Through sophisticated, mirthful writing, Prof. Grafius brings his vast knowledge of horror to his deep critical engagement with the Bible. The result is a brilliant examination of the ways in which horror narratives helps us to imagine new possibilities. * Robin R. Means Coleman, Professor of Media Studies and African American and African Studies, University of Virginia, author of The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar * Once again, Brandon Grafius has shown us that we are not done with religion and horror, that the inextricable relationship between them has much to teach us about ourselves as believers and as those who look askance at faith-based optimism. Scared by the Bible should be essential reading for anyone interested in why we believe what we believe, why we continue to fear the things we do, and the inescapable links between them. * Douglas E. Cowan, Professor of Religious Studies and Social Development Studies, Waterloo University and author of Americas Dark Theologian: The Religious Imagination of Stephen King * You don't need to be a theological scholar to find this book fascinatingnot if you're curious about the horrors of our existence, and how storytellers have grappled with those horrors for millennia. No one would take Dracula or Frankenstein as historic fact, and Scared by the Bible makes a concise and energetic case for not taking the Bible literallyin part by examining horror's archetypal elements, which beg us to dig beneath the surface to discover a deeper intention. An absolutely engaging and thought-provoking read. * Zoje Stage, USA Today bestselling author of Baby Teeth and Wonderland * "A thoughtful exploration of fear, faith, and storytelling. If, like me, you're a horror fan who grew up asking difficult questions in Sunday school, this book has your name on it." * Matt Ruff, author of Lovecraft Country * "Scared by the Bible deftly connects Jason Vorhees to the Book of Numbers, posits Godzilla as a modern day Leviathan, and welcomes readers into the Last House of the Lord on the Left, just to name a few miracles found within its pages. Brandon Grafius shows us that the blood red line that divides a house of worship from the grindhouse is razor thin and I'm here for every slash of it." * Clay McLeod, Chapman, author of Wake Up and Open Your Eyes * "With imagination, clarity, and verve, Brandon Grafiuss Scared by the Bible dares us to experience the horror present in the Bibles pages. Tracing the extra, the impossible, and the uncanny in stories familiar and foreign, Grafius shows that biblical horror is not a problem for theology but an opportunity. Sacred authors invited readers to grapple with their most visceral fears in order to see beyond the surface and reimagine the world that is and should be. This engaging and accessible book will delight fans of modern horror while furnishing fresh tools and insights for interpreting the Bible." * Anathea Portier-Young, Associate Professor of Old Testament at Duke Divinity School * "Grafius has produced a body of work that makes him the biblical scholar in residence at the Last House on the Left. His new work sums up so much of his scholarship for a popular reading audience, sure to be beloved by students and anyone interested in learning about this little known or understood side of scripture. You'll learn about the horror genre but youll also get a surprisingly witty and thoughtful introduction to how the pros do biblical scholarship. It's an amazing book and, once again, Grafius has shown hes on par with scholars like Bart Ehrmann and Elaine Pagels if you could listen to the Cramps and Rob Zombie while reading them!" * W. Scott Poole, author of Monsters in America and Dark Carnivals * "A deeply thoughtful and self-reflective invitation to explore the fascinating and disturbing terrain of biblical horror. Grafius understands that actually cracking open and reading the Bible raises more unsettling questions than it answersquestions about ourselves, about our social norms and conventions, and, for people of faith, about the biblical God. Required reading for anyone interested in biblical studies and/or horror studies." * Timothy Beal, Florence Harkness Professor of Religion at Case Western University and author of Religion and Its Monsters *
