Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again

Rachel Held Evans examines the Bible as a collection of diverse literary genres including poetry, genealogy, war stories, and apocalyptic vision. She rejects the rigid literalism common in evangelical circles, instead viewing the biblical text as a collection of ancient conversations that invite modern disagreement and curiosity. Through creative retellings of the stories of Hagar, Sampson, and the disciples, Evans treats the scriptures as a wrestling match rather than a static rulebook. She contextualizes difficult passages through historical analysis and midrash, arguing that the Bible functions best as a tool for liberation rather than an instrument of certainty.

This book serves readers who feel alienated by fundamentalist interpretations but still desire a connection to sacred text. It appeals to people who have left institutional churches yet miss the cadence of scripture. Readers finish the book with a framework for interpreting contradictions and violence within the Bible without discarding their faith entirely. Evans provides a vocabulary for an evolving spirituality that values questions over dogmatic answers, offering a way to engage with the Gospel through a lens of social justice and intellectual honesty.

Inward-looking; a moderate read.

Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?