Julie Faith Parker. <i>Eve Isn’t Evil: Feminist Readings of the Bible to Upend Our Assumptions</i>

Eve Isn’t Evil invites readers on a “creative, academic, personal, feminist exploration of biblical texts” by providing an example of “honest storytelling,” both from the stories of the Bible as well as stories from the life of the author (pp. 7, 3). Although Eve is treated in only one chapter explicitly, the title exposes a common thought pattern that what is true of Eve is true of all women. This book succeeds as a thought-provoking and compelling engagement with the ways the biblical narratives propel the life of faith.Divided into eight chapters, in addition to an introduction and multiple appendices, Julie Faith Parker walks the reader through seven sections of the Old Testament (Genesis, Pentateuch, Joshua through Kings, Prophets, Job, Psalms, and Song of Songs) as well as the life of Jesus. Readers will be grateful that she utilizes her expertise as a Hebrew Bible scholar to shine the light on sections of Scripture that often are either ignored or elicit interpretations that serve to confuse readers. The conclusion and the appendices offer avenues for further research as well as basic overviews for the study of the Bible.Parker is working explicitly from a feminist perspective, which, she denotes provide the “gifts of self-respect, opportunity, and joy” (p. 5). Her definition is broad: “Feminism simply means liberty and justice for all, including people who identify as female” (p. 5). She states again, “while concerns surrounding women’s lives are the focus on feminism, anyone who shares its goals can be a feminist.”In addition to this clearly stated definition at the beginning of the book, I found several exegetical insights incredibly helpful. For example, she highlights the intensity of Abram’s sacrificial faithfulness to God’s call by articulating the difference between Ur and Canaan. He was leaving “the Paris of [his] day for Nowheresville” (p. 26). Concerning Joseph, she postulates that Jacob’s special attention to him might not have arisen from favoritism alone but could have been driven by need. Joseph’s visions and obvious fails in his relationship with his brothers display signs resonant with people on the Austism spectrum. She concludes, “Perhaps Jacob focuses on Joseph because he realizes that his son needs more attention than his siblings” (p. 36), a striking reading that removes a persistent frustration I have had with that narrative. Finally, and most impactful for me, she utilizes the work of Alice Yafeh-Deigh to place Sarah, Abraham’s wife, within the context of her culture. While I had railed against Sarah for her complicity in slavery, I had not considered that in a patriarchally oppressive society, that all “women are trapped” (p. 27). She had little choice and so should not completely shoulder the blame for the abuse (p. 28). While slavery always needs to be decried, from henceforth, I will write about Sarah in more nuanced ways.The exegesis is often insightful and also the personal stories are awe-inspiring. Parker shares of life experiences that testify of the fruit of the Spirit: for example, significant investments of time and resources for a homeless woman and her child (pp. 50–52) and teaching the incarcerated (ch. 8).Readers should keep in mind the subtitle: “Feminist readings of the Bible to upend our assumptions.” The retelling of the Genesis creation narrative certainly does so. Some might hear this retelling as “anti-man,” where the man lacks “conversational skills and decision making” so Eve needs to teach him (p. 17). Parker makes her intention clear by asking readers how they feel after reading. The Genesis narrative has often been interpreted with derogatory implications against the woman, and to drive this reality home, Parker flips the script.Parker also invites readers to consider portrayals of God. In a discussion about goddesses in the ANE, Yahweh is described as one who “invaded their turf and, with help from the Bible writers, sought to take it over” (pp. 140–41). She had stated that such strength was vital at the time when “stories about a mighty, miraculous God delivering this chosen community from enemies would encourage people to believe in Yahweh instead of the competing deities” (pp. 46–47), a God whose “strong desire is to be in relationship with human beings” (p. 48). Most consistently, Eve Isn’t Evil asks readers to wrestle with how the Bible has been interpreted. She states, “The Bible is our introduction to the God who loves us, not the conclusion. Nothing can limit the love of God, not even the Bible.” (p. 49). This critical stance allows honest investigation of interpretations that people might assume are the Bible itself, but when tested show themselves to be against the character of God. I was left wondering, if the Bible is a source of “guidance, solace, motivation, companionship, wisdom, and inspiration—but never shame or blame,” (p. 8) is there space for the Bible to judge the reader, to correct and restore, not only as an “interesting, caring friend,” but also as a blatant and refreshingly honest one?This book is for a reader comfortable with a critical approach to the biblical text as well as a willingness to be surprised by spiritual mediums outside the norm. Neither are approaches I completely share with Parker. Nevertheless, I do share Parker’s conviction that the women of the biblical text deserve a reconsideration because previous interpretations have gotten them wrong, not only to the disrespect of the women but also to the damage of entire interpreting communities. I would add that the God who inspired these texts invites us to reason and to wrestle, to raise concerns against hard passages, as Parker does, but also to remain aware of our own fallibility and God’s trustworthiness, themes I did not find emphasized. I want my students to be inspired to be as faithful as Parker. I want my female and male students to know that Eve and her daughters are not evil, and I believe the best way for me to do so is to deepen their faith in the God who gave us the Bible. To that end, I’m grateful for the insights and challenges Eve Isn’t Evil provided.