is, and what the Bible isn't. She challenges the claims of inerrancy and infallibility - which is going to raise the hackles of some immediately. It may or may not have raised mine a bit. *grin* Her challenges to those claims are based off of motivations, genres, and perspective of author of the book within the Bible. And she goes on, in chapter 1, to unpack those reasonings. Her conclusion on knowing and understanding the true writings can be summed up, in my opinion, with this statement she makes, "Most often when people begin to read with context and writing type in mind, they find the writings more meaningful, not less." I read that sentence as a challenge of sorts for myself. If I read the passages she will be discussing in this book with the context and writing type in mind as she lays them out will I indeed find the Bible more meaningful and not less?
Chapter 2 Bird starts at the beginning, which is the topic of much debate in American culture today (I can't speak for other cultures since I don't live there). She starts with the creation story found in Genesis 1-2. Bird is insistent on honoring the writings of the Bible and her idea of honoring it is explained in this way, "Reading the Bible 'literally' is not necessarily the best way to honor it." That particular statement is sure to raise some hackles. It may or may not have raised mine a bit. *grin* But instead of taking my raised hackles and marching off the other direction I am choosing to push through for the sake of being uncomfortable and having an open mind.
In chapter 2 she has a lot to say about a lot. (I don't want to be a spoiler. Okay fine, hints are: women, men, equality, creation of the earth, creation of humans, myths versus truth.) The one thing that I cannot get around being uncomfortable with is her assertion that biology is more accurate than God. But if God created the biology then can't he do whatever he wants? Perhaps it is our understanding of biology that is flawed, not the other way around?
Chapter 3 is all about the garden but here's what Bird has to say about it, "If you have thought of this story [the garden] as only being about 'original sin' or 'the fall of Man,' you are in for quite a ride. So, hold on to your hat and buckle your seatbelt." Bird's belief is that the story found in Genesis 3 is a myth, meant to give an explanation for the pains of childbirth and why it is so hard to produce food from the ground. I can't help but think, however, that if ancient peoples were looking for a story to explain these things that they might have come up with ones that didn't seem so harsh? But perhaps I misunderstand good storytelling. She also addresses the idea and purpose of Satan. These are interesting thoughts that I can lean toward - no hackles raised at that point. *grin* She closes out chapter 3 talking about the influence of the early church fathers and their opinions about the scriptures becoming the scriptures we actually read and follow today instead of what the original language etc means.
Chapter 4 tackles the topic of sex and sexuality in the Bible. Hackles will be raised in this chapter. Mine may or may not have been. *grin* She addresses the topic of "biblical marriage" and any of my hackles that may have been raised lowered the more I considered her arguments for what a "biblical marriage" actually means according to the Bible. Then she dives into sex - heterosexual and homosexual.
In the Old Testament, specifically, there is a lot of violence. Was it really violence directed by God or was it violence men attributed to God or was it something in between? Bird takes chapter 5 to discuss. She addresses both punishment/discipline and the sacrificial system. It is in discussing the sacrificial system - which leads to the crucifixion of Jesus - that hackles will probably go up again. Mine may or may not have. *grin* She also continues with the controversial topics by talking about the death penalty. She includes in the chapter about violence about the abuse and violent treatment of women throughout the scriptures. This did not raise my hackles but it will raise the hackles of many - and not all of them men, which astounds me. She does have a profound portion within the chapter about enemies and who we should consider, if anyone at all, enemies and why/why not.
Those stories we were told in Sunday School? In chapter 6 the author talks about the real story of those cleaned up stories. She also addresses the famed verse, John 3:16. Yes, hackles will be raised. Mine may or may not have been. *grin*
In the chapters leading up to chapter 7 Bird has been advocating for women and in this chapter she quits 'hinting' around and just devotes the entire chapter to the idea of women and God. She spends quite a bit of time discussing the differences found in the 'genuine Pauline' letters from what is said, about women specifically, in the 'disputed Pauline letters.' Her exegesis makes a lot of sense and provides explanation for the divided mind Paul was thought to have regarding women.
And then in chapter 8 Bird really goes for it. She discusses the conception and birth of Jesus. She discusses the virgin Mary and wonders if she really was a virgin. Yes, hackles will go up in defense of this doctrinal issue. Mine may or may not have. *grin*
Chapter 9 is titled, "Will the real Jesus please stand up?" and Bird starts off the chapter by saying that it may be "startling for people to discover that there is more that one 'version' of Jesus in the Bible and more than one way of understanding salvation." What she means is that the first four books - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John - give different perspectives on Jesus. They each cast him in a different light, so to speak. So which one is he? Could he not be all of them and the books are still pointing to different facets of who he is? This chapter, in particular, really felt like Bird was building a case for the commonality of Jesus rather than the Jesus that came to be a savior. It felt very pointed toward Jesus was just a dude who happened to say and do a lot of good things and some people decided to write about him and oh yeah, they leaned on Old Testament scriptures to make it sound like he was something special and unique. My hackles may or may not have gone up. *grin*
Second in popularity, and controversy, to Jesus is the Apostle Paul. So the author spends chapter 10 on Paul. While she similarly talks about Paul the way she does Jesus, in a diminishing way, she also makes some interesting points about his mission and its differences from the mission of the disciples.
Ah, it's the end of the world as we know it - and we've come the the end of the world countless times yet we are all still here. Bird takes chapter 11 to go through Revelation - the apocalypse, the final days of this world as we know it. This is another chapter in which the potential for raised hackles is pretty high. Mine were not raised but so much of evangelical America has built their faith on the book of Revelation that I know this chapter would raise the hackles of many.
And then where do we go from here? Where do we go with the questioning of the word of God? Does the questioning of the word of God make the writings more meaningful not less? For me? For you? In the final paragraphs of this book the author says this, "My ultimate intention has been to have you look at where you have placed your faith. Is it on the words in the Bible or on the God the Bible points to?" But I take issue with that end goal. She just took the reader through 11 chapters of questioning the Bible that points to God. The Holy Bible is the resource we have been given to get to know the God we say we believe in. If we call it into question then ultimately we are also calling into question the reality of God.
One final comment on the title. In an effort, I presume, to be chatty and down to earth about this questioning of the Bible the author employs the use of "hmmmm" quite a bit. And by quite a bit I mean it appears in frequency the further into the book we get. It really got on my nerves after a while. One or two instances of it are fine, I use it myself from time to time. But it's frequency in the pages detracted not attracted. ...more

