If God Still Breathes, Why Can't I?

Viac o knihe

This work challenges the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, highlighting how Christians often learn more about Whiteness than the teachings of Jesus. Angela Parker, trained as a biblical scholar, reflects on her experience of being conditioned to suppress her identity to fit into a White male mold, a struggle familiar to many American Christians across diverse backgrounds. The author identifies this experience as a manifestation of White supremacist authoritarianism. Drawing from her insights as a Womanist New Testament scholar, Parker critiques the conflation of biblical authority with the doctrines of inerrancy and infallibility. She argues that these doctrines prioritize the interpretations of historically dominant White males who have wielded Scripture to maintain control over marginalized groups. This oppressive interpretation has stifled true engagement with the Bible. To reclaim their voices, Parker emphasizes the need to "let God breathe in us," advocating for a reading of the Bible that is authoritative but not authoritarian. She encourages awareness of our own identities and those of the biblical authors, reminding us that as long as God breathes, we can too.