Dirt, Greed, and Sex: Sexual Ethics in the New Testament and Their Implications for Today [Paperback]

L. William Countryman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2007

This new revised edition, of the landmark 1988 text, includes updated text and notes throughout, taking advantage of recent studies of sexual ethics and, where appropriate, criticizing them. A new chapter engages the presumed "ethic of creation7#34; that has become a major theme among more conservative thinkers and writers in biblical ethics. A concluding chapter on sex is thoroughly rewritten and offers a positive statement of a New Testament sexual ethic.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

L. William Countryman is Sherman E. Johnson Professor of New Testament at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, California, and the author of several books in New Testament interpretation for the contemporary church.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Fortress Press; Revised edition (October 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800638484
• ISBN-13: 978-0800638481
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #169,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting book, March 12, 2009

By 

Eric - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dirt, Greed, and Sex: Sexual Ethics in the New Testament and Their Implications for Today (Paperback)

Countryman writes in a clear manner; it was pleasant to read as far as theology books go.

He views the Old Testament texts on sexual ethics through an interesting lens: one of purity and property law. This is problematic for several reasons, one of which is that the morality of the OT leaned on more than these laws. They also drew theological implications from the narratives. For instance from the narratives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob they learned that trusting God is good. Particular to sexual ethics, guiding principles were also seen in the creation account. If the theology of these narratives were taken into account it would not happily mesh with Countryman's conclusions.

While I disagree with most of Countryman's conclusions, I am a more careful reader of the OT after reading his book. I found myself often saying "he has a point" and just lines later "that's a big stretch." He is creative, but creativity in historical and literary interpretation leads to surprising conclusions that flash and then often fade.

I recommend reading a book that covers the same ground from a historical Christian perspective. Though you may come to disagree, it will certainly nourish a deeper engagement with Countryman's writings.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars With a title like this one ..., October 21, 2008

By 

Gillian Townsley "ditzy genius" (Dunedin, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dirt, Greed, and Sex: Sexual Ethics in the New Testament and Their Implications for Today (Paperback)

... one can't help but be interested or repulsed - and therein lies the challenge of this book! But let me start by saying that this is a revised edition of the now classic book (same title) that came out 20 years ago - back when Nelson Mandela was still in jail, CDs overtook vinyl sales for the first time, Ronald Reagan was still President (although George W. Bush won the election later that year), and the fall of the Berlin Wall had yet to happen. People on Amazon are still reviewing the earlier edition and their comments are still relevant, as the author's conclusions have not changed significantly. Countryman argues that the various expressions of sexual morality presented in the Bible can be explained by the ethical principles of purity and property, whose antitheses are dirt and greed (hence the title). After examining how these principles are expressed in the Bible - and in particular the impact Jesus and Paul had on the way the early Christian communities rejected/reshaped them - Countryman explores the ways in which we might deal with issues of sexual morality today. His conclusions were deemed shocking 20 years ago - bestiality, erotica, homosexuality ought only be deemed `wrong' if they are degrading to those involved, not in and of themselves. It is perhaps a sad state of affairs that even after twenty years, the subtitle to Countryman's book - Sexual Ethics in the NT and Their Implications for Today - is just as relevant. Read this book - be freshly informed about the Bible - and be challenged regarding those things you might feel are `dirty.'

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening, insightful book, December 8, 2009

By 

Craig H. Garver "Rail Historian" (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dirt, Greed, and Sex: Sexual Ethics in the New Testament and Their Implications for Today (Paperback)

Father William M. Countryman is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors on all thing Christian, along with his fellow Episcopalian, Bishop John Shelby Spong. Countryman is a thorough scholar and this is a superbly written book. Be sure to pick up Countryman's other excellent books, particularly Gifted By Otherness. If you're LGBT and struggling to reconcile faith with your life, this is the book for you. Countryman is an openly gay Episcopalian priest and scholar. You'll love this book, it's a real life changer.