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Aug 28, 2020 Esther rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: new-testament, religion

Have you ever felt like you can't seek answers to the many questions you have about the Bible?" I have, but when I ask these questions at church or home, I always get the same answers. "Read the Bible, everything you need to know is right there." I first realized that I could ask these burning questions and seek new insight as I took a Religious Studies class for my undergraduate degree. Since the first day of Introduction to the New Testament, I have asked what had previously been taboo questi ...more

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Apr 16, 2015 LeeAnn rated it it was amazing

Wow! Incredibly thought-provoking! Part workbook, part study guide, with lots of open-ended questions. What do you think you know about the Bible? This book invites the readers to answer this question by reading and thinking for themselves. Not for everyone, probably, but definitely food for thought for those unafraid of using the brains God gave them.

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Sep 21, 2015 Grant Swanson rated it it was amazing

A fantastic read that unpacks the dangers of complete Biblical literalism toward the Christian faith. It emphasizes the necessity of critical reading and understanding of the Biblical for every Christian.

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Dec 08, 2017 Rev. Linda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: interpreting-scripture, interpreting-hebrew-bible, bible-interpretative-criticism

A text for a Brite Divinity Spring class, "Interpreting the Hebrew Bible" - From the Publisher: Millions of people around the world look to the Bible as a source of encouragement and faith formation, a reminder that God is love and is in control, and a guide to living one's life the way God desires. But this treasured book has also been misused and manipulated by many, placed on a pedestal of untouchability, and protected from questioning and honest engagement. In 'Permission Granted', Jennifer ...more

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May 19, 2015 Robert D. Cornwall rated it liked it

Shelves: bible, religion, theology

This is one of those books that you're not sure what to make of it. It covers a topic of interest to me -- as a preacher I am interested in how we read the Bible. The author, Jennifer Bird, reminds us that the Bible is a complicated book that is not itself God nor is it a fount of inerrant information about God. When read with care it can point us to God, but there is much in the Bible, if read literally, can prove harmful. With that I'm in agreement. My concern is that the overarching emphasis This is one of those books that you're not sure what to make of it. It covers a topic of interest to me -- as a preacher I am interested in how we read the Bible. The author, Jennifer Bird, reminds us that the Bible is a complicated book that is not itself God nor is it a fount of inerrant information about God. When read with care it can point us to God, but there is much in the Bible, if read literally, can prove harmful. With that I'm in agreement. My concern is that the overarching emphasis of the book is on the dangerous parts and we see little that contributes to a mature and gracious faith. Perhaps this is a book for an audience that needs, as the title suggests, permission to ask serious questions about the Bible.

The author is a bible scholar who it appears grew up in a rather narrow fundamentalist Christian community that required a very literalistic reading of Scripture. At some point in life, as she began to do scholarly study of Scripture she was confronted by its humanness and this proved disconcerting. In this book she shares why this discovery was so challenging to her life and faith. It seems that she has emerged with faith intact, though deeply changed. My concern is that some readers could end up unable to come out with faith.

