'Harrington's book is priceless--I read it in one sitting and laughed till I cried. The humor is cutting and relevant in a way that often is missing from Christian writing. I appreciate that he doesn't shy away from complicated relationships and questionable decisions in the stories found in the Scriptures. Five stars!' Amanda Martinez Beck, author of Lovely: How I Learned to Embrace the Body God Gave Me
'What Murder-Bears gets right is that the best way to take the Bible seriously is not to take it so seriously. While its purpose may be divine, the Bible is a deeply human book, full of deeply human things. Human things like farts and over-the-top murders and butts and ding-dongs.' Benito Cereno, cohost of Apocrypals, writer for Tales from the Bully Pulpit and The Tick: New Series
'We've grown bored of the socially acceptable version of the Bible. That's why we need someone like Luke Harrington who is somehow able to see the Bible for what it is: a book full of gross, disgusting, scandalous incidents. By forcing us to reckon with the more unbecoming details that get left out of our children's story Bibles, Luke reclaims the Bible for adults and teenage boys everywhere.' Richard Clark, former editor for Christianity Today,former editor-in-chief of Christ and Pop Culture
'The Bible is many wonderful things, including weird. We need more weird writers writing about it. And I say that as the highest compliment because Luke writes with verve and fun and style, and there aren't many who can do that. He makes us see weirdness in a fresh way, which, as it turns out, is a beautiful way.' Brant Hansen, radio host and author of The Truth About Us, Unoffendable, and Blessed Are the Misfits
'Finally, someone has written the definitive work about homicidal animals, divine poop, and foreskins. But not only that, Luke Harrington has also redeemed these disparate ideas by explaining and celebrating their correlation to the Holy Scripture. I wish all books about the Bible were this much fun.' Knox McCoy, author of The Wondering Years and All Things Reconsidered
'As I was reading this book, my eight-year-old wandered into my office and started reading over my shoulder. 'He's very connected to poop,' he commented. It was an accurate observation. But there was more than just poop. Or butts. Or man-eating bears. Or circumcision jokes. Beneath the edgy hilarity I saw a real affection for the Good Book and the God who inspired it. Harrington just better hope that God has a sense of humor--or those bears might be coming for him.' Drew Dyck, author of Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science
'A good book, from what I am told. Of course I haven't read it--I am too busy being an Evangelical Thought Leader and engaging the culture with hot takes--but Luke has assured me that if you read it, there is a 63 percent chance you will get holier, 50 percent of the time.' Matthew Pierce, cohost of Fun Sexy Bible Time
'Murder-Bears, Moonshine, and Mayhem is like a comedy act and a seminary course rolled into one. I don't think I've ever read a book that had me laughing out loud and looking at the footnotes as many times as this one. Luke Harrington gives the grit and gore of the Bible its due--and masterfully shows how even these point us to grace and to the gospel.' Karen Swallow Prior, author of On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books
'The beloved scriptures we call the Bible contain powerful truths that have changed hearts and minds for centuries. But this book also contains all manner of provocative, disturbing, unusual, and hilarious accounts of living life on earth as a human. In Murder-Bears, Moonshine, and Mayhem, Luke T. Harrington dissects some of the strangest and most confusing biblical narratives with his signature wit. Harrington masterfully weaves together sharp theological insights with comedic commentary. (Don't skip the footnotes.) In acknowledging and sharing a laugh over the Bible's quirks, readers will be awed anew at God's love and long-suffering for humanity and discover the humor laced throughout the human project.' Erin M. Straza, author of Comfort Detox: Finding Freedom from Habits That Bind You
Novelist Harrington (Ophelia Alive) provides lighthearted interpretations of traditional Bible stories in this amusing work. Harrington, the son of a pastor, writes of his fond memories of his father telling him strange and amusing bedtime tales drawn from scripture. With references to mauling bears, poop sandwiches, and naked dancers, the Bible contains its fair share of bizarre content, Harrington notes. Hoping to inspire Christians to read 'the secret, strange riches the ancient Scriptures have to offer,' Harrington includes entertaining analysis of such tales as the binding of Isaac, in his clever section 'No, God Will Totally Provide a Lamb,' and the tumultuous meeting of David and Bathsheba, in 'It's Good to Be King.' Amid the weird tales, Harrington addresses biblical lessons on drunkenness, circumcision, prostitution, miracles, incest, polygamy, rape, and murder. He concludes on a serious note, assuring readers that, though the Bible never provides definitive answers regarding the existence of evil and why God allows it, 2 Corinthians 1:5 promises that when Christians suffer, Christ is with them. These wry, insightful retellings will appeal to any Christian. (Aug.) Publishers Weekly