Having finished Harvey Cox's equally liberal reading of the Bible -- How to Read the Bible -- it is interesting to compare the way they share their understandings. Bird has a rather snarky demeanor, whereas Cox is more demure and affable. Both offer a vision of the Bible as fully human, with significant problems to be dealt with, but you're more likely come out with a positive view of the Bible from Cox than from Bird. But maybe that's the point. They write to two different audiences.

Bird covers the two creation stories, the story of the Garden, the place of sex in the Bible (it's good to be reminded that while the topic is often taboo it is present in the Bible and we might be surprised by what is said). There is a chapter on violence in scripture -- and there's plenty of that as well. We are shown how biblical writers cover up certain issues and edit their stories (we run into characters such as Samson, David, Job, Mary Magdalene and more). There is a chapter on women and calls for submission, though she notes that Paul is actually fairly progressive and the the more severe views come later in letters that are disputed (Ephesians and 1 Timothy). She takes up the issue of Mary's status as virgin and what that means. There's a chapter as well that discusses the various portraits of Jesus and asks whether Paul was the first Christian. She's of the opinion that Paul was and remained a Jew and that never was a Christian. The question is what does this term apply to. Finally, there's a chapter on judgment and apocalyptic literature.

If you have some background in biblical studies (as most preachers would), much of this isn't new. For some it might be new and even upsetting. My concern is how the book is used. It's helpful that there are study questions at the end of each chapter, and this might be a good book to read with a group that is struggling with what to do with the Bible. Maybe they've been led to believe that it is a perfect and divine book, that one dare not question. Bird gives the reader permission to ask those questions. But, it's not the final book to be read (and that's true of Cox's book as well). ...more

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Jun 18, 2015 Chris Torretta rated it it was ok

I really wanted to like this. Before I review, I'm going to give a very short idea of where I'm coming from compared to religion. Two years ago I considered myself an atheist. There are way too many things in the world that I cannot explain with just science so I decided atheism was not the way for me. Agnostic is what I've professed for quite some time. Recently, last Sunday to be exact, I was baptized in a Christian church. They call it a First Century church. I've been curious about the bible I really wanted to like this. Before I review, I'm going to give a very short idea of where I'm coming from compared to religion. Two years ago I considered myself an atheist. There are way too many things in the world that I cannot explain with just science so I decided atheism was not the way for me. Agnostic is what I've professed for quite some time. Recently, last Sunday to be exact, I was baptized in a Christian church. They call it a First Century church. I've been curious about the bible and the stories in it, but more importantly about Jesus's message, my entire life. I believe in love and Jesus was the epitome of love.

Now, for this book... I do not think that Jennifer Grace Bird has any negative thoughts in her mind, really, but as a new Christian much of this threw me off and actually led me away from wanting to be a christian. One reason for being a christian is to be a loving, helpful person, to help others and by the grace of God to do work that helps others but praises him. In this book I got none of that.

I did really enjoy the beginning. So much so that I was wishing I had a print copy. I wanted to highlight and write in the book and make copious notes! And then we got to portions of the bible, which yes are a bit more negative. Jennifer wound up putting a spin onto it so much that I did not understand what exactly to even believe. As I said above, I am a very new Christian and although I realize there are some things in the bible that I do not like, there are also things in life that I do not like. I'm not trying to be naive about how they used to treat women (and in some countries still do), I am just saying that although this is chock full of information I constantly questioned where Jennifer was trying to go with this.

If I remember correctly (I set this down some time ago) she professes to be a christian. I think she does this in multiple places. One thing that my pastor tells his congregation is that you should never, never have to tell someone you are a christian. You should be so loving that it emanates from your being. Now, I get that not at all times can we be like this. Life can be very hard but that is what we are striving to be like, Christ-like. That said, Jennifer Grace Bird's rendition here on how to take the bible does not seem to be in a loving mind. I cannot get passed many of the ideas of how we are supposed to just disregard much of what is in the bible. That is not what the bible is for. Yes, we live in an age where we are 2,000 years in the future from Christ but we can be Christ-like without disregarding the entire bible.

Maybe I am coming from the wrong place for this. It seems that it was written for Christians that know where she is coming from, which obviously I do not. I think it is important to note that I really do not believe that she has any hostile intentions but each person reading this would have to determine for themselves how much of what she says they do or do not want to believe. As with everything put it up against the bible and see where it stands. I just do not think I am quite ready for that.

Recommended to those that are secure and understand Christianity already. Would not recommend to new Christians. ...more

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May 28, 2015 Kristin rated it liked it

Shelves: 2015

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was truly looking forward to this book. I thought, “Wow, a book that gives me the power to make the Bible my own, to be able to question and examine, and think for myself!” When I started it, I was in love with the book.
And then I started delving deeper into the verses that she quoted, especially one that she quoted multiple times, in fact used for one of her sections. Her section says: 1. What scripture does 1Timothy 3:16 refer ...more

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